Cancer Res Treat.  2011 Mar;43(1):1-11.

Cancer Statistics in Korea: Incidence, Mortality, Survival, and Prevalence in 2008

• Jung KW
• Park S
• Kong HJ
• Won YJ
• Lee JY
• Park EC
• Lee JS

Abstract

PURPOSE
This paper overviews the nationwide cancer statistics including incidence, mortality, survival and prevalence, and their trends in Korea based on the year 2008 cancer incidence data.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Incidence data from 1993 to 2008 were obtained from the Korea National Cancer Incidence Database, and the vital status was followed through December 31, 2009. Mortality data from 1983 to 2008 were obtained from the Korea National Statistics Office. Crude rates and age-standardized rates for incidence, mortality, prevalence and relative survival were calculated.
RESULTS
There were 178,816 cancer cases and 68,912 cancer deaths observed during year 2008 and 724,663 10-year cancer prevalent cases as of January 1, 2009 in Korea. The incidence rate for all cancer combined showed an annual increase of 3.1% from 1999 to 2008.
CONCLUSION
With significantly increasing cancer incidence, Korea faces a large cancer burden and efficient cancer control programs are essential.

Keyword

Incidence; Mortality; Survival; Prevalence; Neoplasms; Korea

MeSH Terms

Incidence
Korea
Prevalence

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Annual age-standardized cancer incidence and death rates for all sites by sex during 1983-2008 in Korea. Age-standardization was based on the World Health Organization (WHO) world standard population.

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  Fig. 2 Trend of age-standardized cancer incidence for selected cancers by sex during 1999-2008 in Korea. Age-standardization was based on the World Health Organization (WHO) world standard population. (A) Male. (B) Female.

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  Fig. 3 Age-specific incidence rates of major cancers during 2008 in Korea. (A) Male. (B) Female.

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  Fig. 4 Annual age-standardized cancer mortality for selected cancers by sex during 1983-2008 in Korea. Age-standardization was based on the World Health Organization (WHO) world standard population. (A) Male. (B) Female.

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  Fig. 5 Number of prevalent cases by time since diagnosis for major cancer sites on January 1, 2009 in Korea.

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