CANCER INCIDENCE IN HO-CHI-MINH-CITY, VIETNAM, 1995-1996

The results from the population-based cancer registry for the city of Ho Chi Minh in 1995-1996 represent the first information on the incide nce of cancer in southern Viet Ham, A total of 4,080 cancer cases in m ales and 4,338 in females were registered, corresponding to age-standa rdized incidence rates (ASRs) of 130.9 per 100,000 in men and 100.7 pe r 100,000 in women. As elsewhere in South East Asia, the principal can cer of men was liver cancer (ASR 25.3), with moderately high rates of lung cancer (ASR 24.6) and stomach cancer (ASR 16.5); cancer of the pe nis, reportedly very common in early case series from Viet Ham, is now rarely seen. In women, cervical cancer was the dominant malignancy (A SR 26.0) followed by breast cancer (ASR 12.2) and stomach cancer (ASR 7.5). Although there may be some under-registration in these early yea rs of operation, the recorded rates of cervical cancer and liver cance r are already high and suggest that southern Viet Ham would benefit fr om an effective cervical cancer screening programme, as well as effort s to interrupt the transmission of hepatitis B virus to reduce liver c ancer incidence and effective anti-smoking programs. (C) 1998 Wiley-Li ss, Inc.