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Review
. 2024 Jun 17;8(6):958-965.
doi: 10.1002/ags3.12835. eCollection 2024 Nov.

Incidence, mortality, survival, and treatment statistics of cancers in digestive organs-Japanese cancer statistics 2024

Takahiro Higashi  1 , Yukinori Kurokawa  2
Affiliations
Review

Incidence, mortality, survival, and treatment statistics of cancers in digestive organs-Japanese cancer statistics 2024

Takahiro Higashi et al. Ann Gastroenterol Surg. .

Abstract

Access to accurate statistical data is paramount in the pursuit of effective cancer control activities, including research, policy development, and clinical care. This paper presents a comprehensive statistical report on the incidence, mortality, survival, and treatment of major digestive organ cancers, including those of the esophagus, stomach, colon, rectum, liver, extrahepatic biliary tract, and pancreas, in Japan. We compiled data from the National Cancer Center's "Cancer Information Services" and government "e-Stat" websites and offered a succinct overview of basic statistics by using tables and graphical presentations. Our findings underscore the critical role of the National Cancer Registry introduced by the Cancer Registry Act of 2016, which mandates hospitals across Japan to report cancer cases. This system ensures more accurate incidence statistics. Mortality data sourced from the National Vital Statistics System and survival rates derived from hospital-based cancer registries offer insights into the outcomes and efficacy of treatment modalities. These data indicate a downward trend in mortality for stomach and liver cancers and stable or declining rates for other cancers except pancreatic cancer, which has the lowest survival rate. Treatment patterns indicate an increase in endoscopic procedures for esophageal and stomach cancers, with stable treatment approaches for colorectal cancer. This statistical overview aims to improve the understanding and inform research, policy, and clinical decisions in the field of digestive organ cancers.

Keywords: cancer registries; digestive system neoplasms; statistics.

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Conflict of interest statement

Y. Kurokawa is an Associate Editor of the Annals of Gastroenterological Surgery. T. Higashi was employed by National Cancer Center and was in charge of operating National Cancer Registry and Hospital‐based Cancer Registries.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Trend in age‐adjusted incidence of cancers in digestive organs 2016–2020.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Trend in age‐adjusted mortality of cancers in digestive organs 2013–2022.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Survival rates of cancers in digestive organs. (A) 5‐year net survival of cases diagnosed in 2015. (B) 10‐year net survival of cases diagnosed in 2011.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Trend in the treatment of cancers in digestive organs 2016–2020.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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