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Cancer among children is a substantial public concern. The epidemiology of childhood cancer is not fully understood. The descriptive epidemiology for cancer incidence has been a subject of considerable debate in order to identify and clarify the role of etiological factors and environmental exposure in cancer. An up-to-date perspective systematically collected data on the incidence of childhood cancer in Alexandria was used. Statistical analysis revealed that the over all cancer incidence rate increased from 1972 to 2001. The incidence of lymphatic and haemopoietic cancers increased dramatically over the specified period. The lymphatic and haemopoietic ancer incidence in 2001 have increased approximately 11 times cancer incidence in 1972. The incidence of leukemia among infant less than 5 years increased exponentially with a higher incidence among boys. Little increase was observed in the cancers of oral cavity, digestive organs and respiratory system over the specified period. Incidence of genito-urinary cancers have increased 3.7 times cancer incidence in 1973. Brain and central nervous system cancers showed an increase of 4.5 fold during the 30 years studied period. The trends in some cancer types suggest the need of a closer examination of the underlying factors and environmental contaminants leading to the disease in children.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the world. Female breast cancer incidence has historically increased all over the world during the past decades. The purpose of this study was to estimate the patterns of female breast cancer incidence in Alexandria, Egypt, from 1972 to 2001. An up-to-date perspective systematically collected data on the incidence of female breast cancers was used. Age categories-estimated incidence over the 30 years period were computed. Time series analysis showed that incidence of breast cancers is increasing significantly during the studied period. Linear trend model was best fitted, with the studied interval and the estimated cancer cases per year taken into account. Age-incidence correlation showed a high correlation between age group of 40-50 years old and incidence. Analysis of the patterns for cancer incidence indicates that the highest occurrence of female breast cancer is shown in the age category of 45-50 years followed respectively by the age categories of 40-45 years, 50-55 years, 35-40 years and then 55-60 years. These findings support the growing body of evidence from female breast cancer incidence suggesting that age is a well-known risk factor for breast cancer susceptibility.