INCIDENCE OF AND MORTALITY FROM CERVICAL CANCER IN THE TERRITORY ADJACENT TO THE FORMER SEMIPALATINSK NUCLEAR TEST SITE IN 2008-2012

Cancer cervix is the second most common cancer among women. Association between radiation and cancerogenesis is well-established. Semey (former Semipalatinsk) is a town adjacent to the Soviet Nuclear Test Site in Kazakstan. However, little is known about epidemiology of cancer in this region. The aim of our study was to study the incidence of and mortality from cervical cancer in Semey, Kazakhsan in 2008-2012. Data on all cases of cervical cancer that occurred in Semey region during the study period were obtained from the Semey Regional Cancer Registry. The population size was obtained from the Regional Bureau of Statistics. The Standard World Population was used for calculation of the age standardized mortality and incidence rates. Altogether, 365 primary cases of cervical cancer were registered during the study period. Incidence increased from 10.0 per 100 000 in 2008 to 13.2 per 100 000 in 2012. Mortality increased from 4.7 per 100 000 in 2008 to 7.2 per 100 000 in 2012. Both incidence of and mortality from cervical cancer in Semey, East Kazakhstan increased. Both indicators exceed the average for Eastern Kazakhstan region and the national level. This might be partly explained by either delayed effects of nuclear tests performed at Semipalatinsk test site or by other factors, however, the importance of other factors, such as HPV, smoking etc cannot be ruled out.