APD | Japan: 80% of cancer patients aged 20 to 39 are women

By APD writer Alice

As many as 80 percent of cancer patients aged between 20 and 39 in Japan were women, a recent study showed.

According to the study, conducted by the National Cancer Center Japan and the National Center for Child Health and Development, 44,000 of the 56,000 patients aged 20 or older were women. The result was attributed to an increase in cases of breast and cervical cancer.

The study, conducted for the first time, analyzed 62,000 cancer patients aged up to 39 who had contacted 844 medical institutions across Japan in 2016 and 2017.

Of the patients, 4,500 were children of ages up to 14, with boys accounting for the majority. Half of the children suffered from leukemia or brain tumors, and a small number were diagnosed with rare cancers.

As cancer types varied depending on age and gender, the study indicated that cervical cancer accounted for the most cases, followed by breast cancer.

The centers expressed hope that women will get properly checked for cervical cancer once they turn 20. They said they were seeking an effective support system for adolescents and young adults.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)