KMI Korea Medical Institute Early Detected 2,391 Cancer Cases Last Year

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] KMI Korea Medical Institute announced on the 17th that a total of 2,391 cases of cancer were detected early through health checkups last year.

Analysis of examination data from seven KMI centers nationwide showed that a total of 31,441 cases were referred to higher-level medical institutions due to abnormal findings, among which 2,391 cases were confirmed as cancer.

The number of cancer diagnoses through KMI health checkups steadily increased, with 1,478 cases in 2017, 1,629 in 2018, 1,900 in 2019, 1,937 in 2020, and 2,222 in 2021. Over the past 10 years (2013?2022), a total of 18,079 cancers were diagnosed through KMI health checkups.

The most common cancer type detected last year was thyroid cancer with 843 cases (35.3%). This was followed by stomach cancer with 407 cases (17.0%), colorectal cancer with 327 cases (13.7%), and breast cancer with 232 cases (9.7%). Notably, many threatening cancers were also diagnosed, including lung cancer (81 cases), which ranks first in mortality among Koreans, as well as liver cancer (45 cases) and pancreatic cancer (26 cases).

By gender, among 1,213 men, thyroid cancer was the most common with 363 cases, followed by stomach cancer with 277 cases, colorectal cancer with 223 cases, prostate cancer with 93 cases, kidney cancer with 63 cases, lung cancer with 53 cases, and liver cancer with 34 cases. Among 1,178 women, thyroid cancer was also the most common with 480 cases, followed by breast cancer with 232 cases, stomach cancer with 130 cases, colorectal cancer with 104 cases, uterine cancer with 83 cases, lung cancer with 28 cases, and brain tumors with 25 cases.

By age group, 572 cases (23.9%) were in their 40s, 511 cases (21.4%) in their 50s, and 476 cases (19.9%) in their 60s. Cases in their 30s and 20s were also confirmed at 464 (19.4%) and 150 (6.3%) respectively, highlighting the need for comprehensive cancer screening even among younger age groups.

Shin Sang-yeop, Senior Research Fellow at KMI, stated, "Recently, among socially active workers in their 30s to 50s, there has been an increasing trend of detecting cancer and severe diseases through health checkups, often without symptoms at the time of diagnosis." He advised, "Since most severe diseases including cancer can be cured if diagnosed early, it is important not to delay national health screenings (general checkups and cancer screenings) even if there are no symptoms. Especially for those with a family history of cancer or lifestyle habits such as smoking and heavy drinking, regular comprehensive checkups to monitor health status are very helpful."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.