TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Health Promotion Administration (HPA) announced on Friday (Nov. 10) that lung cancer has surpassed colorectal cancer as Taiwan's most prevalent cancer in 2021, ending a 15-year record held by colorectal cancer.
After lung and colorectal cancers, the most common were breast cancer, liver cancer, oral cancer, prostate cancer, thyroid cancer, stomach cancer, skin cancer, and pancreatic cancer. Notably, pancreatic cancer made the list for the first time.
Dr. Chen Jin-shing, chief of Surgery at National Taiwan University Hospital, emphasized that the shift should not be surprising, as lung cancer, already in second place in 2020, has been the leading cause of cancer-related deaths over the past decade.
Lin Li-ju, Director of the HPA Cancer Prevention and Control Division, highlighted an upward trend in early lung cancer detection following the introduction of low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening in 2022.
In 2021, there were 121,762 new cancer cases registered, marking the first decline in new patient numbers. On average, a person was diagnosed with cancer every 4 minutes and 19 seconds.
HPA Director-General Wu Chao-chun urged individuals to reduce their risk factors and advised those at high risk to undergo regular screenings for early detection and treatment.