Vietnam ranks second on the world cancer map.

The WHO ranks Vietnam in the top 2 of the world cancer map. Every year, more than 70,000 people die from cancer, an average of 205 people per day.

This information was shared by leading oncology experts at the national cancer prevention conference held this morning in Hanoi.

Professor Nguyen Chan Hung, President of the Vietnam Cancer Society, stated that the rate

Cancer incidence rates are on the rise in most countries around the world.

Globally, approximately 23 million people are currently living with this disease, with over 14 million new cases and 8.2 million deaths each year.

In Vietnam, the number of new cancer cases has increased rapidly from 68,000 in 2000 to 126,000 in 2010 and is expected to exceed 190,000 by 2020. Each year, more than 70,000 people die from cancer, equivalent to 205 people per day.

According to these figures, the WHO ranks Vietnam among the top 50 countries in the second tier of the cancer map (the top 50 countries are in the first tier). Specifically, Vietnam ranks 78th out of 172 countries and territories surveyed, with a mortality rate of 110 per 100,000 people, similar to the rates in Finland, Somalia, and Turkmenistan.

In men, lung cancer is the leading cause of both morbidity and mortality, followed by stomach, liver, and colorectal cancer. In women, the order is breast cancer, stomach cancer, and lung cancer.

Professor Hung stated that lung cancer rates in Vietnamese men are comparable to those in other countries like China and South Korea. However, lung cancer rates in women are alarming, nearly two-fifths of those in men, due to passive smoking.

Out of 10 people, 3 were cured.

Associate Professor Tran Van Thuan, Director of K Hospital, shared that while most types of cancer are on the rise in Vietnam, cervical cancer is gradually decreasing due to early detection, effective screening, and an increasing rate of preventive vaccination.

Associate Professor Thuan specifically noted lung cancer, noting that while it ranks 10th among men in the US in terms of cases, Vietnam is among the top countries due to excessive smoking. 85% of lung cancer patients have a history of smoking-related illnesses.

Associate Professor Tran Van Thuan stated that the cancer cure rate in Vietnam is only slightly over 30%.

"Most cancers are curable when detected early and treated promptly and correctly. However, with lung cancer, prevention must be the top priority because even with early detection, treatment is less effective compared to other types of cancer," Mr. Thuan informed.

According to Mr. Thuan, under current conditions, when combining four approaches simultaneously: prevention, early detection, enhanced diagnosis and treatment, and palliative care, the cancer cure rate has slightly increased but is still much lower than in developed countries.

"Currently, the cancer cure rate (survival for more than 5 years) is 33% for men and about 40% for women, while in many developed countries this figure has reached 70-80%. The reason is that up to 70% of cancer patients in the country are diagnosed when the cancer is already in a late stage," Associate Professor Thuan shared.

According to statistics, the total cost of treating six common types of cancer—breast, liver, colon, oral cavity, cervical, and stomach—reached 26 trillion VND, accounting for 0.22% of Vietnam's GDP in 2012.

The 2012 survey also revealed that each cancer patient had to spend 200 million VND on direct and indirect treatment. Approximately one-third of patients could not afford medication within one year of diagnosis.

According to Vietnamnet.vn