BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Cancer is one of the main causes of death in human societies. The epidemiological research and cancer control policy in developed countries is dependent on the record of various types of cancer and of mortality information on cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of mortality from cancer in Ayatollah Rouhani Hospital of Babol.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on all patients who died of cancer in Ayatollah Rouhani Hospital during 5 years. The available information in medical records was collected using researcher-made form (containing demographic characteristics and cause of death).

FINDINGS: The most of died patients were over 60 years (49.21%). Gastrointestinal (38.17%) and blood and lymph cancers (31.54%) had higher prevalence than other cancers. Frequency of mortality was different in studied gender and age group.

CONCLUSION: The incidence of cancer mortality has a growing trend. Since the gastrointestinal cancer has been reported as the main cause of death, routinely identifying the factors related to the prevention of cancer in people at risk and screening tests for early detection of gastrointestinal cancers are necessary