The majority of bladder cancer patients were in their 70s. (image: Pixabay)
SEOUL, Oct. 16 (Korea Bizwire) — Bladder cancer patients begin to soar in number among those more than 50 years of age, reaching a peak among the 70s, a recent study has showed.
The National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) reported that the number of bladder cancer patients increased from 27,590 people in 2014 to 37,230 in 2018, up by 34.9 percent in four years.
The number of male patients rose from 22,661 to 30,093 during the same timeframe (32.8 percent), while the number of female patients increased from 4,929 to 7,137 (44.8 percent).
While there were far more male patients than females, the rate of increase was actually higher among women.
“It may be a difference of how male and women react to carcinogens physiologically,” said Prof. Kim Young-sik from NHIS Ilsan Hospital.
“Some claim that sex hormone is the cause, based on the fact that the number of female patients begin to increase following menopause.
In 2018, the majority of bladder cancer patients were in their 70s (12,868 people, 34.6 percent), followed by the 60s (9,935 people, 26.7 percent), and the 80s (7,694 people, 20.7 percent).
“The increasing number of aged Koreans along with the advancement of physical examination is leading to a higher number of patients diagnosed with bladder cancer,” said Kim.
One of the main symptoms of bladder cancer is hematuria, so it is important to have a urine test conducted periodically.
Smoking, exposure to chemical substances, radiation treatment, and anticancer drugs are known to increase the risk of bladder cancer.
H. M. Kang (hmkang@koreabizwire.com)
