Over 7500 people die from cancer everyday in China
A study has revealed that more than 7,500 people a day die in China due to cancer, whilst doctors diagnosed nearly 12,000 new cases daily in 2015.
The data, released by the National Cancer Center in Beijing, revealed almost 3 million deaths in 2015 were due to cancer, with 4.3 million new positive diagnosis.
The alarming figures were published in "A Cancer Journal for Clinicians", with Wanqing Chen, Ph.D., MD, leading the research. Dr. Chen's team analyzed data from 72 local population-based cancer registries, representing 6.5% of the population.
According to Asia News, the figures show that despite the death rates decreasing compared to 2006, aging and growth of the population contributed a 73.8% increase in cancer deaths.
Lung cancer is the most common leading cause of cancer death in China with air pollution, domestic pollution - coal heating and biomass fuels -and active smoking, among the first causes of lung infections. Tobacco smoking was accounted responsible for about one-quarter of all cancer deaths in China.
Experts said that individuals living in rural areas are most at risk, where the soil and water are often contaminated, exposing them to many environmental carcinogens, while the most preventable causes of cancer death was chronic infection (stomach, intestines, etc.), responsible for 29% of deaths.
Science Daily summarized other findings of the report. The findings predicted that about 12,000 new cancer will be diagnosed daily and many cancer deaths could be prevented by reducing the prevalence of risk factors while increasing clinical care delivery effectiveness, particularly those living in disadvantaged areas.
The five most common cancers among men are lung, esophagus, stomach, liver, and colorectum. On the other hand, the most common cancers among women are breast, lung and bronchus, colorectum, and esophagus being responsible for nearly 60% of all cases.
The five leading causes of cancer death for both men and women in China are lung and bronchus, stomach, liver, esophagus, and colorectum.
Medscape discussed Dr. Chen and his colleagues' warning that while the data presented in the study represented double of the population coverage compared with preceding estimates, the data only represents less than one-tenth of the total Chinese population. The researchers concluded that there still remains an unknown level of uncertainty in the estimates.
Dr. Chen and his colleagues suggested a detailed assessment of the cancer problem in China based on representative and accurate population-based data must be developed in order to have an appropriate targeted national control plan.
China is a major contributor to the worldwide health issue of cancer. The researchers concluded that policies aimed at decreasing the incidence of tobacco smoking and infections associated with cancer risk will greatly impact to reduce the future burden of cancer.