Tendência da mortalidade por neoplasias malignas selecionadas em Rio Branco, Acre, Brasil, 1980-2006

[Cancer mortality among indigenous population in Acre State, Brazil]

The study aimed to estimate cancer mortality among indigenous peoples in Acre State, Brazil. This was a descriptive observational study based on the nominal bank of the Brazilian Mortality Information System for the period from January 1st, 2000, to December 31st, 2012. The study analyzed the distribution death frequencies by sex and age. Standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was calculated taking Goiânia (Goiás State), Acre State, and the North Region of Brazil as the references. A total of 81 deaths were identified, the majority in men (59.3%) and in individuals over 70 years of age. The five main sites in men were stomach, liver, colon and rectum, leukemia, and prostate. The five main sites in women were uterine cervix, stomach, liver, leukemia, and uterus. In indigenous men there was an excess of deaths from stomach cancer compared to the populations of Goiânia (SMR = 2.72; 2.58-2.87), Acre State (SMR = 2.05; 1.94-2.16) and North region (SMR = 3.10; 2.93-3.27). The same was observed for deaths from hepatic cell carcinomas referenced against Goiânia (SMR = 3.89; 3.66-4.14), Acre State (SMR = 1.79; 1.68-1.91), and the North of Brazil (SMR = 4.04; 3.77-4.30). Among indigenous women, there was an excess of cervical cancer in comparison to Goiânia (SMR = 4.67; 4.41-4.93), Acre State (SMR = 2.12; 2.00-2.24), and the North (SMR = 2.60; 2.45-2.75). The estimates show that preventable neoplasms such as cervical cancer and those linked to underdevelopment, such as stomach and liver cancer, account for 49.4% of deaths among indigenous peoples. Compared to the reference population, mortality from liver, stomach, and colorectal cancer and leukemias was more than twice as high in indigenous men; among indigenous women, cervical, stomach, and liver cancer and leukemias were 30% higher.

Beliefs about Breast Cancer among Women in the Western Amazon: A Population-Based Study

Objective: Evaluate the beliefs about the risk factors for breast cancer in a population of women from the western Amazon and determine the factors associated with the higher belief scores presented by this population. Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study included 478 women aged >40 years residing in Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil. An American Cancer Society questionnaire was applied to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about breast cancer. Results: The main beliefs about the risk factors for breast cancer were breast trauma (95%), use of underwire bra (58.5%), and a high number of sexual partners (55.5%). Women from younger age groups presented higher belief scores (Bcoefficient: –0.04, 95% CI: –0.07; –0.01) than those of women from older age groups. A strong association was noted between high knowledge scores of risk factors and signs/symptoms of the disease and high belief scores in the study group (Bcoefficient:0.33;95%CI:0.28;0.38). Conclusion: The results indicate the existence of important beliefs related to the risk factors for breast cancer. Women from younger age groups, women who have seen a gynecologist in the past 2 years, and women who had more knowledge about the risk factors and signs and symptoms of breast cancer had higher belief scores.

Breast Cancer Awareness among Women in Western Amazon: a Population Based Cross-Sectional Study

Background:

A general lack of women`s awareness of breast cancer has been one of the barriers to screening and early presentation. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate levels of knowledge about risk factors, and early warning signs of breast cancer, and to determine factors associated with better levels of comprehension.

Methods:

A population-based cross-sectional study was carried out among 478 women over 40 years old, living in Rio Branco city, western Amazon. All were interviewed using the “Breast cancer knowledge, attitudes and practice scale”, developed by American Cancer Society.

Results:

Among the respondents, only 28.6% of women were aware that advanced age highly increases the risk. Around 30% of participants recognized nipple retraction as a sign of breast cancer. Breast cancer knowledge varied according to age in such a way that the mean scores were high from 40-69 years and decreased dramatically among those aged ≥70 (β=-0.06, p=0.031). Access to health services such as the Pap-test (β=2.45, p=0.027) and attending a gynecologist in the past two years (β=1.88, p=0.005) were statistically associated with the score of breast cancer knowledge.

