Every year in Vietnam, 14,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer.

According to Associate Professor Tran Van Thuan, Deputy Director of K Hospital and Director of the Cancer Prevention and Control Research Institute, breast cancer is the leading cancer among women in Vietnam, with approximately 14,000 women diagnosed with breast cancer each year.

Radiation therapy for a cancer patient. (Photo: VNA)

Associate Professor Thuan made this statement at an advanced training workshop for central-level doctors on updated breast cancer treatment, organized by the Tomorrow's Bright Future Cancer Patient Support Fund (Ministry of Health) on the afternoon of July 17th in Hanoi.

This is one of the specific activities aimed at improving the capacity of doctors at the central and district levels in diagnosing and treating breast cancer.

Currently, breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer among women in Vietnam. A 2000 study by K Hospital showed that the age-standardized incidence rate of breast cancer was 17.4/100,000 population, but by 2011 this rate had increased to 29.9/100,000 population.

In Vietnam, approximately 14,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Currently, a major challenge is the low level of public awareness regarding breast cancer prevention. As a result, patients often seek medical attention at a late stage, limiting the effectiveness of treatment.

Associate Professor Tran Van Thuan stated that the current level of breast cancer diagnosis, detection, and treatment in Vietnam, and cancer in general, is comparable to that of other countries in the region.

According to a 2010 study by the Cancer Prevention and Control Research Institute, over 70% of breast cancer patients at K Hospital were cured within 5 years, with no recurrence or metastasis. This rate is comparable to that in Singapore.

Therefore, this will be an opportunity for leading experts in the field of cancer prevention to disseminate knowledge to enhance the capacity of doctors in diagnosing and treating breast cancer, aiming to reduce mortality rates, prolong survival time, and improve the quality of life for breast cancer patients.

Along with disseminating knowledge, the Bright Tomorrow Cancer Support Fund will collaborate with specialized cancer hospital systems nationwide to conduct free screenings and examinations for women in five major cities across the country as part of the effort to prevent and control breast cancer in Vietnam.

According to VNA