Cancer by the Numbers

IN FOCUS

From mortality rates to research investment, statistics help make sense of cancer both at home and abroad.

Research Chermaine Lee | Graphics Fernando Chan

3 MOST COMMON CANCERS

Lung:

#1 Globally (2018)

#2 in Hong Kong (2016)

#1 in Macao (2016)

Breast:

#2 Globally (2018)

#3 in Hong Kong (2016)

#3 in Macao (2016)

Colorectal:

#3 Globally (2018)

#1 in Hong Kong (2016)

#2 in Macao (2016)

THE DEATH TOLL

Annual deaths from cancer, at home and abroad.

GLOBAL (2018): 9.55 MILLION OF 7.5 BILLION

HONG KONG (2016): 14,209 OF 7.3 MILLION

MACAO (2016): 816 OF 612,167

AROUND THE WORLD

The incidence rates of cancer per 100,000 people in developed countries and territories.

ISRAEL**: 223.6

MACAO*: 245

JAPAN**: 248

SINGAPORE**: 248.9

SOUTH KOREA**: 313.5

UK**: 319.2

US**: 352.2

HONG KONG*: 428.9

AUSTRALIA**: 468

* 2016 ** 2018

NEW DRUGS

63 cancer drugs released globally between 2012 and 2017.

TOP RESEARCH HUBS

Which countries publish the most research papers related to cancer?

Total number of cancer research papers published between 2004 and 2013:

Germany: 3,390

US: 14,473

Japan 4,824

TOP 5 RISK FACTORS

Smoking

Cigarettes have more than 4,000 chemicals including 70 carcinogens (cancer-causing substances).

Hormones

Exposure to high levels of hormones over time can cause cancer. Examples include menopausal hormone therapy, early menstruation, late menopause, and older pregnancies.

Alcohol

Alcohol releases toxic chemicals into the body and irritates organs and tissues, which could trigger DNA mutations.

Sugar

Our bodies turn sugar into glucose, which serves as the main source of fuel for cancers.

Stress

Stress can come from poor digestion, insufficient calories, emotions, environment, malnutrition, among others.

ARIANA 2019