How a Cancer Registry Was Set Up in Senegal: An Example to Follow for a Developing Country

Objectives: Senegal, with the support of WHO, had begun the establishment of a National Cancer Registry in 2009, although it had been at a standstill since 1969; the objective of this work was to test the reliability of data collection tools and feasibility stages necessary for the validation of media before the establishment of a national cancer registry. Methodology: We conducted a non-exhaustive preliminary study over a period of three months from the first of January to 31 March 2010 at four major hospitals in Dakar at the time. Results: Two hundred and eighty-nine cases had been identified: 44% of men (n = 127) and 56% of women (n = 162) with a sex ratio of 0.8. The ages ranged from 20 to 90 years with an average of 50 years. The main diagnostic mode was essentially histological, with 76% of cases (n = 219). The most frequent locations were: ORL (ENT meaning Ear, Nose and Throat) with 25% of cases, liver 7% and bronchopulmonary 4.5% of cases. In men, liver cancer was the most common location and women for cervical cancer with 16%. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common histological type with 68% of cases followed by adenocarcinoma with 22% of cases. Thirty-eight percent of patients were classified as stage III and IV. A quarter of our patients had received palliative treatment. In contrast, 15 (15%) had received chemotherapy and 4% had received radiotherapy. Data collection was satisfactory. Conclusion: Cancer is a reality in Senegal but it remains underdiagnosed. The materials made it possible to make the cancer registry effective throughout the country.