Descriptive epidemiology of cancer of the breast and uterine cervix in Costa Rica

Abstract

Cancer is currently the second leading cause of death in Costa Rica, with malignant tumors of the stomach, uterus, lung, and breast (in that order) causing the most deaths. In terms of incidence, cancers of the uterine cervix, breast, and skin are the commonest among the female population. Each year more than 600 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed, and about 100 deaths from this cause are reported. The corresponding figures for breast cancer are over 200 diagnoses and around 70 deaths.

This article seeks to describe patterns of breast and cervical cancer incidence and mortality in Costa Rica. For this purpose mortality is defined as the number of deaths in a given year (or the average number per year over a longer period) divided by the population at the middle of the year or other period involved. Incidence is defined as the number of new cases detected each year (or the average number detected per year over a longer period) divided by the population at the middle of the year or period involved. In both cases the population in question is the female population 20 years of age and over, since breast and uterine cancers very rarely occur in younger women.