Almost everyone knows someone who has been touched by cancer, some harder than others. According to Hospital Authority’s latest official statistics, the number of new cases of cancer hit a historical high of 35,082 in 2019, an increase of 25,977 cases in ten years’ time.
What causes cancer exactly and what are the most common types in Hong Kong? Here is an overview from Healthy Matters.
We are all made up of millions of cells, cells that make up our skin, our brain and all other (specialized) organs. Most of our cells divide day in and day out to repair and maintain our body. Cell division, also known as mitosis, occurs without us knowing but it is carefully regulated by an intricate system so that cells do not divide uncontrollably. Sometimes one or several cells “go crazy” and continue to multiply: this erratic behavior is the hallmark of cancer. Unfortunately, these “crazy cells” can emerge in pretty much any tissue or organ, which is why there are over 100 types of cancer.
When cancerous cells multiply uncontrollably, they can form lumps, masses or tissues which are called tumors. Benign tumors generally demonstrate limited growth and stay in one place, whereas cells from malignant tumors can travel through the body and damage tissues along the way and/or nestle in healthy tissues to further multiply and form more tumors.
As if spreading cancer and more tumors is not enough bad news, malignant tumors are also known to grow rapidly. This rapid growth is accompanied by a need for nutrients, but often the existing blood vessels cannot keep up with the increased demand. Tumors are quite smart and in response to this nutrient deficit, the tumor elicits a process called angiogenesis. During angiogenesis, blood vessels form in nutrient-deprived tissues and in this case, in and around the malignant tumor. These newly formed blood vessels will provide adequate nutrients to the malignant tumor, allowing it to grow further.
According to the Hong Kong Department of Health, in 2019 cancer was the number one cause of death accounting for 30.5% [1] of registered deaths in Hong Kong, 3.1% up from the previous year. The most common cancer types by gender in Hong Kong are listed below:
Male:
Female:
Fortunately, cancer research has improved treatment options and survival rates. Depending on the type of cancer, several treatment modalities exist. The main goal remains to eradicate cancer. Doctors may combine treatment modalities in order to tackle cancer more effectively, while lowering its chances of returning. For example, a tumor is first shrunk with radiotherapy before being removed surgically, or the growth is slowed down with chemotherapy before other therapies are used to eradicate the tumor.
Here is a concise list of cancer treatments:
Hong Kong’s healthcare system is divided between the private and the public sectors. Both offer a high level of expertise but the major differences lie in:
This article was independently written by Healthy Matters. It is informative only and not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be relied upon for specific medical advice.
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