Cancer and Its Determinants: Identifying Major Risk Factors Among Patients in Southern Bangladesh
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background: Cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with multiple lifestyles, environmental, and genetic factors contributing to its development. Objective: This study aimed to identify major risk factors and characterize the demographic and clinical profiles of cancer patients in southern Bangladesh. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Khulna City Medical College Hospital from January 2024 to June 2025. Data were collected from 300 cancer patients attending outpatient and inpatient services. Sociodemographic information, lifestyle behaviors, medical and family history, and cancer type were recorded using structured interviews and review of medical records. Descriptive statistics summarized the characteristics of patients, and chi-square analysis examined associations between risk factors and cancer types. Results: Of the 300 patients, 168 (56.0%) were male and 132 (44.0%) were female, with a mean age of 52.4 ± 14.2 years. The most common cancers were lung (25.3%), gastrointestinal (17.3%), and oral & pharyngeal (16.0%), while breast (39.4%) and cervical (21.2%) cancers predominated among women. Tobacco use (48.0%), betel nut chewing (39.3%), alcohol consumption (13.3%), and sedentary lifestyle (53.3%) were prevalent, with significant associations between tobacco and lung/oral cancers (p<0.001), betel nut and oral/pharyngeal cancer (p=0.002), alcohol and gastrointestinal cancers (p=0.004), and sedentary behavior and breast/colorectal cancers (p=0.017). Family history of cancer was reported by 21.3% of participants and was significantly associated with breast and cervical cancers (p=0.031). Hypertension (30.7%) and diabetes (22.7%) were the most common comorbidities. Conclusion: Cancer in southern Bangladesh shows a clear pattern of lifestyle, hereditary, and metabolic risk factors. Tobacco and betel nut use, alcohol consumption, sedentary behavior, and family history are strongly associated with specific cancer types.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
References
1. Organization WH. Cancer Fact Sheet; 2021.
2. Colditz GA, Wolin KY, Gehlert S. Applying what we know to accelerate cancer prevention. Science Translational Medicine. 2012;4(127):127rv4–127rv4.
3. Celentano DD, Klassen AC, Weisman CS, Rosenshein NB. The role of contraceptive use in cervical cancer: the Maryland cervical cancer case-control study. American Journal of Epidemiology. 1987;126(4):592–604.
4. Peto R, Darby S, Deo H, Silcocks P, Whitley E, Doll R. Smoking, smoking cessation, and lung cancer in the UK since 1950: combination of national statistics with two case-control studies. Bmj. 2000;321(7257):323–329.
5. Plummer M, Herrero R, Franceschi S, Meijer CJ, Snijders P, Bosch FX, et al. Smoking and cervical cancer: pooled analysis of the IARC multi-centric case–control study. Cancer Causes & Control. 2003;14(9):805–814.
6. Bernstein L, Henderson BE, Hanisch R, Sullivan-Halley J, Ross RK. Physical exercise and reduced risk of breast cancer in young women. JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 1994;86(18):1403–1408.
7. Cancer prevention organisation: World Cancer Research Fund International; 2022. Available from: https://www.wcrf.org/.
8. Hashim D, Boffetta P. Occupational and environmental exposures and cancers in developing countries. Annals of global health. 2014;80(5):393–411.
9. Freedman D, Dosemeci M, McGlynn K. Sunlight and mortality from breast, ovarian, colon, prostate, and non-melanoma skin cancer: a composite death certificate-based case-control study. Occupational and environmental medicine. 2002;59(4):257–262.
10. Kricker A, Armstrong BK, English DR, Heenan PJ. Pigmentary and cutaneous risk factors for non-melanocytic skin cancera case-control study. International Journal of Cancer. 1991;48(5):650–662.
11. Steinberg GD, Carter BS, Beaty TH, Childs B, Walsh PC. Family history and the risk of prostate cancer. The Prostate. 1990;17(4):337–347.
12. La Vecchia C, Negri E, Gentile A, Franceschi S. Family history and the risk of stomach and colorectal cancer. Cancer. 1992;70(1):50–55.
13. Sattin RW, Rubin GL, Webster LA, Huezo CM, Wingo PA, Ory HW, et al. Family history and the risk of breast cancer. Jama. 1985;253(13):1908–1913.
14. Slattery ML, Kerber RA. Family history of cancer and colon cancer risk: the Utah Population Database. JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 1994;86(21):1618–1626.
15. Zhao-hua Z, Xue-ping Z. Study on correlation between cervix cancer and chemical elements of soil environment in china [J]. Hunan Geology. 2001;2.
16. Hess C, Weiffenbach C, Norton S. Environmental radon and cancer correlations in Maine. Health Physics. 1983;45(2):339–348.
17. Pukkala E, Martinsen JI, Lynge E, Gunnarsdottir HK, Spar´en P, Tryggvadottir L, et al. Occupation and cancer–follow-up of 15 million people in five Nordic countries. Acta Oncologica. 2009;48(5):646–790.
