Cancer in men: a study with patients seen at a hospital in the city of Porto Velho, Brazilian Amazon

Objective: to analyze the sociodemographic and clinical profile of men with cancer treated at a hospital in the city of Porto Velho, Rondônia, Western Amazon (Brazil), in a period equivalent to 1 (one) year. Materials and Methods: It is a documentary, quantitative, transversal and descriptive study, based on the raw data produced and sectorized, according to the methodological model recommended by Paraguassú-Chaves et al [6]. A semi-structured instrument developed by Paraguassú-Chaves [7] was used, divided into two blocks with a series of variables: (a) Block I - sociodemographic profile of men with cancer and (b) Block II - clinical profile of men with cancer. Results: Block I - Age is one of the most important risk factors for cancer in men, with a predominance of brown skin color, low level of education, married people, smokers and those who use alcohol. The predominant work activity is agriculture, people born in Rondônia, Paraná, Minas Gerais and São Paulo are the majority and only 4 municipalities in Rondônia are responsible for 58.4% of all cancers. Block II - Prostate cancer is more common with 33.9% relative frequency, followed by non-melanone skin cancer, with 22.2% and stomach cancer, with 11.4%. Colon cancer (5.3%), bronchi and lungs (4.9%), kidney (4.9%), bladder (4.5%), esophagus (4.5%), liver (4.3%) and rectal (4.1%) fill in a list of the 10 types of cancer with the highest relative frequency. Among the types of treatment and therapeutic procedures, “Other isolated therapeutic procedures” prevailed, with 47.8% of the 1st treatment received. 34.6% of men with cancer have a family history of cancer and 9% of men diagnosed with cancer in Rondônia died of the disease. Conclusions: The estimates and scenarios of cancer in Brazil do not differ much from those found in this study. The results presented are close to the data of most studies carried out by Paraguassú-Chaves et al [5], [6], [7], [11] and [19] in Rondônia. The Cancer Registry Information System regarding the collection, registration, information and monitoring of patients diagnosed with cancer, despite the efforts of the teams of hospital professionals, is still very deficient. At least what is expected is that this work will serve as a reference for planning, executing and evaluating actions to promote, prevent, control and treat cancer within the scope of public health policies.