Cancer Prevalence in Libya: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

For local epidemiological data, cancer registries and cancer incidence are crucial. There is a dearth of data regarding incidence rates and distribution in Libya. As a result, this study presents the results of a review of available data on cancer prevalence in Libya over the last 16 years (from 2006 to 2022) to aid understanding of the current cancer prevalence situation in this portion of the continent. Articles related to the topic were researched using databases and search engines such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and ResearchGate. These articles were selected based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The type of cancer from the total number of patients for each reported study was used. Studies published in the last 16 years, representing reports of 6158 cancer cases in 7 studies, showed that the final selected articles were published in the year of 2006 to 2015 (n=4, 57.14%) and a high number in east area (n=5, 71.4%), with the small number in west area (2, 14.28%). The total number of cancer cases in the east was (n=4958, 79.86%), in which the most common cancer type in the east region was breast cancer (n=1203, 24.26%), followed by lung cancer (n=738, 14.9%), and colorectal cancer (n=716, 14.4%). Whereas, in the western region was (n=1250, 20.14%), and the common cancer type was breast cancer (n=237, 18.96%), followed by colorectal cancer (n=223, 17.8%), and lung cancer (n=200, 16%). In both of them, the most common cancer type was breast cancer (n=1440, 23.2%), followed by lung cancer (n=938, 15.1%), and colorectal cancer (n=939, 15.1%). This report provides a clue on the most common type of cancer in Libya. An educational program is very important to the public to spread awareness of the risk of cancer to limit the prevalence and provide early management for this type of disease.