A total of 73,293 new cancer cases were recorded in 2006, with the largest number being colorectal cancer, the Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday.
The figures mean that, on average, a new cancer patient was diagnosed every 438 seconds in 2006, up slightly from the average of 458 seconds in 2005, when 68,907 new cases were recorded, the department’s latest cancer incidence report showed.
“People are eating more fried food, canned food and oily food. This could be the main reason why colorectal cancer has become the most prevalent type of cancer,” said Chao Kun-yu (趙坤郁), DOH Bureau of Health Promotion deputy director-general. “The latest information we have is from 2006 because it takes time for hospitals to calculate the information.”
The latest statistics show that 10,248 people were diagnosed with colorectal cancer, compared with 10,092 people found to have liver cancer. There were 8,748 cases of lung cancer, 6,895 cases of breast cancer, 5,352 of oral cancer, 3,794 of gastric cancer, 3,073 of prostate cancer, 2,457 of skin cancer, 1,828 of cervical cancer and 1,159 with uterine cancer.
In 2005, 9,916 were diagnosed with liver cancer, while 9,604 people were found to have colorectal cancer.
The statistics also showed that a male’s chance of getting cancer was 1.4 times higher than a female’s. Of all male cancer patients aged between 25 and 44, 27 percent were diagnosed with oral cancer.
“There are still a lot of betel nut addicts out there and those aged between 25 and 44 are usually the group of males who eat the most betel nut, which also increases their risk of oral cancer,” Chao said.
Chao said that the figures for oral cancer would continue to increase over the next decade because of the popularity of betel nut.
He said the rise in the incidence of breast cancer among women is related to dietary habits of high fat and calorie intake, a growing number of overweight and obese people, a drop in the average age of the onset of menstruation and fewer childbirths.
Chao encouraged females between the ages of 50 and 69 to have a mammogram once every two years.
“It is a free service, but only 12 percent of those who qualify make use of it,” Chao said. “We may lower the target age to between 40 and 49 so we can help more women in the early stages.”
Taipei and New Taipei City government officials are aiming to have the first phase of the Wanhua-Jungho-Shulin Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line completed and opened by 2027, following the arrival of the first train set yesterday. The 22km-long Light Green Line would connect four densely populated districts in Taipei and New Taipei City: Wanhua (萬華), Jhonghe (中和), Tucheng (土城) and Shulin (樹林). The first phase of the project would connect Wanhua and Jhonghe districts, with Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and Chukuang (莒光) being the terminal stations. The two municipalities jointly hosted a ceremony for the first train to be used
MILITARY AID: Taiwan has received a first batch of US long-range tactical missiles ahead of schedule, with a second shipment expected to be delivered by 2026 The US’ early delivery of long-range tactical ballistic missiles to Taiwan last month carries political and strategic significance, a military source said yesterday. According to the Ministry of National Defense’s budget report, the batch of military hardware from the US, including 11 sets of M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and 64 MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile Systems, had been scheduled to be delivered to Taiwan between the end of this year and the beginning of next year. However, the first batch arrived last month, earlier than scheduled, with the second batch —18 sets of HIMARS, 20 MGM-140 missiles and 864 M30
Representative to the US Alexander Yui delivered a letter from the government to US president-elect Donald Trump during a meeting with a former Trump administration official, CNN reported yesterday. Yui on Thursday met with former US national security adviser Robert O’Brien over a private lunch in Salt Lake City, Utah, with US Representative Chris Stewart, the Web site of the US cable news channel reported, citing three sources familiar with the matter. “During that lunch the letter was passed along, and then shared with Trump, two of the sources said,” CNN said. O’Brien declined to comment on the lunch, as did the Taipei
A woman who allegedly attacked a high-school student with a utility knife, injuring his face, on a Taipei metro train late on Friday has been transferred to prosecutors, police said yesterday. The incident occurred near MRT Xinpu Station at about 10:17pm on a Bannan Line train headed toward Dingpu, New Taipei City police said. Before police arrived at the station to arrest the suspect, a woman surnamed Wang (王) who is in her early 40s, she had already been subdued by four male passengers, one of whom was an off-duty Taipei police officer, police said. The student, 17, who sustained a cut about
RSS