CANCER INCIDENCE IN WESTERN-SAMOA

This report presents the first data on cancer incidence in Western Samoa, which has one of the largest Polynesian communities in the world. Incidence estimates are based on a systematic retrospective survey of cancer cases identified in the laboratory of pathology, and from hospital records, for the period January 1980 to June 1988. The overall incidence rates are low in both sexes (age-standardized incidence rates are 93.7 for males and 95.7 per 100 000 for females). Although cases may have been missed, it seems likely that incidence rates among Samoans are substantially lower than those recorded in Polynesian populations elsewhere. It is notable that cancers related to tobacco are responsible for less than 17% of all cancers in males, compared to more than 30% in other Polynesians. Stomach cancer remains the most common cancer in males. In females, breast and cervix are equally common and make up almost 40% of all cancers. Liver cancer occurs more commonly in males, and the rates are slightly lower than those of other Polynesians. The high incidence of thyroid cancer seen in some Pacific Island populations is not seen among Samoans.