LAUSR

Cancer epidemiology in Guatemala is an emerging field. Although one hospital-based cancer registry has existed for years, recent efforts to develop a population-based cancer registry in Guatemala City for pediatric and adult cancers would make population data available for the first time.2 Despite these limitations, in 2013 it was estimated that there were approximately 13,000 incident cases of cancer each year, the most common of which were cancers of the stomach, prostate, and cervix.3 For the majority of the adult population without private insurance or social security, the primary cancer referral centers in Guatemala are two large public referral hospitals (Roosevelt and San Juan de Dios) and the private, not-for-profit Instituto de Cancerología (National Cancer Institute [INCAN]), all in Guatemala City. Most elements of care at Roosevelt and San Juan de Dios are free of charge, and the Guatemalan government partially subsidizes cancer care for public-sector patients at INCAN. However, standard medications are sometimes unavailable, radiation therapy infrastructure is insufficient, and direct costs incurred by patients still can be significant.4