title: Time Trend Analysis of Cancer‏ Incidence in Caspian Sea, 2004 - 2009: A Population-based Cancer Registries Study (northern Iran).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cancer is a major public health problem in the world. In Iran especially after a transition to a dynamic and urban community, the pattern of cancer has changed significantly. An important change occurred regarding the incidence of cancer at the southern shores of the Caspian Sea, including Gilan, Mazandaran and Golestan province. This study was designed it investigate the epidemiology and changes in trend of cancer incidence in the geographic region of the Caspian Sea (North of Iran).
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from Cancer Registry Center report of Iran health deputy. Trends of incidence were analyzed by joinpoint regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period year (2004-2009), 33,807 cases of cancer had been recorded in three provinces of Gilan, Mazandran and Golstan. Joinpoint analysis indicated a significant increase in age-standardized incidence rates (ASR) with an average annual percentage change (AAPC) 10.3, 8.5 and 5.2 in Gilan, Mazandaran and Golestan, respectively. The most common cancer in these provinces were correspondingly cancer of stomach, breast, skin, colorectal and bladder, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of cancer tends to be increasing in North of Iran. These findings warrant the epidemiologic studies are helpful in planning preventive programs and recognition of risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Minimally Invasive Surgery Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. ; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Salehiniya
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.
authors.forename: Sakineh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghobadi Dashdebi
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hosein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rafiemanesh
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Abdollah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mohammadian-Hafshejani
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Enayatrad
keywords: Cancer; Caspian Sea; Epidemiology; Iran.; Trend