18. Bruce N, Dherani M, Liu R, Hosgood HD, Sapkota A, Smith KR, et al. Does household use of biomass fuel cause lung cancer? A systematic review and evaluation of the evidence for the GBD 2010 study. Thorax. 2015;70(5):433–441.
19. Kim KH, Jahan SA, Kabir E. A review of diseases associated with household air pollution due to the use of biomass fuels. Journal of hazardous materials. 2011;192(2):425–431.
20. Sheikh M, Poustchi H, Pourshams A, Khoshnia M, Gharavi A, Zahedi M, et al. Household fuel use and the risk of gastrointestinal cancers: The Golestan Cohort Study. Environmental health perspectives. 2020;128(6):067002.
21. Fullerton DG, Bruce N, Gordon SB. Indoor air pollution from biomass fuel smoke is a major health concern in the developing world. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 2008;102(9):843–851.
22. Zheng W, Lee SA. Well-done meat intake, heterocyclic amine exposure, and cancer risk. Nutrition and cancer. 2009;61(4):437–446.
23. Sebekov´a K, Somoza V. Dietary advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) and their health effects–PRO. Molecular nutrition & food research. 2007;51(9):1079–1084.
24. Abid Z, Cross AJ, Sinha R. Meat, dairy, and cancer. The American journal of clinical nutrition. 2014;100:386S–393S.
25. Shammi M, Sultana A, Hasan N, Rahman MM, Islam MS, Bodrud-Doza M, et al. Pesticide exposures towards health and environmental hazard in Bangladesh: A case study on farmers’ perception. Journal of the Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences. 2020;19(2):161–173.
26. Lisa TS, Afrose M, Kabya KM, Rahman A, Abdullah AM, Ferdaus F. linking maternal work status with child nutrition and morbidity in rural Bangladesh: A multifactorial Analysis. Asia Pac J Surg Adv. 2025;2(2):116-124.
27. Rahman Mastura R, Bain R, Moonwara M, Arifuzzaman, Ferdaus F. Antibiotic Susceptibility Patterns in Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections Among Young Females. Asia Pac J Surg Adv. 2025;2(2):93-98
28. Sajeeb K, Sadik HS, Hasan R, Hafiz FB, Hasan K, Arifuzzaman, Ferdaus F. Infection Control Practices and Surgical Site Infection Rates in Post-Operative Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Rural Hospital Setting. Asia Pac J Surg Adv. 2025;2(2):84-92.
29. Jesi NS, Sharmy SC, Hridi AS, Reza MS, Ferdaus F. Chronic Lung Disease in Focus: Epidemiological Perspectives on Lifestyle, Environmental, and Clinical Risk Factors. Asia Pac J Surg Adv. 2025;2(3):130-138
30. Rayhan MR, Lisa TS, Hasan MK, Morshed MR, Mahmud MR, Sultana T.Mental Shadows of TB: Cross-Sectional Analysis of Stigma, Psychological Well-being, and Support Needs in Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients. Bangl J Food Nutr. 2025;2(3):43-49
31. Abdullah AM, Rahman A, Reza IMK, Ahmed S, Tabassum F, Ferdaus F.Emerging Comorbidity of Diabetes and Hypertension Among Young Adults in Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Study. BanglJ Food Nutr. 2025;2(3):58-66
32. Asha ABZ, Lisa TS, Malaker S, Harun JB, Babunty RBZ, Parveen M.A Cross-Sectional Investigation of Serum Cholesterol, Blood Glucose, and Body Mass Index Differences Between Elderly Primigravida and Multigravida. Bangl J Food Nutr. 2025;2(3):50-57
33. Rahman A, Abdullah AM, Ahmed S, Reza IMK, Kabya KM, Alam GN.Respiratory and Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Jute Mill Workers: Occupational Health Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study in Bangladesh. Bangl J Food Nutr. 2025;2(3):67-74
34. AhmedS, RezaIMK,RahmanA, AbdullahAM, Tabassum F, SultanaT.Rationality and Resistance: A Study on Antibiotic Prescription Practices Among General Practitioners in RuralBangladesh. Bangl J Food Nutr. 2025;2(3):75-81
35. Moonwara M, Bain R, Mastura RR, Arifuzzaman, Ferdaus F.Impact of Chronic Workplace Stress on Menstrual Irregularities and Early Onset Menopause in Young Female Workers. Bangl J Food Nutr. 2025;2(2):22-27
36. Reza IMK, Ahmed S, Abdullah AM, Rahman A, Afrose M, Ferdaus F. Triple Health Burden in the Garment Industry: A Study on Musculoskeletal Disorders, Visual Strain, and Psychological Stress Among Female RMG Workers in Bangladesh. Asia Pac J Cancer Res. 2025;2(2):65-72.
37. Bain R, Moonwara M, Mastura RR, Alam GN, Ferdaus F. Impact of Saline Water Intrusion on Maternal and Neonatal Health in Coastal Communities of Bangladesh. Asia Pac J Cancer Res. 2025;2(1):10-16.