Almost 15,000 people in Hong Kong lost their bouts with cancer in 2022, according to the Department of Health, urging people to embrace a healthy lifestyle and prioritize early detection through regular screenings.
"Close the Care Gap," the theme for Saturday's World Cancer Day, emphasized the need to address disparities in access to services among different populations based on factors such as country income, age, gender, and ethnicity.
A department spokesman said cancer is a significant public health concern and the leading cause of death. With an aging population, Hong Kong is expected to see a rising trend for new cancer cases.
However, he also stressed the power of prevention, stating that 40 percent of all cancers can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle and reducing exposure to major risk factors.
It is crucial for people to take proactive steps to reduce the risk by making positive lifestyle choices and minimizing exposure to known risk factors such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and a sedentary lifestyle.
Also early detection through regular screenings can significantly improve one's treatment chances and long-term survival.
"Have a balanced diet and maintain a healthy body weight and waist circumference to reduce the risk of developing cancer," the spokesman said.
The government has introduced cancer screening programs to help people catch the disease early to improve treatment outcomes.
One such, the colorectal cancer screening program, subsidizes asymptomatic residents aged between 50 and 75.
Women aged 25 to 64 who lead an active sex life are also advised to go in for regular screening under the cervical screening program, with the Maternal and Child Health Centers providing subsidized screening.
The department has also been actively preparing the next phase of the breast cancer screening pilot program and details will be announced in due course.
The first phase was rolled out in 2021 to provide risk-based screening services for women in the three Women Health Centers and the 18 Elderly Health Centers.
People were also reminded to consult doctors to understand the benefits and limitations of screening tests before making an informed decision to undergo cancer screening.
