The pattern of cancer in Iraq

Cancer, known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. Cancer is a major public health problem worldwide. In 2007 cancer was the third leading cause of deaths in Iraq after cardiovascular diseases and accidents and the seventh leading cause of morbidity. A total of 166729 new cancer cases were registered by the Iraqi Ministry of Health during the period from 1991 to 2007. Little is known about the pattern of cancer in Iraq. The need for comprehensive knowledge about cancer forms in Iraq is mandatory to plan and establish control programs for the common cancer which may be amenable to prevention, early detection and cure. This book is providing the most comprehensive information about the pattern of cancer in Iraq. These statistics could be primary resource not only for epidemiological research on cancer determinants but also for planning and evaluating health services for the prevention, early detection diagnosis and treatment of these diseases.