One person was diagnosed with cancer every 5 minutes and 26 seconds in Taiwan in 2012. That's a new record, which is 14 seconds faster than the previous year. That was the word from the Health Promotion Administration (HPA) on Tuesday.
Cancer is the highest cause of death in Taiwan. Colon, lung and liver cancers were the most common cancers in 2012. Statistics showed the number of new cancer patients in 2012 increased by 4,012 from the previous year to a record high of 96,694. That’s one in every 223 persons.
Lung cancer moved into second place from third place. 2012 figures show there were more female lung cancer patients than men. Analysts believe women who detected early stages of lung cancer got it due to smoking habits, inhaling cooking oil fumes, and air pollution. An increase in regular health checkups also enabled women to detect lung cancer at earlier stages.
HPA Director-General Chiou Shu-ti said the biggest reasons for cancer in Taiwan are diet, lack of exercise and obesity. That’s besides the habits of smoking, drinking and chewing betel nuts.
The other 8 most common cancers in Taiwan are breast, oral, prostate, gastric, skin, thyroid, and esophageal cancers. Colon cancer has been in the top place in Taiwan for the last 7 years.