Occupation and cancer incidence in District Dir (NWFP), Pakistan, 2000-2004.

District Dir is a part of North-West frontier Province (NWFP) in Pakistan with poor health, education and socioeconomic and other facilities. Data regarding occupational cancer were here collected from cancer registry of Institute of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine (IRNUM) Peshawar for January-2000 to December-2004 and medical records of 1105 patients were traced and analyzed. It was observed that 61 % (683/1105) were males and 39% females. Farmers accounted for 43.8% of cancers, the second most effected people being housewives with 33.8% then children/students at third place with 12.8%. Cancers in laborers and other people like government employees, businessman and shopkeepers were less often found. The data from a cancer registry for a low socioeconomic region should be helpful for future mass screening and determination of risk factors within the country and in Asia in general region. Increased awareness by education is highly important and may play a beneficial role in diagnosis, treatment and prevention.