Incidence and mortality by cancer in the Pasto municipality, Colombia. 2013-2017.

Introduction: The information permanently produced by population cancer registries is the input used by decision makers of the local and national health systems in order for planning cancer prevention strategies and evaluating the impact of their interventions.

Objective: To determine the incidence and mortality from cancer in the municipality of Pasto Colombia, 2013-2017 period.

Methods: Descriptive observational study of cancer morbidity and mortality. The collection and processing of information was carried out following the recommendations of the IARC. Rates were calculated by sex, age, and tumor location.

Results: The overall incidence of cancer was 3,759 cases; 1,608 in men (AAR= 169.4 cases/100,000 men-year), and 2,151 cases in women (AAR= 176.6 cases/100,000 women-year). The most frequent tumors in men were: prostate (25.9%), stomach (16.5%) and lung (4.8%); and in women: breast (19.7%), thyroid (12.2%) and cervix (10.6%). There were 2,130 cancer deaths, 934 in men (AAR=97.8 deaths/100,000 men-year) and 1,196 deaths in women (AAR=95.1 deaths/100,000 women-year). The main causes of mortality in men were tumors of the stomach (24.8%), prostate (12.8%) and lung (7.5%). In women: breast (12.2%), stomach (11.6%) and cervix (10.0%).

Conclusion: The five-year follow-up of cancer burden indicators allows to make comparisons at both national and international levels, in order to provide the basis for planning and evaluating the implementation of public health policies; especially those related to the prevention and care of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality from cancer in Pasto-Colombia.