HONG KONG – The overall survival rate for cancer patients in Hong Kong has increased steadily over the past two decades, according to the city’s health chief.

“Most patients with early-stage cancers have a five-year relative survival rate reaching 90 percent or higher. Among them, the ratio of surviving for more than five years for those with certain early-stage cancers is comparable to that of the general population” said Professor Lo Chung-mau.

He said this while presiding over the 19th meeting of the Cancer Coordinating Committee on Friday.

“As shown by the stage-specific survival rates of multiple cancers, the survival rate will be much higher if a patient has the cancer detected at an early stage followed by early treatment.”

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The committee met to review the implementation of the Hong Kong Cancer Strategy, which was promulgated in July 2019, and discuss response measures with relevant government departments and organizations, the government said in a statement.

Cancer has been the top killer in Hong Kong for years, claiming over 40 lives every day on average.

Professor Lo Chung-mau, Secretary for Health, HKSAR 

The Hong Kong Cancer Strategy, the city’s first holistic plan formulated for cancer prevention and control, sets out strategies for cancer prevention and treatment for the period between 2020 and 2025.

At Friday’s meeting, the committee reviewed the citywide population-based cancer data for 2021 and various cancer surveillance indicators such as incidence, mortality, and survival rates of major cancers.

In 2021, total 38,462 newly diagnosed cancer cases – 18,943 men and 19,519 women – were recorded in Hong Kong. In other words, 105 people were diagnosed with cancer every day on average.

“Cancer has been the top killer in Hong Kong for years, claiming over 40 lives every day on average,” said the secretary for health.

Lung cancer and breast cancer were the most commonly diagnosed cancers among men and women respectively.

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The well-established local cancer database not only provides reliable data for cancer surveillance but also serves as an important resource for the government and stakeholders to formulate cancer prevention and control strategies as well as drive healthcare development, said Prof Lo.

He stressed that primary prevention, which is reducing exposure to cancer risk factors, is a vital strategy for reducing the risk of developing cancer.

“The government has long been adopting a multipronged approach, including publicity, education, promotion, legislation, and regulation, to encourage citizens to live a healthy lifestyle, such as a healthy diet, regular physical activities and maintenance of a healthy body weight and waist circumference as well as avoidance of smoking and alcohol, to reduce the risks of contracting non-communicable diseases including cancer.”

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During the meeting, the committee discussed various cancer prevention and control measures, including surveillance, prevention and screening, diagnosis, treatment and survivorship care, and research.