The epidemiologic study of prostate cancer in Fars province, Southern Iran (2003-2008)

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men which its incidence rate and associated mortality and morbidity are on the rise. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of prostate cancer in Fars province between 2003 and 2008 years. In this epidemiological study، using Fars province cancer registry data، the incidence rates were calculated per 100،000 people and age standardized incidence rate (ASR) was measured by direct method using the world standard population. Data were analyzed by SPSS، version 16، and Microsoft Excel، version 2007. Cochrane Armitage Test for linear trend was used for evaluation of the incidence trend by running Winpepi software. Over a 6-year period، 1212 cases were recorded in Fars province. The ASR of prostate cancer in these six years was 4. 69، 7. 16، 15. 09، 14. 04، 16. 65 and 16. 02، respectively، which revealed significantly increasing trends. The highest incidence rate was observed in 80 and upper age group. The ASR of prostate cancer in Fars province is significantly lower than other parts of the world، especially in more developed countries. This can be due to absence of screening programs and/or cancer registry.