A Case Series of Immigrant Cancer Patients in Iran

Zoha  Shaka; Azadeh Angouraj  Taghavi; Zahra  Seyyedi; Mina  Khaki; Azin  Nahvijou; Kazem  Zendehdel

doi:10.18502/bccr.v16i1.18753

Zoha Shaka Cancer Research Center, Cancer Institute of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Azadeh Angouraj Taghavi Cancer Research Center, Cancer Institute of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Zahra Seyyedi Cancer Research Center, Cancer Institute of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mina Khaki Cancer Research Center, Cancer Institute of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Azin Nahvijou Cancer Research Center, Cancer Institute of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Kazem Zendehdel Cancer Research Center, Cancer Institute of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/bccr.v16i1.18753

Keywords: Immigrants, Cancer, Clinical Cancer Registry, Afghan immigrants

Abstract

Background: Iran has recently experienced a recent influx of immigrants, mainly from neighboring countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq. We report a case series of immigrant cancer patients who were admitted at Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex in Tehran.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cross-series using the medical records of immigrant patients diagnosed with cancer from March 2013 to March 2023. We per- formed descriptive analyses of the immigrant patients, including gender, age, country of birth, type of cancer, treatment courses, and metastasis status.

Results: The total number of immigrant cancer patients was 349, with 51.86% being fe- male and 48.14% male. Among these patients, 8 (2.30%) were children (under 14 years old), 42 (12.07%) were young adults (aged 15-24), and 297 (85.59%) were older than 25 years. Most immigrants in the study were from Afghanistan (95.13%), followed by Iraq (4.58%). Additionally, 8.88% of the immigrants were second-generation, born in Iran. The most common cancer types were breast (32.04%), hematological (12.15%), ovar- ian (11.05%), and colorectal (7.18%) cancers in women and hematological (17.86%), colorectal (10.71%), musculoskeletal (10.12%), and skin (10.12%) cancers in men.

Conclusion: This study is the first description of cancer disparity among immigrants in Iran. The results of this study can be used for cancer surveillance and promoting care among immigrant populations in Iran