Background: Breast and gynecological tumors are the most common cancers in women. The aim of this study was to show the epidemiologic features of gynecological and breast cancers in the French administrative district of La Somme.
Methods: This study focused on the 1982-1999 period. Incidence, mortality and survival rates were calculated.
Results: In 1997-1999, the world standardized breast incidence and mortality rates were 81.6 and 20.2 per 100,000 females per year. Breast and genital tract cancers accounted for 47% of all cancers in women. The incidence and mortality of uterine cervix cancers showed a clear decline over the past 10 years, whereas the trend of breast cancers was dominated by continuing increase. However, mortality was stable for breast cancers. Five year relative survival rates were respectively 80% for breast cancers, and 68%, 76%, 38%, for uterine cervix, uterine body and ovary cancers respectively. Incidence and mortality rates in Somme were in the middle risk range of other cancer French registries.
Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that genital tract and breast cancers constitute a serious public health problem pointing out the importance of screening activities in the Somme area.