title: Cancer statistics in Korea: incidence, mortality, survival, and prevalence in 2012.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to report nationwide cancer statistics in Korea, including incidence, mortality, survival, and prevalence, and their trends.
  
  
  METHODS
  Incidence data from 1993 to 2012 were obtained from the Korea National Cancer Incidence Database, and vital status was followed through December 31, 2013. Mortality data from 1983 to 2012 were obtained from Statistics Korea. Crude and age-standardized rates for incidence, mortality, and prevalence, and relative survival were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 224,177 cancer cases and 73,759 cancer deaths were reported in 2012, and there were 1,234,879 prevalent cases identified in Korea as of January 1, 2013. Over the past 14 years (1999-2012), overall incidence rates have increased by 3.3% per year. The incidence rates of liver and cervical cancers have decreased, while those of thyroid, breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers have increased. Notably, incidence of thyroid cancer increased by 22.3% per year in both sexes and has been the most common cancer since 2009. The mortality for all cancers combined decreased by 2.7% per year from 2002 to 2012. Five-year relative survival rates of patients diagnosed in the last 5 years (2008-2012) have improved by 26.9% compared with those from 1993 to1995.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall cancer mortality rates have declined since 2002 in Korea, while incidence has increased and survival has improved.
authors.affiliation: The Korea Central Cancer Registry, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea ; National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyu-Won
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: The Korea Central Cancer Registry, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea ; National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Joo
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Won
authors.affiliation: The Korea Central Cancer Registry, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea ; National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-Joo
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: The Korea Central Cancer Registry, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea ; National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Chang-Mo
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: The Korea Central Cancer Registry, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea ; National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyunsoon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Duk Hyoung
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: The Korea Central Cancer Registry, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Kang Hyun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Incidence; Korea; Mortality; Neoplasms; Prevalence; Survival