Epidemiology of Lung Cancer in Pakistani Patients- Our Experience at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH & RC).

Abstract

Lung cancer is one of the most commonly occurring malignancies in the world. In most developed countries, death rate duce to all malignancies except lung cancer have shown a decline in the last 20 years. During this period, death rate due to lung cancer showed an increase. Recently there is a declining trend. In the developing countries like Pakistan, However, death rate due to lung cancer continue to accelerate. The true incidence of lung cancer is not known in Pakistan due to lack of available data. Recently collected data from SKMCH&RC tumor registry shows hat it accounts for <10% of the cancers diagnosed at our institution. A retrospective analysis of 182 diagnosed patients with lung cancer at SKMCH was conducted. The data were analysed with respect to age, history, clinical symptoms, stage at presentation and history of smoking. The most common occurrence of lung cancer was in patients above the age of 50 years and non small cell lung cancer was the most common histology. Majority were found to have cough, chest pain and haemoptysis. Approximately 75% had positive history of smoking.