Prostate and Thyroid Cancers Soared in Men and Women Respectively

Prostate and thyroid cancer incidences in men and women respectively have increased by the greatest rate since 1995.

Last year, the number one cancer killer among men was stomach cancer, followed by lung and liver cancers. For women, it was breast cancer followed by stomach and colon cancers.

The number of new cancer cases in 139 hospitals increased by 7.7 percent to 99,025 according to the 2002 Cancer Report by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

According to the report, stomach cancer topped the list with 20.2 percent, followed by lung, liver, colon, breast, and thyroid cancers.

In men, stomach cancer ranked first with 24 percent, followed by lung, liver, bladder, and prostate cancers. The order has not changed.

On the other hand, breast and stomach cancers were major killers in women with 16.8 and 15.3 percents respectively, followed by colon, thyroid, cervical, and lung cancers. Thyroid cancer ranked fifth last year.

Compared to 1995, prostrate cancer skyrocketed by 221 percent, followed by colon (184 percent) and lung (124 percent) cancers. In women, thyroid cancer soared by 246 percent, followed by breast (199 percent) and colon (164 percent) cancers.

The rises in elderly population and meat consumption, as well as a westernized eating habit, are closely related to the increased case of prostate cancer. The increased cases of thyroid cancer in women are attributable to an advance in medical examination.

“Colon cancer, which has increased in both men and women, will be added to an early cancer detection program, along with stomach, breast, cervical and liver cancers,” said An So-yeong, Director of Cancer Control Division at the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

In that case, 30 percent of people who both are Basic Livelihood Protection recipients and pay the lowest health insurance premium will be able to get a free cancer test at any hospital.

Dong-Won Kim daviskim@donga.com