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World's second-most populated country -

There are currently 1.4 billion inhabitants in China, a number second only to India, which has a population of 1.46 billion.

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A huge populace -

With such a huge populace, you'd expect the number of medical conditions and disorders recorded in China to be higher than average.

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Disproportionate cancer burden -

But China actually faces a disproportionate cancer burden to the population size.

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Mortality from cancer -

Latest figures available released by the National Cancer Center of China (NCC) estimated that in 2022 about 4,824,700 new cancer cases and 2,574,200 new cancer deaths occurred in the country.

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China's mortality rate -

In 2024, the total number of deaths from all causes in China amounted to around 10.93 million, according to Statista.

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Top five cancer types -

Cancers of the lung, colon-rectum, thyroid, liver, and stomach were the top five cancer types, accounting for little over 57% of new cancer cases.

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Leading causes of cancer deaths -

Cancers of the lung, liver, stomach, colon-rectum, and esophagus (pictured) were the five leading causes of cancer deaths, accounting for 67.50% of total cancer deaths, reported the NCC.

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Work of the International Agency for Research on Cancer -

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (AIRC), part of the World Health Organization, further disseminated NCC data from 2022.

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Cancer incidences: male -

The top three leading cancers ranked by causes in China's male population were: lung, colon-rectum, and liver cancer. 

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Cancer incidences: female -

Among China's female population, the top three leading cancers ranked by causes were: lung, breast, and thyroid cancer.

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Cancer mortality rates: male -

The top three leading cancers ranked by deaths among Chinese males were: lung, liver, and stomach cancer.

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Cancer mortality rates: female -

The top three leading cancers ranked by deaths among Chinese females were: lung, colon-rectum, and liver cancer.

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Risk of developing cancer -

A worrying statistic revealed the risk of developing cancer before the age of 75 years as 21% for males and 19.3% for females.

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Risk of dying from cancer -

Similarly, the risk of dying from cancer before the age of 75 years was calculated at 13.5% for males and 7.1% for females.

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No definitive answers -

Scientists and health professionals attempting to identify specific reasons why China's cancer rates are soaring can offer no definitive answers—China does not maintain a national database.

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Limited knowledge -

To date, no studies have provided a systematic quantitative assessment of the burden of cancer mortality and incidence attributable to known risk factors in the country.

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What's causing all these cancer cases? -

What is certain is that cancer rates in China are due to modifiable lifestyle and environmental risk factors, and are potentially preventable.

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Smoking-related deaths -

Lung cancer is the top cause of cancer-related deaths in both men and women, together with smoking as the most important contributor to cancer deaths.

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Pollution-related deaths -

Infectious agents generated by air pollution is a contributory factor, the effects of which have long been blamed on China's high mortality rate from the disease.

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Lifestyle-related deaths -

Unhealthy habits such as poor diet and obesity can also be attributed to elevated cases of cancer across China.

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Death of Yao Beina -

In 2022, documented incidences of breast cancer in China reached 357,161 new cases resulting in 74,986 deaths, according to the World Cancer Research Fund. Previously in 2015, the entire nation mourned the loss of Chinese pop singer Yao Beina. Her death from breast cancer at age 33 inspired others stricken with the disease to build confidence to overcome the condition. While breast cancer remains the second-highest incidence of the disease among women, more are coming forward to be screened.

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Colon-rectum cancer -

The rising burden of colon-rectum and prostate cancers is significant. Tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking, overweight or obesity, physical inactivity, low vegetable intake, low fruit intake, and high red and processed meat intake can all contribute towards the onset of colon-rectum cancer.

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Prostate cancer -

Research suggests there may also be a link between obesity and prostate cancer, and a balanced diet and regular exercise may lower a person's risk of developing this particular type of the disease.

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Liver cancer -

Liver cancer is a particular problem among Chinese men, many of whom carry the hepatitis B virus. The reason for this is unclear, because hepatitis B has no clear transmission routes. Without regular health checks, the virus can easily morph into liver cancer. China now accounts for half of the world's cases of the disease: around 130 million people in the country are believed to be carrying the hepatitis B virus, and 30 million have developed a chronic hepatitis B virus, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

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Major public health concern -

Findings suggest that although substantial progress has been made in cancer control, especially in digestive system cancers, the disease in all its forms remains a major public health concern in China.

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The battle against cancer -

This is despite the gradual decrease in smoking and relative improvements of air quality. But protocols are in place to help stem cancer's relentless march.

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National Health Commission of China -

In 2019, the National Health Commission of China and other government agencies published the Cancer Prevention and Control Action Plan.

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Healthy China Action Plan -

In 2023, the Healthy China Action Plan was launched, the largest public health plan initiative in China's history.

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Mitigating the cancer burden -

Adherence to guidelines set out in both documents, along with sustained efforts in comprehensive risk factor control, cancer screening, early diagnosis and treatment, and standardization of diagnostic and therapeutic protocols, are seen as key strategies to effectively mitigate the increasing cancer burden by 2030, says the NCC. 

Sources: (Springer Nature Link) (NCC) (Annals of Oncology) (BBC) (AIRC) (WHO) (NIH) (Statista) (World Cancer Research Fund)

See also: Rare cancers that challenge the medical profession

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