Conclusion:

The findings indicate that women living in urban areas, having gynecological assessment, considering herself at high risk of developing breast cancer and thinking that breast cancer is a fatal disease are statistically associated with good knowledge of breast cancer risk factors, signs and symptoms, even adjusting for age and education.

Desigualdades regionais na mortalidade por câncer de colo de útero no Brasil: tendências e projeções até o ano 2030

Resumo O objetivo deste artigo é analisar a tendência temporal da mortalidade por câncer de colo de útero no Brasil e calcular uma projeção até o ano de 2030. Foram analisados os óbitos ocorridos no Brasil de 1996 a 2010 (Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade). Foram realizadas análises das tendências da mortalidade por meio da regressão Joinpoint, e para o cálculo das projeções foi utilizado o Nordpred. Para o Brasil, a tendência é de redução (APC = 1,7% IC95%-2,2; −1,1 p < 0,05), sendo significativa nas regiões centro oeste (APC = −1,3% ao ano), sudeste (APC =−3,3%) e sul (APC = −3,9%). As regiões norte e nordeste apresntam tendência de estabilidade. Os estados do Acre (APC = −6,5%) e Rio Grande do Sul (APC = −4,1%) apresentaram as maiores tendências de redução. Na análise das projeções de mortalidade, haverá uma redução das taxas no Brasil a partir do primeiro período projetado, sendo mais marcante para a região sul. As taxas de mortalidade até o ano 2030 serão explicadas, em maior medida, pela redução dos risco para a doença. A mortalidade por câncer de colo de útero apresenta tendência de redução, todavia está desigualmente distribuída no Brasil, com as regiões norte e nordeste apresentando as maiores taxas.

Planning cancer control in Latin America and the Caribbean

Non-communicable diseases, including cancer, are overtaking infectious disease as the leading health-care threat in middle-income and low-income countries. Latin American and Caribbean countries are struggling to respond to increasing morbidity and death from advanced disease. Health ministries and health-care systems in these countries face many challenges caring for patients with advanced cancer: inadequate funding; inequitable distribution of resources and services; inadequate numbers, training, and distribution of health-care personnel and equipment; lack of adequate care for many populations based on socioeconomic, geographic, ethnic, and other factors; and current systems geared toward the needs of wealthy, urban minorities at a cost to the entire population. This burgeoning cancer problem threatens to cause widespread suffering and economic peril to the countries of Latin America. Prompt and deliberate actions must be taken to avoid this scenario. Increasing efforts towards prevention of cancer and avoidance of advanced, stage IV disease will reduce suffering and mortality and will make overall cancer care more affordable. We hope the findings of our Commission and our recommendations will inspire Latin American stakeholders to redouble their efforts to address this increasing cancer burden and to prevent it from worsening and threatening their societies.

Cancer incidence in the Western Amazon: population-based estimates in Rio Branco, Acre State, Brazil, 2007-2009

Cancer incidence rates vary widely in Brazil. The literature on the subject for the western Amazon region is scarce. This study aimed to determine cancer incidence in the population of Rio Branco, Acre State. A total of 718 new cases were recorded during the study period. Among men, the five leading cancer sites were prostate (ASR 75.1), stomach (ASR 23.0), lung (ASR 19.1), colon and rectum (ASR 9.5), and leukemia (ASR 6.9). Among women, they were breast (ASR 41.5), cervix (ASR 41.3), lung (ASR 11.8), colon and rectum (ASR 11.0), and stomach (ASR 7.7). These indicators reveal that Rio Branco has a cancer incidence pattern that overlaps with epidemiological cancer patterns observed in developed and developing regions. The results of the study point to the importance of implementing a population-based cancer registry - currently nonexistent in Rio Branco - as a factor to promote analysis of incident cases of the disease and monitoring of its evolution.