Trends on cancer incidence and mortality in Pasto, Colombia. 15 years experience.

Introduction: In Colombia it is necessary to continue producing quality and continuously updated information on the magnitude of cancer, derived from population-based cancer registries to contribute to decision making, and implementation of strategies for health promotion, prevention and treatment of cancer in order to reduce the impact on the population.

Objective: To describe the incidence, mortality and cancer trends in Pasto-Colombia from 1998 to 2012.

Methods: Observational descriptive study of morbi - mortality due to malignant tumours in Pasto. The collection, processing and systematization of the data, was carried out according to international standards for population-based cancer registries. The incidence and mortality rates were calculated by period, sex, age and tumour site.

Results: During the period 1998-2012 there were 8,010 new cases of cancer, of them, 57.7% occurred in females. There were 4,214 deaths reported, 52.0% in females. The incidence ( men= 0.7, females= 0.3) and mortality ( males= 1.0, females= 0.0) did not present significant changes over 15 years of observation and the tumours that cause greater morbi-mortality affect the stomach, cervix uteri, breast and prostate.

Conclusions: Cancer in general, continues to be a serious health problem for the population of Pasto. The global behaviour of cancer incidence and mortality, identify the need to promote and strengthen promotion and prevention programs, especially focused on tumours of the stomach, prostate, breast and cervix uteri that produce greater morbidity and mortality in the population.