Cancer Statistics in Korea: Incidence, Mortality, Survival, and Prevalence in 2019

Purpose The current study provides national cancer statistics and their secular trends in Korea, including incidence, mortality, survival, and prevalence in 2019. Materials and Methods Incidence, survival, and prevalence rates of cancer were calculated using the Korea National Cancer Incidence Database, from 1999 to 2019, with survival follow-up until December 31, 2020. Deaths from cancer were assessed using causes-of-death data obtained from Statistics Korea. Results In 2019, newly diagnosed cancer cases and deaths from cancer were reported as 254,718 (age-standardized rate [ASR], 275.4 per 100,000) and 81,203 (ASR, 72.2 per 100,000), respectively. For the first time, lung cancer (n=29,960) became the most frequent cancer in Korea, excluding thyroid cancer. The overall cancer incidence rates increased by 3.3% annually from 1999 to 2012, and decreased by 5.3% annually from 2012 to 2015, thereafter, followed by nonsignificant changes. The incidence of thyroid cancer increased again from 2016 (annual percentage change, 6.2%). Cancer mortality rates have been decreasing since 2002, with more rapid decline in recent years (annual decrease of 2.7% from 2002 to 2013; 3.3% from 2013 to 2019). The 5-year relative survival between 2015 and 2019 was 70.7%, which contributed to prevalent cases reaching over 2 million in 2019. Conclusion Cancer survival rates have improved over the past decades, but the number of newly diagnosed cancers is still increasing, with some cancers showing only marginal improvement in survival outcomes. As the number of cancer survivors increases, a comprehensive cancer control strategy should be implemented in line with the changing aspects of cancer statistics.

Automated summary

This study provides national cancer statistics and trends in Korea for 2019, including incidence, mortality, survival, and prevalence rates. The incidence of lung cancer has surpassed thyroid cancer to become the most frequent cancer in Korea. Overall cancer incidence rates increased from 1999 to 2012, then decreased from 2012 to 2015, followed by no significant changes. The incidence of thyroid cancer started increasing again from 2016. Cancer mortality rates have been decreasing since 2002, with a more rapid decline in recent years. The 5-year relative survival rate between 2015 and 2019 was 70.7%, leading to over 2 million prevalent cases in 2019.