cancer screening 結果共5筆

Discover how Taiwan is combating cancer with a NT$6.8 billion budget increase for expanded screening services and a new Cancer Drug Fund, aligning with the ＂Healthy Taiwan＂ policy to cut cancer mortality by 2030.

Lung cancer in Chiayi City is the leading cause of cancer deaths, accounting for nearly one-fifth of all cancer-related deaths in Taiwan. The recent death of Tsai Wen-hsu, a veteran councilor from the Democratic Progressive Party, has highlighted the importance of early cancer detection. Former Chiayi City mayor and minister of the Department of Health, Twu Shiing-jer, emphasized the need for preventive medicine and comprehensive screening. Statistics show that early-stage lung cancer has a significantly higher five-year survival rate. To address this issue, the Ministry of Health and Welfare launched an early lung cancer detection program, making Taiwan a leader in lung cancer screening. The program targets individuals with a family history of the disease and heavy smokers, offering low-dose CT scans every two years. However, while screening can detect lung cancer early, it cannot prevent the disease. Public health officials recommend smoking cessation services and rejecting smoking to mitigate the risk of lung cancer.

Taoyuan City has screened over 20,000 residents aged 40 and older for lung cancer through a free low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scan program. However, only 18,000 have completed the examination, with 1,036 cases requiring further tracking and 63 confirmed lung cancer diagnoses. Taoyuan City Councilors raised concerns about the limited number of participating hospitals and the budget allocation for the program. The Taoyuan Public Health Department reported that 18 medical institutions currently provide the LDCT service, with plans to add four or five more next year. They assured that the program will continue with the same eligibility criteria and quotas, and aim to integrate smart technology to expedite the screening process. The screening service targets individuals with high-risk factors such as tobacco exposure, relevant medical and family history, occupational exposure, and air pollution. Occupational exposure includes individuals who have worked in environments with asbestos, arsenic, cadmium, nickel, or dust for over ten years.

Discover how Taiwan is leading the fight against cancer with its Lung Cancer Early Detection Program, marking a significant shift in the most common cancers and underscoring the importance of early detection and screening.

Taiwan’s most common cancer has shifted from colorectal cancer to lung cancer, according to the Health Promotion Administration (HPA). This change was observed in 2021, ending a 15-year record held by colorectal cancer. The HPA’s report listed the top 10 cancers, with lung and colorectal cancers being the most common. Other cancers on the list include breast, liver, oral, prostate, thyroid, stomach, skin, and pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer notably made the list for the first time. Dr. Chen Jin-shing, chief of surgery at National Taiwan University Hospital, explained that the shift is not surprising as lung cancer has been the leading cause of cancer-related deaths for the past decade. The HPA’s Cancer Prevention and Control Division director, Lin Li-ju, highlighted an increase in early lung cancer detection following the introduction of low dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening in 2022. In 2021, there were 121,762 new cases of cancer registered in Taiwan, marking the first decline in new patient numbers. On average, a person was diagnosed with cancer every 4 minutes and 19 seconds. HPA Director-General Wu Chao-chun urged individuals to reduce their risk factors and recommended regular screenings for early detection and treatment, especially for those at high risk.