Colorectal cancer is the most common type in Taiwan: DOH

　　The new DOH study was based on new cancer cases in Taiwan during 2007. Around 76,000 people were diagnosed with cancer, a 3.4 percent increase from 2006.

　　Colorectal cancer is the most common cancer type, with a total of 10,511 new cases.

　　The rise of colorectal cancer can be related to the higher consumption of Western-styled food, said The Bureau of Health Promotion (BHP) Director General Chiu Shu-ti.

　　In men, the most common cancer is liver cancer at 7,210 new cases, follow by colorectal cancer at 6,040. The total number of lung cancer, oral cancer and prostate cancer cases also adds up to about 33 percent of all cancer types. Prostate cancer cases rose by 7.3 percent compared to 2006.

　　In women, breast cancer is still the most common cancer type at 7,502, a 6.2 percent jump from 2006. Thyroid cancer at number six saw a 9.5 percent increase from 2006.

　　Men have a staggering 12.7 times more chance to be diagnosed with esophageal cancer and 11.3 times more chance to have oral cancer than women. Chiu said this is possibly due to a higher number of male consumption of cigarettes, betel nuts and alcohol.

　　The average age of cancer patients is 63, with breast and oral cancer having the youngest patients.

　　Cancer is still a major killer globally. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that one out of every eight deaths worldwide is cancer-related. If this rate remains unchanged, WHO said the total number of global cancer deaths can jump from 7.6 million in 2007 to 17 million by 2030.

　　To reduce this number, Chiu said early detection is the key. The BHP will expand the quota for free colorectal cancer screening [for people between 50 and 69 in age] from 290,000 last year to 1.3 million this year. BHP also provides other free screenings such as cervical cytology for women at or over 30 and breast radiography for female between 45 and 69. For more information go to http://www.bhp.doh.gov.tw.

　　If people made changes to their lifestyle such as quitting smoking, avoiding too much exposure to the sun or exercising regularly, 40 percent of cancers could be prevented, according to a new report released by the International Union Against Cancer.

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