Estimating the incidence and mortality of cancer in Colombia: What are the best data for public policies?

Colombia simultaneously faces the challenge of controlling both the communicable and non-communicable diseases. Information provided by the population-based cancer registries (PBCRs) of Colombia1-4 indicates that cancer is a major cause of morbidity in our region. Based on the information provided by the PBCRs of Colombia and taking into account mortality data from cancer, the Colombian National Cancer Institute (NCI) estimates that, in Colombia, there are about 63,000 new cases and 33,000 deaths by cancer each year5. The number of people living with the disease is unknown. The possibility of reducing cancer mortality and preventing 30% of malignancies has encouraged the Colombian government to design a Cancer National Information System (Cancer-NIS)6 and to formulate a ten-year plan for its control7.