Cancer in China influenced by pollution, poverty

Cancer and its treatment in China is influenced by air pollution, poverty and a fledgling medical insurance system, the Health News, an affiliate newspaper of the Health Ministry, reported Monday -- also World Cancer Day.

The same type of cancer shows different characteristics in the east and the west. Treatments also vary due to social and economic factors. The Health News cited breast cancer, lung cancer, and colorectal cancer as examples.

BREAST CANCER

While the incidence rate of breast cancer shrinks in western countries, the traditional high-burden countries, it is on the rise in China as a result of changes in lifestyles, living conditions, diets, and the westernization of cities, Jiang Zefei, breast cancer expert with the 307 Hospital of PLA, said in Health News.

The peak age for breast cancer in China is ten years earlier than that for white women, Jiang added.

According to the "national report on tumor registration 2012," in terms of age groups, the incidence rate of breast cancer surged among women above 25, peaking at 50.

The Health News also cited the report as saying the average age of breast cancer patients seeking treatment is 48.7, ten years ahead of that in the west.

In terms of treatment, while women in developed countries have better access to professional tests against breast cancer owing to national programs, a developed medical insurance system and family doctors, Jiang said, Chinese women mainly rely on simple self-examinations without the use of medical devices for disease detection.

Jiang observed that more Chinese women tend to give up their breasts even if not having to, while 80 to 90 percent of American patients choose to save theirs.

Apart from cultural differences, this has something to do with limited medical insurance for Chinese patients, Jiang said, adding many poorly-insured patients have their breasts removed because they cannot afford long-term radiotherapy.