Abstract 86: Cancer Update in Rwanda (2009-2018)

Abstract Purpose: In Rwanda, cancer prevalence and death have not been accurately documented up to 2018. In response, Rwanda, through the Ministry of Health and supported by Albert Einstein College of Medicine with funding from the U.S. National Cancer Institute, established a National Cancer Registry (NCR) in July 2018 to collect national cancer data. We aimed to determine the number of cancers by type, the distribution of cancers in the Rwandan population, and cancer trends over the last ten years in Rwanda. Methods: Registry data were collected over a ten-year period (2009-2018) from public and private health institutions and the National Institute of Statistics. Cancers were coded using the third edition of the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology (ICD-O3). Data entry and analysis were performed using CanReg5 system and IARCcrg quality control. The National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda provided an estimate of the country's population census for 2012 by age and sex, and the annual population was estimated assuming constant rates of change within age-sex groups. Results: Over ten years (2009-2018), a total of 18,562 cancers were registered; 11,034 (59%) in women and 7,528 (41%) in men. Breast and cervical cancers were most common among women [n=2283 (21%) and n=2330 (21%), respectively] while prostate and stomach cancers were most common among men [n=976 (13%) and n=772 (10%), respectively]. Most cases were diagnosed in women aged 50-54 (n=1381) and 45-49 (n=1189) and men aged 60-64 (n=794) and 55-59 (n=756). Cancers diagnosed in Rwanda increased from 759 cases in 2009 to 2,862 cases in 2018. Conclusion: In Rwanda, Cancers are more common in women and are diagnosed at an earlier age in women than in men. There has been a significant increase in documented cancers over 10 years, potentially related to significant improvements in diagnostic capacity within the Rwandan health system. Citation Format: Lydia Businge, Francois Uwinkindi, Marc Hagenimana, Gad Murenzi, Gallican Kubwimana, Francoise Musabyimana, Charles Ingabire, Athanase Munyaneza, Cecile Ingabire, Thomas C Randall, Kathryn Anastos, Philip E Castle. Cancer Update in Rwanda (2009-2018) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 9th Annual Symposium on Global Cancer Research; Global Cancer Research and Control: Looking Back and Charting a Path Forward; 2021 Mar 10-11. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2021;30(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 86.