The epidemiology of gastrointestinal cancer in Turkey: A review of our accumulated experience

Abstract

Among all organ cancers, gastrointestinal tract cancers present an interesting pattern in distribution over the world. There are several hundred differences between some incidences of cancer. Probably due to different geographical and climatic differences between western and eastern regions of Turkey, we found varying incidences in esophageal, gastric, and colonic carcinomas. The type of diet, and an excess or lack of some essential nutrients and vitamins are probably the main causes in determining what kind of gastrointestinal tumor might occur. Besides diet, living areas, socioeconomic status, salinity of soil, drinking water and many other factors may play a role. Contrary to the findings of some authors, excessive tea and alcohol consumption has not been found to be a risk factor in our study.