Which Regions in Kazakhstan Have the Highest Cancer Rates?

Murat Kaibarov, Head of the Head and Neck Tumors Center at the Kazakh Institute of Oncology and Radiology (KazIOR), and oncologist Orazbek Eshniyazov shared critical data regarding the country’s cancer epidemiology on the "OnkoAkiqat" podcast.

According to the doctors, the Pavlodar, Karaganda, Semey, and Oskemen regions lead in terms of both incidence and complication rates. The following factors directly impact the environmental situation in these areas:

• Concentration of industrial facilities;
• Legacy of former nuclear testing sites;
• Active uranium mines and mining operations.

 "In the western regions, 'border migration' significantly affects statistics. Citizens with financial means often seek treatment in Russia, returning to domestic specialists only when the disease has reached an advanced stage. Furthermore, in cities with over a million residents—Astana, Almaty, and Shymkent—the number of patients is rising due to urbanization and agglomeration," stated Murat Kaibarov.

The analysis conducted by the specialists is concerning: the five-year survival rate following cancer treatment has dropped by 30-40%.

In medicine, the "five-year survival rate" is the most critical statistical benchmark for determining a patient's chances of full recovery. Passing this time threshold significantly reduces the risk of recurrence, and the individual is often considered among those who have successfully overcome the disease. However, the current decline of this indicator in Kazakhstan underscores that factors such as late-stage diagnosis and barriers to effective treatment remain dominant challenges.