The results of the Cancer Registration Project that was ran by the Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Dr. Fazıl Küçük Faculty of Medicine and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Ministry of Health were announced at a press conference which took place at the Cyprus Turkish Medical Association headquarters on Friday, the 5th of April 2019 at 09:00. The press conference which announced the data from 2012 to 2016 was also attended by TRNC Minister of Health Dr. Filiz Besim. Data revealed that there were a total of 3633 new cancer cases in 5 years. The incidence rate of new cancer cases for men was 177.5 for men and 178 for women in 100 thousand people. The results indicate that the most common type of cancer in women is breast cancer followed by thyroid cancer and colon cancer. The most common type of cancer for men is prostate cancer followed by lung cancer and bladder cancer.
“Community Based Registration Started in 2016”
The press conference was attended by Minister of Health Dr. Filiz Besim, Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources Erkut Şahali, EMU Rector Prof. Dr. Necdet Osam, Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Dr. Halit Tanju Besler, EMU Dr. Fazıl Küçük Faculty of Medicine Dean Prof. Dr. Nahide Gökçora, health workers and representatives of non-governmental organizations. The opening speech of the meeting was delivered by EMU Dr. Fazıl Küçük Faculty of Medicine Dean Prof. Dr. Nahide Gökçora who touched upon the global history and utilization of cancer registries. Indicating that cancer registry activities first commenced in the TRNC in 2003, Prof. Dr. Gökçora stated they could only pass to community based registration from hospital based registration in 2016. Indicating that EMU Dr. Fazıl Küçük Faculty of Medicine academic staff and early diagnosis expert doctors working for the Ministry of Health received Cancer Registry education in Ankara and İzmir Prof. Dr. Gökçora continued to note: “This is a first and firsts are always hard. After this, our biggest wish is that our Ministry of Health continues to carry cancer registration forward whilst carrying out similar statistical work in other fields. We hope that this is the flame that sparks the torch. I would like to thank everybody who contributed to this project.”
“We are Ready to Do Our Part”
EMU Rector Dr. Necdet Osam also expressed his pleasure on releasing the first data of the study and emphasized that this is a task which had to be conducted in TRNC should continue in an ongoing manner. Thanking the Ministry of Health in working in collaboration with the university, Prof. Dr. Osam stated that the university is ready to do its part not only in the area of cancer but also in other areas, within the vision of the Ministry of Health.
“We are Releasing Scientific Data”
Minister of Health Dr. Filiz Besim stated that there are many debates on cancer, but they do not take place in line with the light of science. Dr. Besim added that the data to be released is the outcome of a study of 5 years. Following the speeches, Cancer Registration Project Coordinator Figen Gülen İnce and Data Planner and Analyst and EMU Dr. Fazıl Küçük Medicine Faculty academic staff member Assist. Prof. Dr. İlke Akçay delivered a presentation.
According to the findings of the study, between 2012 and 2016, 3 thousand and 633 new cancer cases were recorded.Excluding skin cancers apart from malignant melanoma, the number of new cases was announced as 3 thousand and 157. Five hundred and fifty three of the 3,500 new cases were found to be breast cancers in the study, which also reveals that the frequency of cancer disease has increased since the age of 30 in women and 50 in men. The study also found out that in males, 48% of the cancer cases were diagnosed in the 50-69 age range and 43% of the cases were diagnosed in the 50-69 age range in females. The rates of cancer according to regions are as follows: In Güzelyurt and Lefke 192.4; in Famagusta 192; in Nicosia 227.9; in Kyrenia 157 and in İskele 105.3 in 100,000. The incidence rate of cancer in men was announced as 177.5 and in women as 178. In the results of the study it was also found that when the diagnosis stages of cancers such as breast and colon were examined, the importance of cancer screening and participation was also emphasized.
At the end of the meeting, Support those with Cancer Association Chair Raziye Kocaismail presented plaques of appreciation to Minister of Health Dr. Filiz Besim and EMU Dr. Fazıl Küçük Medicine Faculty Dean Prof. Dr. Nahide Gökçora.
