The Ministry of Health and Welfare recently released the latest cancer registry report for 2021 (the year 110 in the Taiwanese calendar), showing for the first time a slight decrease in cancer cases. For the past 15 years, colorectal cancer has been the most common new cancer, but this time it was surpassed by lung cancer. The report stated that there were 121,762 new cancer cases in 2021, a decrease of 217 cases compared to 2020. This is the first decrease in cancer cases in recent years.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare recently released the latest cancer registry report for the year 110. Photo taken from freepik.
According to statistics from the National Health Agency, in 2021, a person was diagnosed with cancer every 4 minutes and 19 seconds, equivalent to one new cancer case every 259 seconds. The median age of cancer diagnosis globally in 2021 was 64 years, the same as in 2020. Among major cancers, the median age of diagnosis for breast cancer and liver cancer in women increased by one year, while the median age of diagnosis for other cancers remained unchanged compared to the previous year. Some cancers had a median diagnosis age lower than the overall cancer median age (64 years), such as oral cancer at 59 years, breast cancer at 57 years, and thyroid cancer at 50 years.
By gender, there were 63,723 new cancer cases in men in 2021, with an age-standardized cancer incidence rate of 330.8 per 100,000 population, a decrease of 5.4 cases compared to 2020. The ten cancers with the highest incidence rates in men were colorectal cancer, lung cancer, oral cancer, liver cancer, prostate cancer, esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, skin cancer, and leukemia.
https://news.immigration.gov.tw/NewsSection/Detail/DB3BD3F3-8F70-4E94-9C3E-8B7730AD5F1E?lang=TW
In the year 110, there were 121,762 new cancer cases. Image provided by the National Health Agency
There were 58,039 new cancer cases in women, with an age-standardized cancer incidence rate of 288.4 per 100,000 population, a decrease of 4.4 cases compared to 2020. The incidence rate in women showed that breast cancer continued to rank first for the 19th consecutive year, followed by colorectal cancer, lung cancer, thyroid cancer, and liver cancer.
The National Health Agency emphasized that prevention and early screening are key to reducing cancer incidence and improving treatment outcomes. The agency urged the public to actively participate in cancer screening programs and maintain a healthy lifestyle to reduce cancer risk and improve quality of life.
Additionally, the National Health Agency will continue to promote health policies and public health campaigns to raise awareness and self-protection capabilities among the population, thereby reducing cancer incidence and achieving the goal of nationwide health.
