Geographical aspects of cancer incidence in Southeast Asia

Based on limited information for incidence and mortality from one population based registry (Singapore) and a number of hospital registries there are important differences in cancer incidence between Southeast Asian countries. Cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, and liver have high incidence throughout the region; cancer of the nasopharynx in Chinese. Cancers of the oesophagus and stomach have high relative incidence in Burma and in Singapore, and cancer of the lung in Singapore. Cancer of the uterine cervix is the most important female cancer in the region except in the Philippines and Singapore. Cancer of the breast has its highest Southeast Asian incidence in the Philippines and its lowest in Singapore. The importance of cancer as a cause of illness and death is increasing in Southeast Asia as a function of its changing age structure and the continued improvement in conditions that extend life expectancy and suppress communicable diseases.