Dhaka: One hundred and six people out of one lakh in Bangladesh are cancer patients, with the disease currently causing 12 percent of total deaths in the country, according to a study report released by BSMMU today. The research highlights the prevalence and types of cancer affecting the Bangladeshi population, underscoring a significant public health concern.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the study identified 38 types of cancer in Bangladesh, with breast, mouth, stomach, respiratory tract, and cervical cancers being the most prevalent. Dr. Md Khalequzzaman, principal researcher and associate professor at BSMMU’s public health and informatics department, said the country witnesses an increasing number of cancer cases, with 53 new patients detected among a population of one lakh annually.
The findings were unveiled at a seminar titled ‘Burden of Cancer in Bangladesh: Population-Based Cancer Registry’ at BSMMU’s Super Specialized Hospital. The event was attended by Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant with state minister’s status, Professor Dr. Md Sayedur Rahman, as the chief guest. The study was conducted by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) to assess the overall situation of population-based cancer in the country.
Dr. Khalequzzaman noted that 93 percent of cancer patients are aged between 18 and 75 years, with 2.4 percent being children and 5.1 percent over 75 years of age. The study involved 201,668 participants from 46,631 households in Kishoreganj’s Hossainpur Upazila, with 48.4 percent male and 51.6 percent female participants. Data collection was carried out through interviews using specially developed internet-based cancer registration software.
The absence of a population-based cancer registry (PBCR) in Bangladesh prompted BSMMU to undertake this study, which previously relied on data from neighboring countries. Follow-up visits are scheduled to begin in July 2024 upon completion of the study.
The study results reveal that the five most common cancers are breast (16.8 percent), lip and oral cavity (8.4 percent), stomach (7 percent), larynx (7 percent), and cervix (5.1 percent). Additionally, newly included cancers were lung cancer (16.1 percent), liver cancer (12.9 percent), and laryngeal cancer (12.9 percent). Among female cancer patients, 19 percent had reproductive system-related cancers, including cervical (11 percent), ovarian (5 percent), and uterine (3 percent) cancers.
The study also highlighted lifestyle factors, noting that 60.6 percent of female cancer patients use smokeless tobacco, while 46 percent have a relationship with e-tobacco consumption. Among male cancer patients, 75.8 percent were smokers, although 46 percent did not intake tobacco. It was found that 60 percent of cancer patients received multiple treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, while 7.4 percent received no treatment after diagnosis.
BSMMU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Shahinul Alam, along with other distinguished speakers, emphasized the importance of research in advancing medical knowledge and called for increased government support for further studies. The study also reported co-morbidities among cancer patients, including hypertension (17 percent), diabetes (11 percent), heart disease (6 percent), chronic kidney disease (3 percent), and stroke (2 percent).