Epidemiology of Prostate Cancer and Its Incidence Trends in Iran

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men. This type of cancer is the second leading cause of death and is of the highest prevalence in men. Therefore, having a general picture of the characteristics and changes of the cancer epidemiology is essential for this type of cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of prostate cancer and its incidence trends in Iran.
This cross - sectional study conducted on date extracted from cancer registry system in Iran during 2003 to 2009. After separation of the data for prostate cancer, number of cases, incidence, and standardized incidence were studied, and the epidemiological characteristics of the disease during the studied period were presented.
Incidence of prostate cancer in Iran has an increasing trend, so that the number of cases recorded in 2003 and 2009 are 1548 and 3856 cases, respectively. The lowest age-standardized incidence rate (ASR) observed in 2003 whit 5.4 and the highest ASR observed in 2009 whit 12. Among provinces, Tehran has the highest cases of prostate cancer and Sistan and Baluchistan province has the lowest cases. The highest incidence rate reported in the age group above 50 years.
Prostate cancer is a disease of older men that its incidence is increasing in Iran. Due to the changing in lifestyle of the people and the aging of the population, planning to conduct epidemiological and etiological studies about this cancer and early detection of disease by using screening test seems necessary.