120.000 người Việt tử vong do ung thư mỗi năm: Phát hiện bệnh muộn là nguyên nhân

One of the main reasons for the 120,000 cancer deaths each year is the lack of screening, leading to late detection.
According to Globocan 2022 data (Global Cancer Organization), there are approximately 19.9 million new cancer cases and 9.7 million deaths worldwide. In Vietnam alone, there are about 180,400 new cases and over 120,000 deaths from cancer each year. The total number of cancer cases in the last 5 years is estimated at over 409,000.

The three leading causes of cancer death in Vietnam today are liver cancer, lung cancer, and stomach cancer.

120,000 Vietnamese people die from cancer each year. (Photo: Provided by K Hospital)

Professor Mai Trong Khoa, Vice President of the Vietnam Society of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, stated that the incidence of cancer worldwide, as well as in Vietnam, is on the rise. However, the major difference lies in the mortality rate.

In developed countries, although the incidence of cancer is increasing, the mortality rate for many types of cancer is not increasing, and may even be decreasing, thanks to developed healthcare systems and effective screening programs. Conversely, in Vietnam, the worrying aspect is that both the incidence and mortality rates are increasing simultaneously.

“The increase in new cases is not the biggest risk; what is regrettable is the increase in mortality rates without any sign of slowing down. This is a warning that requires urgent solutions,” Professor Khoa said.

According to experts, the incidence of cancer in Vietnam is at the world average, but the mortality rate is among the highest in Southeast Asia.

Professor Khoa pointed out that one of the key reasons for the high cancer mortality rate in Vietnam is late detection. Statistics show that 50–80% of cancer patients seek medical attention when the disease is already in stage 3 or 4, significantly reducing treatment effectiveness, increasing costs, and leading to a poor prognosis.

The habit of cancer screening among Vietnamese people is still very low. Many people only go for checkups when they have clear symptoms, while early-stage cancer often progresses silently and is difficult to detect.

If cancer is detected early, accurately diagnosed, and treated according to appropriate protocols, many patients can significantly prolong their lives or return to normal life. In fact, some cancer patients have been treated for 20–30 years and are now living and working like healthy people. This shows that early detection is key to reducing mortality.

Compared to countries like Japan and South Korea, experts say that although the incidence of cancer in these two countries is higher than in Vietnam, the mortality rate is significantly lower. The main reason is the effective implementation of national cancer screening programs, which help detect the disease in its early stages.

According to Dr. Vo Duc Hieu, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital, to address this situation, the healthcare system needs to quickly and comprehensively prepare by strengthening cancer screening and examination, promoting healthy lifestyles, controlling environmental factors, expanding immunization programs (hepatitis B, HPV), implementing widespread screening programs, and improving the capacity of primary healthcare facilities.

At the same time, diagnostic and treatment capabilities at healthcare facilities need to be enhanced through personnel training, multi-modal treatment models, interdisciplinary consultations, telemedicine, and investment in infrastructure at provincial and tertiary hospitals.