Surveillance for Jordan Cancer Burden: Jordan Cancer Registry Data 2010-2014

Abstract

Background: Cancer registry is an important tool for any successful cancer control program. The cancer-related data from Jordan was vague scarcity. This, urged scholars to set up the first and only population-based cancer registry in Jordan. Which did the Ministry of Health and the Middle East Cancer Consortium (MECC) established it jointly. The registry started to collect data from cases of cancer referred to the treatment and diagnostic facilities throughout the country to improve cancer reporting in the country and define the size of the cancer problem and the pattern of cancer in Jordan; distribution of cancer by geographical locations; age; gender; type and cancer sites for both Jordanians and non-Jordanians. Strategy/Tactics: The Jordan Cancer Registry (JCR) collects cancer data in passive and active methods of case finding, the collected data coded by means of ICD_O3. Quality control measures applied, and the data stored and computerized using CanReg_4 and CanReg_5; then analyzed statistically. World standard population for age adjustment and standardization to facilitate national and international comparison and contrast. Outcomes: Incidence of the most common cancers among Jordanians, distributed by site, age, gender, and geographically for the period 2010-2014. The leading cancer among adults, males was colorectal (11.9%) followed by lung (11.7%), leukemia (9.1%), urinary bladder (8.9%) and prostate (8.1%). While among female cancers are breast (34.4%), colorectal (9.4%); leukemia (6.7%); lymphomas (5.8%) and thyroid (5.3%). Childhood cancers were about (4.9%) of all cancers; leukemia was 1st (34.8%) followed by brain and CNS (20.9%) and lymphomas (17.5%). Whereas the most recent mortality data showed lung is responsible for (21.03%) deaths among males followed by colorectal (11.0%) and leukemia (8.02%). Among females breast deaths (26.8%); colorectal (9.3%) and leukemia (7.2%). What was learned: Knowledge to action, based on the JCR data, Jordan started the Jordan Breast Cancer Program for early detection and screening of breast cancer. We are looking forward starting early detection for colorectal cancer soon.