Of the five major cancers, breast cancer had the highest patient growth rate over the five-year period. (image: Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Korea Bizwire) — The number of young people in their 20s who have been treated for the five major cancers (stomach, liver, breast, cervical and colorectal cancer) has increased by 45 percent over the past five years, stressing the need for government intervention to manage the health of young people.
According to data submitted by Rep. Kim Kwang-soo from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, the number of patients in their 20s who were treated for the five major cancers reached 44.5 percent over the five-year period, from 3,621 in 2014 to 5,234 in 2018.
The figure is more than twice as high as the 20.2 percent increase in all five major cancers, and is unusually high in comparison with the increase in age, such as 28.2 percent for those in their 60s and 26.1 percent for those in their 70s.
By cancer type, the number of cervical cancer patients in their 20s rose from 2,041 in 2014 to 13,284 in 2018, while those with colorectal cancer increased 30.3 percent from 373 to 486 in the same period.
Overall, the number of the five major cancer patients increased 20 percent from 555,105 in 2014 to 666,029 in 2018.
Of the five major cancers, breast cancer had the highest patient growth rate over the five-year period, up 40 percent from 146,238 in 2014 to 205,394 in 2018.
The growth rate of female patients was 25.8 percent over the five-year period, 2.2 times higher than the 12 percent increase among male patients.
“Cancer is the number one cause of death for South Koreans, and 153.9 out of every 100,000 people died of cancer in 2017,” Kim said.
“Of these, the number of cancer patients in their 20s has increased by a whopping 44.5 percent, which makes it urgent for the government to come up with countermeasures.”
D. M. Park (dmpark@koreabizwire.com)
