title: National estimates of cancer prevalence in China, 2011.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Little is known about the nationwide cancer prevalence in China. This paper aimed at assessing the 5-year cancer prevalence in China for 25 major cancers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Incidence data were estimated using data from 177 cancer registries and covering 175 million populations. Survival data were from 17 cancer registries diagnosed during 2003-2005 and followed up until 31 December 2010. Standardized protocols for data collection and validation were adopted. Cancer prevalence for 25 major sites was estimated from year-specific incidence rates and survival probabilities according to standardized formula.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The estimated 5-year prevalence for all cancers combined in 2011 in China was 7.49 million (3.68 million for men and 3.81 million for women). Cancer prevalence estimates for 5 years varied by cancer sites, ranging from 11,900 for testicular cancer to 1.02 million for women breast cancer. Those most prevalent five cancers (breast, colorectal, lung, stomach and esophageal cancers) covered 56.1% of cancer burden in China. The proportion for the 5-year prevalence was higher in urban areas compared to rural areas (666 per 100,000 versus 440 per 100,000), while cancer prevalence estimates were higher for women compared to men, with the men/women ratio of 5-year cancer prevalence reaching 0.96.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This paper provides the first systematic analysis on 5-year cancer prevalence for 25 major cancers in China in 2011, which may serve as a baseline for assessment of the overall effectiveness of cancer health care. The huge number of cancer survivors requires resource allocation to improve health care programs and primary prevention, especially in rural areas.
authors.affiliation: National Office for Cancer Prevention and Control, National Cancer Center, No. 17, Pan-Jia-Yuan South Lane, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100021, China.
authors.forename: Rongshou
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: National Office for Cancer Prevention and Control, National Cancer Center, No. 17, Pan-Jia-Yuan South Lane, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100021, China.
authors.forename: Hongmei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: National Office for Cancer Prevention and Control, National Cancer Center, No. 17, Pan-Jia-Yuan South Lane, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100021, China.
authors.forename: Siwei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Genetic Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center, ImNeuenheimer Feld 580 (TP3), D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Institute of Occupational Diseases, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Tianhui
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: National Office for Cancer Prevention and Control, National Cancer Center, No. 17, Pan-Jia-Yuan South Lane, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100021, China. Electronic address: chenwq@cicams.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Wanqing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D015995:Prevalence; D012042:Registries; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Cancer burden; China; Epidemiology; Health care services; Prevalence