Cancer is one of the most serious health problems facing the country and statistics show it is the second leading cause of death in Iran.
Cancer affects different organs of the human body and can be benign or malignant. Yet, no obvious cause has been found for the disease, but smoking, alcohol consumption, eating fast foods and lack of adequate physical activity are among non-genetic risk factors, Salamat Weekly reported.
The most common cancers in Iranian women are breast, colon and stomach, thyroid and esophageal. Stomach, prostate, bladder, colon and blood cancers are more prevalent among Iranian men. Lung cancer is the top killer cancer in the world while in Iran gastric cancer is the deadliest.
Highest in Ardebil
Gastric (stomach) cancer is the most common type in Iran, Japan and China. Its prevalence is higher in northern and northwestern parts of Iran. The highest gastric cancer incidence is in Ardebil Province. On the contrary, Kerman, a southern province, has the lowest rate.
Non-genetic risk factors for gastric cancer include smoking, high sodium consumption and diets low in antioxidants. Also Helicobacter pylori infection can be a cause of the cancer.
Helicobacter pylori are a type of bacteria that may infect around two-thirds of the people in the world. It normally infects the stomach, typically during childhood. While this strain of bacteria does not cause problems in most cases, it may cause diseases in some people.
Esophageal in Golestan
Esophageal cancer is the second most common in the country and more prevalent in northern and northeastern regions including Golestan, Mazandaran and North Khorasan provinces.
Men are more likely than women to get this type of cancer.
Esophageal cancer is also more prevalent in some parts of Asia and Africa.
Breast Cancer
Among women in Tehran, breast cancer is the most common type and the third common cancer across the country. Breast cancer occurs a decade earlier among Iranian women than women in western countries.
Tehran, Isfahan, Gilan, Fars and Khorasan provinces have the highest incidence of breast cancer, respectively. In America, breast cancer is the second most prevalent type after skin cancer. Prostate cancer is second leading cause of cancer death among Iranian men. It is more prevalent in Isfahan and most cases of the cancer are diagnosed in men over age 50.
