Incidence trends of female breast cancer in cancer registration areas of Nantong city from 2013 to 2022

Objective To analyze the incidence trends of female breast cancer in the cancer registration areas of Nantong city, Jiangsu province from 2013 to 2022, thus providing a basis for developing prevention and control strategies for female breast cancer in this region.

Methods Data of female breast cancer cases registered in Nantong city from 2013 to 2022 were collected from the tumor follow-up database. The urban/rural area-specific crude incidence rate, the age-standardized incidence rate by Chinese standard population (ASIRC), and age-standardized incidence rate by world standard population (ASIRW) of female breast cancer were calculated. The crude incidence rate of female breast cancer in each age group was calculated. The Joinpoint model was used to estimate the annual average percentage change (AAPC) in these indicators for revealing the incidence trends of female breast cancer in selected areas with cancer registration in the city during this period.

Results In the cancer registration areas of Nantong city from 2013 to 2022, the crude incidence rate, ASIRC, and ASIRW (per 100 000) of female breast cancer were 53.83 (50.08 for urban population and 55.31 for rural population), 30.72 (28.97 for urban population and 31.43 for rural population), and 28.73 (27.20 for urban population and 29.33 rural population), respectively. The crude incidence rate, ASIRC, and ASIRW of female breast cancer in the total population and urban and rural areas showed upward trends (AAPC: 3.79%–5.96%, all P < 0.01), and the incidence rate of female breast cancer in rural areas showed a more significant upward trend. The incidence rates of female breast cancer in the age groups of 30–39 years, 40–49 years, 50–59 years, 60–69 years, and 70–79 years in the cancer registration areas all showed upward trends (AAPC: 3.44%–5.37%, all P < 0.01).

Conclusions The incidence rate of female breast cancer in the cancer registration areas of Nantong city from 2013 to 2022 showed an upward trend. Special attention should be paid to the prevention and control of female breast cancer in rural areas. Women aged 30–79 years are the key population for breast cancer prevention and control in this region.