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The latest cancer report on 5-year survival rate, 10-year survival rate

2020.12.01

On November 19, the National Cancer Center Japan announced the report of the 5-year and
10-year survival rate of cancer patients who were diagnosed and treated at facilities affiliated
with the Japanese Association of Clinical Cancer Centers (Zengankyo).
Cancer, the leading cause of death in Japan, kills one in three men and one in four women, but
on the other hand, the treatment results of cancer patients are improving year by year.
Here is what the treatment results of cancer are now.

Both 5-year and 10-year survival rates are improving .

The 10-year survival rate for approximately 94,000 people diagnosed with cancer between 2004
and 2007 was 58.3%, 1.1 points compared to 57.2% in the previous survey (people diagnosed
between 2003 and 2006). It was improving.
The 5-year survival rate was 68.6%, which is a compilation of data from approximately 148,000
people diagnosed between 2010 and 2012. In the previous survey (people diagnosed from 2009
to 2011), it was 68.4%, so this also improved by 0.2 points.

Breast cancer, colorectal cancer … The 10-year survival rate by site

Looking at the 10-year survival rate by site, 98.8% of men have the highest incidence of
“prostate cancer” (the number of newly diagnosed people), and 86.8% of women have the
highest incidence of “breast cancer” (breast cancer). Both exceed 80%.
Colorectal cancer, which has the highest prevalence in both men and women, accounted for
68.7%, followed by stomach cancer in 66.8%.
In addition, the 10-year survival rates for major cancers are as follows.
Endometrial cancer 81.6%
Cervical cancer 68.7%
Pharyngeal cancer 63.3%
Ovarian cancer 48.2%
Lung cancer 32.4%
Liver cancer 16.1%
Pancreatic cancer 6.2%

Comparing the 5-year survival rate with that of 10 years ago

In the case of cancer, the 5-year survival rate is a guideline for a cure.
Comparing the “2001-2003” data with the latest “2010-2012” data, the 5-year survival rate for
colorectal cancer increased from 73.4% to 76.5%, and that for gastric cancer increased from
70.4% to 74.9%. Lung cancer has improved from 40.6% to 46.5%, and female breast cancer
has improved from 90.0% to 93.6%.
For pancreatic cancer, which is known to be severe, the 5-year survival rate improved from
6.8% in the 2001-2003 data to 11.1% in the 2010-2012 data.
Since the latest data are also from patients who were diagnosed with cancer 8 to 10 years ago,
we believe that the 5-year and 10-year survival rates for those diagnosed with cancer are now
even higher.

Five cancer screenings with evidence recognized by the government

This trend of improvement has continued since the latter half of the 1990s, when Zengankyo
began collecting data. The background is the progress of treatment methods, but early detection
by cancer screening is also considered to be one of the factors.
Currently, the following five cancer screenings are recommended by the government based on
scientific evidence.
・ Stomach cancer screening: age 50 and over, once every two years
・ Cervical cancer screening: age 20 and older, once every two years
・ Lung cancer screening: age 40 and over, once a year
・ Breast cancer screening: age 40 and over, once every two years
・ Colorectal cancer screening: age 40 and over, once a year
Many people may be refraining from undergoing cancer screening this year, especially due to
the impact of the new coronavirus, but it is certain that the earlier the cancer is detected, the
higher the survival rate.
If you have not undergone cancer screening, please do so.

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