Epidemiología del Cáncer en la provincia del Cañar, 2017-2021

Abstract

Cancer is defined as the uncontrolled proliferation of abnormal cells that invade surrounding tissues and spread to distant organs. It is the leading cause of mortality in the Americas, responsible for 1.4 million deaths in 2022, with projections estimating an increase to 6.7 million deaths by 2045. Objective: To analyze the epidemiology of cancer in Cañar Province, highlighting the most prevalent cancer types, their distribution by sex, age, area of residence, and the healthcare facilities where patients received care. Methods: A descriptive, quantitative, and observational study was conducted using publicly available secondary data from the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC, by its Spanish acronym). Sampling was not required due to the use of secondary data. Results: An increase in cancer cases was observed among the elderly population, particularly among women. Malignant gastric tumors predominated at 14.3%, followed by prostate tumors at 9.7%, malignant tumors of the liver and intrahepatic bile ducts at 4.6%, malignant brain tumors at 4.2%, and malignant pancreatic tumors at 3.8%. In conclusion, the need to implement prevention and early detection strategies is highlighted, as well as to improve health education programs to reduce associated risk factors. This study highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary intervention to address the cancer burden in the region. Keywords: cancer, epidemiology, mortality, prevention.