Research Article

Statistics of the Types of Cancers Prevalent in Najaf Registered at the National Cancer Hospital in 2023 and 2024

Abstract

Background: One of the most deadly illnesses in the world, especially in Iraq, is cancer. In recent years, there has been a discernible increase in the spread of this disease in all its manifestations. It still poses a serious risk to human health despite improvements in treatment techniques. In order to ascertain the rates of incidence growth, pinpoint the places with the greatest rates, and try to comprehend the causes of the rise in cases in these areas, a number of research are being carried out. As is well recognized, there are several causes of cancer, including chemical contaminants, environmental factors, and hereditary factors. Methods: This study was conducted in 2025 in the city of Najaf, Al-Kafeel University, after collecting the medical records of cancer patients residing exclusively in the city of Najaf from the National Oncology Hospital for the years 2023 and 2024. The variables analyzed included age, gender, type of cancer, and residential area (neighborhood). We performed the statistical analysis by using the Chi-square test to express the assess associations between variables. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: We recorded 1227 cancer cases in 2023 and 1261 cases in 2024, indicating a slight increase in the incidence rate between the two years. Females comprised the majority of cases in both years (57.9% and 57.1%), and we did not observe any statistically significant difference in age and gender distribution between the two years (p > 0.05). Regarding residential areas (p = 0.042), we observed variations, with the districts of Kufa and Najaf recording the highest incidence rates. As for cancer types we observed significant variations in distribution (p = 0.043), with breast cancer remaining the most common among females and prostate and lung cancer the most common among males. There was also an increase in thyroid cancer among women. 

Authors affiliation:

Ghadeer Mohammed Hussain (ORCID) - Department of Radiology, College of Health and Medical Technology, University of Alkafeel, Najaf, Iraq.

Fadak Mansour Abd El Redha - Department of Anesthesia, College of Health and Medical Technology, University of Alkafeel, Najaf, Iraq.

How To Cite: G.M. Hussain, F.M. Abd El Redha. Statistics of the types of cancers prevalent in Najaf registered at the National Cancer Hospital in 2023 and 2024. Journal of Applied Health Sciences and Medicine, 6(5):31–38, 2026. https://doi.org/10.58614/jahsm654