Number of new cancer cases in China 2020, by type of cancer

China recorded more than 4.5 million new cancer cases in 2020. Lung cancer was the most common type of cancer, with more than 800,000 new cases. Colorectum and stomach cancers were also common, with more than a million new cases combined. Although breast cancer was the most common cancer globally, it ranked fourth in China with more than 400,000 new cases.

High prevalence of smoking

Smoking behavior has a direct correlation with cancer, especially lung cancer. China has the largest population of smokers in the world, with the sales value for traditional cigarettes amounting to 1.77 trillion yuan in 2021. As the tobacco industry is a key source of tax revenue in China, smoking bans and smoking cessation incentives are not widely implemented in the country.

Oncology hospitals and treatments

As the prevalence of cancer in China continued to rise in recent years, the demand for cancer treatment has increased substantially. Specialized oncology hospitals are commonly found in large cities, while most general hospitals, especially tier-three hospitals, also have oncology departments. The number of beds and high-end medical equipment in oncology hospitals rose considerably in the last decade, enabling cancer patients to receive more effective treatments.