China’s National Cancer Center (NCC) has released the latest national cancer statistics, approved by the National Health Commission (NHC). The data, calculated in collaboration with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), aligns with the GLOBOCAN 2022 report.
In 2022, China reported 4,824,700 new cancer cases, with a standard incidence rate of 209.61 per 10,000 men, slightly higher than the 197.03 per 10,000 women. The male standard mortality rate also surpassed that of females, at 127.49 per 100,000 compared to 67.81 per 100,000. The most prevalent cancers by incidence included lung cancer (1,060,600 cases), colorectal cancer (517,100 cases), and thyroid cancer (466,100 cases), while lung cancer led in mortality with 733,300 deaths, followed by liver cancer (316,500) and gastric cancer (260,400).
The data indicates that cancer incidence remains low in individuals aged 0-34, with a marked increase starting at age 35, peaking between 80-84. Notably, men aged 25-54 exhibit lower incidence rates than women, while those over 60 experience higher rates. Mortality rates rise significantly starting at age 40, peaking at 85 and older, with men consistently showing higher rates than women in the 40 and above age group.
For men, the top ten cancers by incidence are lung, colorectal, liver, stomach, esophageal, prostate, thyroid, bladder, pancreatic, and lymphoma. In women, the leading cancers are lung, breast, thyroid, colorectal, cervical, gastric, liver, uterine body, ovarian, and esophageal cancers.
From 2000 to 2018, the standardized incidence rate for all cancer types increased by an average of 1.4% annually. Notable increases in incidence for men were seen in thyroid, prostate, and colorectal cancers, while women experienced rises in thyroid, cervical, uterine body, lung, and breast cancers. Conversely, the standardized mortality rate for all cancer types decreased by an average of 1.3% annually. Increases in mortality for men were noted in prostate, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers, while cervical and ovarian cancers saw rises for women.
The rise in new cancer cases and deaths in 2022 can be attributed to an aging population and heightened public awareness of cancer prevention, leading to increased participation in screening and early diagnosis initiatives. Despite the rising incidence and mortality rates, China’s annual medical expenses related to malignant tumors exceed RMB 220 billion. Over the past decade, the survival rate for malignant tumors has gradually improved, currently at approximately 40.5% for five-year relative survival. This marks a 10 percentage point increase over the past decade, although significant gaps remain compared to developed countries.- Flcube.com
