Cancer causes 12% of annual deaths in Bangladesh, study finds

Highlights:

• 53 new cancer cases per 100,000 people annually
• Data collected via household interviews using web-based software
• 201,668 participants (48.4% male, 51.6% female)
• 46% of cancer cases linked to tobacco use
• 60% of patients received combined treatment

Cancer is responsible for 12% of all deaths in Bangladesh each year, according to a population-based cancer registry conducted by researchers from the Public Health and Informatics Department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).

The study found that 53 new cancer cases emerge per lakh of the population annually.

The findings were presented today (1 February) at a programme, titled "Cancer Burden in Bangladesh: Evidence from a Population-based Cancer Registry", at BSMMU's Super Specialised Hospital.

Md Khalequzzaman, associate professor at BSMMU's Department of Public Health and Informatics and the study's principal investigator, presented the findings.

The study was conducted in Kishoreganj's Hossainpur upazila, where data collection began in July 2023.

Researchers conducted face-to-face interviews at every household using a web-based National Cancer Registry software. Follow-up visits started in July 2024.

The study reported a cancer prevalence of 106 cases per lakh population—118 per 100,000 among males and 96 per 100,000 among females.

A total of 201,668 participants from 46,631 households took part in the study, with 48.4% being male and 51.6% female. Researchers identified 38 different types of cancer among the study population.

The study found that 92.5% of cancer patients were aged between 18 and 75 years, while 2.4% were below 18 and 5.1% were over 75. The five most common cancers were breast (16.8%), lip and oral cavity (8.4%), stomach (7.0%), larynx (7.0%), and cervix (5.1%).

Among female cancer patients, 19% had cancers related to the reproductive system, including cervical (11%), ovarian (5%), and uterine (3%) cancers.

Researchers also found that 46% of all cancer cases were linked to tobacco use, with 75.8% of male cancer patients being smokers. The most common co-morbidities among cancer patients were hypertension (17%), diabetes (11%), cardiovascular disease (6%), chronic kidney disease (3%), and stroke (2%).

Regarding treatment, 60% of cancer patients received a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, while 7.4% did not receive any treatment after diagnosis.

A follow-up study conducted from 1 July 2024 to 14 January 2025 covered 58,539 participants from 13,411 households. The most frequently diagnosed new cancer cases during this period were lung (16.1%), liver (12.9%), and larynx (12.9%).

Researchers stressed the need for sustained support to continue the population-based cancer registry.

Ministry of Health and Family Planning Special Assistant Professor Dr Sayedur Rahman attended the event as the chief guest.

He stated that among the four major diseases for which patients seek treatment abroad, cancer is given the highest priority.

"Tax exemptions have been introduced for cancer drugs, reducing their cost by at least 10%. Within this week, project directors will be appointed for cancer hospitals in all eight divisional cities," he said.

He further mentioned that all radiotherapy departments have been completed, and the procurement process for the necessary machines is ongoing.

These will be operational within 45 days of the project directors' appointment. Of the eight hospitals, at least four will begin providing cancer treatment within six to nine months.

Additionally, he announced that two new radiotherapy machines will be inaugurated next month.

He assured that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will continue to support the BSMMU Population-Based Cancer Registry under the Non-Communicable Disease Control initiative to ensure its continuity.

At the event, Professor Dr Md Shahinul Alam, vice-chancellor of BSMMU, stated that there would be no funding issues for research that meets public expectations.

"The statistics obtained from Bangladesh's Population-Based Cancer Registry, initiated by BSMMU, will play a crucial role in cancer prevention, treatment, and patient care in the country. Additionally, these statistics will open up diverse avenues for cancer research in Bangladesh," he said.

According to the Bangladesh Sample Vital Statistics 2022 report by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), the leading cause of death in the country is heart disease, accounting for 21% of total deaths.

Following heart disease, respiratory illnesses rank second, with 9.64% of deaths attributed to chronic respiratory conditions and other respiratory diseases. Brain stroke follows, causing 9.15% of total deaths.

At the event, Professor Dr Md Shahinul Alam, vice-chancellor of BSMMU, stated that there would be no funding issues for research that meets public expectations.

The statistics obtained from Bangladesh's Population-Based Cancer Registry, initiated by BSMMU, will play a crucial role in cancer prevention, treatment, and patient care in the country. Additionally, these statistics will open up diverse avenues for cancer research in Bangladesh.

According to the Bangladesh Sample Vital Statistics 2022 report by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, the leading cause of death in the country is heart disease, accounting for 21% of total deaths.

Following heart attacks, respiratory diseases rank second on the list, with 9.64% of deaths occurring due to chronic respiratory illnesses and other respiratory conditions. Next on the list is brain stroke, which causes 9.15% of total deaths.