OBJECTIVES
To characterize the epidemiological profile of cancer in the Pijao indigenous population enrolled in an Indigenous Health Provider (EPSI, according to the spanish abbreviation) between 2002 and 2022.
METHODS
We analyzed data from 106,223 individuals affiliated with an Indigenous Health Provider. Cancer cases were identified and classified according to IARC criteria. Descriptive and spatial analyses were performed using choropleth maps, population pyramids, and density plots. Only the first primary cancer was considered. Analyses were stratified by sex, age, and diagnostic period. Statistical analysis was conducted using R version 4.0.2.
RESULTS
We identified 254 cancer cases (59.1% female, 40.9% male), mean age 58 years. Most cases (87.8%) were located in Tolima. The five most common cancer types were: skin (20.6%), breast (14.0%), thyroid (9.5%), cervical (7.4%), and stomach (6.6%). Breast cancer was predominant in women (24.3%), skin cancer in men (28.2%). An increase in detection was noted during 2018–2022, particularly for skin, breast, and stomach cancer.
CONCLUSION
This first epidemiological analysis of cancer in the Pijao population reveals specific patterns in cancer presentation and distribution. The findings support the need for culturally tailored cancer control strategies and expanded oncology service access for indigenous communities.
