Prostate Cancer Overtakes Lung and Stomach Cancer as No. 1 Cancer Among Korean Men

Prostate cancer has surpassed lung and stomach cancer to become the most common cancer among men in South Korea.

According to statistics recently released by the Korean Urological Oncology Society, the number of new prostate cancer patients in the country reached approximately 23,000 as of 2023.

This figure represents a staggering 2.2-fold increase compared to just 10 years ago.

Accounting for 15% of all male cancer patients, it has overtaken both lung and stomach cancer, which had previously held the top spots.

A key characteristic of prostate cancer is that its incidence rate rises sharply with age.

The upward trend becomes evident starting in the 50s, with the number of patients surging among those in their 60s and older.

The biggest problem is that there are almost no symptoms in the early stages, making it easy for the disease to progress undetected.

However, if detected in the early stage when the cancer is confined to the prostate, the 5-year survival rate exceeds 95%.

Ultimately, how quickly the disease is detected when there are no symptoms is the key factor that determines the prognosis.
Currently, the most practical method for early detection is the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test, which involves a blood draw.

A regrettable point is that this test is still excluded from the national cancer screening program.

Because individuals must feel the need and pay for the test out-of-pocket, access to diagnosis varies depending on income level.

An analysis of the statistics revealed that the crude incidence rate of prostate cancer among the highest income bracket was 7 times higher than that of the lowest income bracket.

Professor Lee Seung-hwan of the Department of Urology at Severance Hospital pointed out, "Survival rates and quality of life for prostate cancer vary significantly depending on whether it is detected early."

He added, "Discussions on national-level early screening should no longer be delayed."

Risk factors for the disease in daily life are also relatively clear.

The incidence rate was higher in men with metabolic diseases such as diabetes or hypertension, as well as those with abdominal obesity or a lack of exercise.

In particular, long-term smokers who have smoked for more than 30 years showed a 5.3 times higher incidence rate compared to those who had just started smoking.

Jung Byung-chang, President of the Korean Urological Oncology Society, explained, "Regular check-ups during the asymptomatic stage determine the success or failure of early detection and treatment."

He further urged, "Policy support is needed so that citizens can receive screenings regardless of their economic circumstances."

(Photo courtesy of the Korean Urological Oncology Society, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.