The epidemiology of cancers in the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur

A descriptive study of 1,945 cancer cases discharged from the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, during the three-year period from 1972 to 1974, was carried out to analyse cancer patterns and frequency in the various age, sex and ethnic groups, The highest frequency of cancers occurred among the Chinese (68.8 percent) in excess of that expected from their utilization rate of the hospital (50.5 percent). The jive leading cancers in males were lung, liver, stomach, nasopharynx and rectum. In the females, the five leading cancers were cervix uteri, breast, stomach, lung and ovary. This was the pattern reflected among the Chinese, the patterns for the Malays and Indians were different. In addition, the Chinese constituted the highest proportions in most of the selected individual cancers analysed (including cancer of the nasopharynx, lung, liver, stomach, cervix, breast, rectum and colon). However, there was a high proportion of Indians in laryngeal and skin cancer. The age distribution of the patients showed that cancers of the oesophagus, stomach, colon, rectum, liver, lung, skin and bladder, were predominant in the older age groups (55 years and above). Carcinoma of the cervix uteri, ovary and breast were more common in the 45-54 years age group, while leukaemia, thyroid and nasopharyngeal carcinoma were more common in the younger age groups. Comparisons with other studies showed strikingly similar patterns to those found in Singapore, 1968-70.