Abstract

The Zambia National Cancer Registry (ZNCR) data of 1990 to 2009 was analyzed with the aim of determining the distribution of cancers in Zambia in the 1990/2000 decades. A total number of 12891 cases of cancers were notified to ZNCR of which 4586 (36.6%) were for males. Most cases of cancers that were notified were for patients in the 25 years or older age group (21.9% among males in the 64 years or older age group, and 25.6% among females in the 35 to 44 years age group). Most reported cancers in females were cervical cancer (48.5%) and breast cancer (11.4%). The predominant cancers in males were Kaposi’s sarcoma (22.2%) and prostate cancer (16.2%). Prevention, treatment and control interventions should be focused on cervical and breast cancers, in females and prostate cancer and Kaposi’s sarcoma in males.

Key words: Cancers, cervical cancer, breast cancer, Kaposi’s sarcoma, prostate cancer, National Cancer registry, Zambia.