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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · South Asian J Cancer 2016; 05(01): 12-14
DOI: 10.4103/2278-330X.179697
CANCER EPIDEMIOLOGY Original Article

Spectrum of cancers among South Asians working in Brunei Darussalam

Vui Heng Chong
Department of Medicine, RIPAS Hospital, Bandar Seri Begawan BA 1710
,
Pemasari Upali Telisinghe
Department of Pathology, Bandar Seri Begawan BA 1710
,
Chee Fui Chong
Department of Surgery, Bandar Seri Begawan BA 1710
› Author Affiliations Source of Support: Nill.
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Abstract

Background: Worldwide the incidence of cancers is increasing and this seen more in developing nations. This study looks at the spectrum of cancers among South Asian nationals working in Brunei Darussalam, a developing Southeast Asia nation. Materials and Methods: The cancer registry from 1994 to 2012 maintained by the State Laboratory was retrospectively reviewed. Results: Over the period, there was a total of 123 cancer cases diagnosed among South Asians, giving an incidence of 1.5% (n = 123/8253). The mean age at diagnosis was 42.9 ± 17.1 with a gender ratio of (male 60; female 63). Among the South Asians, Indians accounted for the most (53.7%) cases, followed by Nepalese (39.8%), Pakistani (3.3%) and Sri Lankan (2.4%). The most common cancers were cancers of the female reproductive/gynecologic organs, gastrointestinal tract, and breast. Among the two major ethnic groups; cancers of the breast was the most common among Indians followed by gastrointestinal tract where among the Nepalese, these were gastrointestinal tract followed by gynecologic (esp. cervical cancers). Among the South Asian, the Nepalese were younger at diagnosis compared to the other groups. Conclusion: The spectrum of cancers among South Asian residing in Brunei is comparable to what have been reported from South Asia with the exception of lung cancers. The most common cancers were cancers of female reproductive/gynecologic organs, gastrointestinal tract and breast. South Asians were younger at diagnosis of cancers compared to non-South Asians.

Key words

Cancers - Indian subcontinent - neoplasms - South Asian - spectrum


Publication History

Article published online:
30 December 2020

© 2016. MedIntel Services Pvt Ltd. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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