Lung cancer was still the most common form of cancer for local residents last year, followed by colorectal cancer, liver cancer, thyroid cancer and gastric cancer, according to a report released by the Shenzhen Center for Chronic Disease Control on Thursday.
Last year, a total of 30,808 new cancer cases were reported among permanent residents in Shenzhen, an increase of 2,079 cases and up 7.24 percent year on year. That’s an average of 84 new cancer cases reported every day and more than three cancer cases every hour.
Women outnumbered men in terms of the newly diagnosed cases. A total of 16,518 female cancer patients were reported last year, with thyroid cancer most often diagnosed in the group followed by breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer and cervical cancer.
Among the 14,290 new cancer cases found in men, the most common cancer types included lung cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, thyroid cancer and gastric cancer.
It is of great significance to enhance the cancer prevention awareness among residents in order to help them prevent and fight cancer, said the center.
To this end, the center carried out a sampling survey on cancer prevention awareness rate and control knowledge across the city in 2020.
The survey results show that the local citizens’ overall awareness rate is 56.59 percent, among which women’s awareness rate is 57.41 percent and men’s is 55.62 percent. The awareness rate of young adults aged from 25 to 44 is the highest, reaching 58.41 percent.
The center said that being diagnosed with cancer is not necessarily a death sentence. Through standardized treatment, the five-year survival rate can be generally increased to 50 percent. Early detection, diagnosis and treatment is an important health strategy for cancer patients to have the best chance for successful treatment.