Laten Andre Mclish
Objective: To determine the distribution of cancer of the stomach and cancer of the rectum in Jamaica 2008. Methods: The study included all 14 parishes. Data was obtained from the Jamaica Cancer Registry located in the Pathology Department of the University of the West Indies. Population denominators were obtained from the 2011 census taken by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica. The statistical package which was used to analyze the data was SPSS.
Results: The highest frequencies of cancer of the stomach in 2008 occurred in the age group 50 years to 54 years and 65 years to 69 years. The mean age at which cancer of the stomach was diagnosed in 2008 was 64.6 years. Based upon the Crude Incidence Rate (CIR), the probability of developing gastric cancer (GC) was greater in men than women (male/female ratio, 1.73). The distribution of cancer of the stomach across all parishes in Jamaica 2008 was investigated using the CIR. The highest probability of developing cancer of the stomach would be for someone residing in Kingston and St. Andrew (5.1), then St. Catherine (4.6), Clarendon (4.1), St. Mary (2.6), St. Ann (2.3), St. Elizabeth (2.0), Manchester (1.1) and St. Thomas (1.1). In the case of cancer of the rectum, onset began in the 35 years to 39 years group it then peaked within the 75 years to 79 years group. Cases of cancer of the rectum decreased from 80 years onwards. The mean age at which cancer of the rectum was diagnosed was 70.6 years. Based upon the CIR, the probability of developing cancer of the rectum was greater in men than women, (male/ female ratio, 1.33) The CIR was used to determine the probability of developing cancer of the rectum across all parishes in Jamaica 2008. The highest probability of developing cancer of the rectum occurred in Kingston and St. Andrew (4.4), then Portland (3.7), St. Thomas (2.1), St. Catherine (1.5), Trelawny (1.3), Clarendon (0.8), St. Elizabeth (0.7), St. Ann (0.6) and Manchester (0.5).
Conclusion: In mitigating cancer, it is important to study the onset, the age groups affected as well as gender. It is also important to look at geographical locations to see the probability of developing a particular type of cancer. Once this is done, then appropriate screening and lifestyle changes should be promoted by the various health administrators.