Cancer prevalence rate on the rise

The nation`s cancer prevalence rate has increased in recent years, centered on colon cancer and thyroid cancer that are known to be more common in advanced countries, national statistics showed yesterday.

According to the Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs, the number of cancer patients was 153,237 in 2006 and 161,920 in 2007, up 5.1 percent and 11 percent compared to 2005.

Considering the nation`s average life-expectancy, 76 for males and 83 for females, 34.4 percent of Korean men and 28.9 percent of women suffer from cancer, the ministry indicated.

The prevalence rate of thyroid cancer increased by 25 percent, with the cancer found most commonly in females. The rate for colon cancer also increased 7 percent for men and 5 percent for women.



Along with traditionally common diseases such as stomach cancer and liver cancer, the number of patients diagnosed with prostate cancer (13.2 percent) and breast cancer (6.6 percent) also increased in recent years, the ministry said.

"The surge in thyroid cancer patients is because of the fact that a growing number of Koreans receive regular health checkups. Considering the high survival rate (98.8 percent), people don`t need to have fears about the statistical increase," said Lee Jin-soo, president of the state-run National Cancer Center.

Compared to other countries, the cancer prevalence rate was higher than Asian countries such as Japan and China, but lower than European countries and the United States.

The nation`s five-year survival rate from cancer also has increased to 57.1 percent in recent years, up 15.9 percent from 1993-1995 and 4 percent from 2001-2005.

The five-year relative survival rate describes the percentage of patients that are alive five years after being diagnosed with cancer. Experts say that a patient is more likely to die of old age or other types of cancer five years after having survived the first bout.

The survival rates for stomach cancer, cervical cancer and liver cancer were lower than in other advanced countries such as the United States and Canada.

"The survival rate for lung cancer has reached 16.7 percent, similar to the level in the United States. Considering the development of the nation`s medical techniques, the low rate should be improved by preventative measures such as anti-smoking campaigns," Lee added.

(jylee@heraldm.com)







By Lee Ji-yoon