Cancer Statistics in Korea: Incidence, Mortality, Survival, and Prevalence in 2021

Abstract

Purpose The current study provides national cancer statistics and their secular trends in Korea, including incidence, mortality, survival, and prevalence in 2021.Materials and Methods Incidence, survival, and prevalence rates of cancer were calculated using the Korea National Cancer Incidence Database, from 1999 to 2021, with survival follow-up until December 31, 2022. Deaths from cancer were assessed using causes-of-death data obtained from Statistics Korea.Results The number of new cancer diagnoses in 2021 increased by 27,002 cases (10.8%) compared to 2020. In 2021, newly diagnosed cancer cases and deaths from cancer were reported as 277,523 (age-standardized rate [ASR], 289.3 per 100,000) and 82,688 (ASR, 67.6 per 100,000), respectively. The overall cancer incidence rates increased by 3.3% annually from 1999 to 2012, and decreased by 5.3% from 2012 to 2015, thereafter, followed by non-significant changes. Cancer mortality rates have been decreasing since 2002, with more rapid decline in recent years (annual decrease of 2.8% from 2002 to 2013; 3.2% from 2013 to 2021). The 5-year relative survival between 2017 and 2021 was 72.1%, which contributed to prevalent cases reaching over 2.4 million in 2021.Conclusion In 2021, the number of newly diagnosed cancer patients increased as healthcare utilization recovered from the coronavirus disease 2019–related declines of 2020. Revised cancer registration guidelines expanded the registration scope, particularly for stomach and colorectal cancer. Survival rates have improved over the years, leading to a growing population of cancer survivors, necessitating a comprehensive cancer control strategy. The long-term impact of the pandemic on cancer statistics requires future investigation.

SMARCD3 Overexpression Promotes Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition in Gastric Cancer

“…In South Korea, gastric cancer is the leading type of cancer among men and the fourth most common cause of cancer death. The Korea Central Cancer Registry data from 2021 show that 29,361 people were newly diagnosed with gastric cancer, accounting for 10.6% of all cancer cases in the country [ 2 ].…”

Factors influencing psychological distress among breast cancer survivors using machine learning techniques

“…Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide, and South Korea is one of the Asian countries with the highest incidence of breast cancer 1 . The five-year survival rate for breast cancer in South Korea is currently 93.6% 2 . Unlike Europe and the United States, where breast cancer occurrence rates are high among women in their 50 s and 60 s, South Korea has a high proportion of women in their 40 s developing breast cancer.…”

“…Unlike Europe and the United States, where breast cancer occurrence rates are high among women in their 50 s and 60 s, South Korea has a high proportion of women in their 40 s developing breast cancer. Therefore, helping breast cancer survivors to manage the breast cancer-related health problems that occur after primary treatment and enjoy a high quality of life is critical 1 , 2 .…”