Facts and figures about cancer in Bangladesh.

During two decades, beginning in 1960, there was a ten-fold increase of cancer registration in Bangladesh. Lung was the most common site (17-19%) with a 14-fold increase. Cancer of the larynx constituted 14%-15% and malignant lymphoma 5%-7% of all cancers. Cancer of the esophagus was the fifth most common cancer in both sexes (3-6%), and its registration increased 11-fold. In women, cancer of the cervix was the most common lesion (23-29%) and breast cancer was second (16-18%). Registration of cervix cancer increased 39-fold, and that of breast cancer increased ten-fold. Cancer of the oral cavity constituted 26-29% of all cancers.