Cancer causes 12pc of annual deaths

Staff Reporter :

Cancer causes 12 percent of annual deaths in Bangladesh, says a BSMMU study. It records 53 new cases per lakh annually. Findings were presented at an event at the BSMMU’s Super Specialised Hospital on Saturday (February 1) by principal investigator Md Khalequzzaman.

Conducted in Hossainpur, Kishoreganj, data collection began in July 2023 via face-to-face interviews using a web-based registry. Follow-ups started in July 2024. Cancer prevalence was 106 cases per lakh-118 per 100,000 males and 96 per 100,000 females.

Among 201,668 participants from 46,631 households, researchers identified 38 cancer types. The five most common were breast (16.8%), lip and oral cavity (8.4%), stomach (7.0%), larynx (7.0%), and cervix (5.1%). Among female patients, 19% had reproductive cancers, including cervical (11%), ovarian (5%), and uterine (3%) cancers.

Tobacco use was linked to 46% of cases, with 75.8% of male patients being smokers. Common co-morbidities included hypertension (17%), diabetes (11%), cardiovascular diseases (6%), chronic kidney diseases (3%), and stroke (2%).

Regarding treatment, 60% received surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy, while 7.4% went untreated. A follow-up study from July 2024 to January 2025, covering 58,539 participants from 13,411 households, found lung (16.1%), liver (12.9%), and larynx (12.9%) were the most frequent new cases.

Researchers emphasized sustained support for the registry. Ministry of Health Special Assistant Professor Dr Sayedur Rahman, the event’s chief guest, highlighted cancer as a top priority.

He announced tax exemptions reducing cancer drug costs by 10% and upcoming hospital project directors’ appointments in eight divisional cities. Four hospitals will begin treatment within nine months, with two new radiotherapy machines launching next month.

BSMMU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Md Shahinul Alam assured funding for impactful research, emphasizing the registry’s role in cancer prevention and treatment.

According to the Bangladesh Sample Vital Statistics 2022 report, heart disease is the leading cause of death (21%), followed by respiratory diseases (9.64%) and brain stroke (9.15%).