Statistics of Cervical Cancer

Worldwide, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women. In 2005, there were over 500 000 new cases of cervical cancer, of which over 90% were in developing countries, and almost 260 000 women died of this cancer, nearly 95% of them in developing countries.¹

In 2005, cervical cancer was the ninth most common cancer in females in Hong Kong. According to the Hong Kong Cancer Registry, there were 376 new cases of cervical cancer, accounting for 3.6% of all new cancer cases in females. The crude incidence rate was 10.6 per 100 000 female population. The age-standardised incidence rate was 7.8 per 100 000 standard population. The median age at diagnosis was 52 years old. Meanwhile, cervical cancer was the eighth most common cause of female cancer registered deaths in 2007. There were 129 female registered deaths due to this cancer, accounting for 2.7% of female cancer registered deaths. In 2007, the crude death rate was 3.5 per 100 000 female population and the age-standardised mortality rate was 2.3 per 100 000 standard population.

The following figure shows the decreasing trend of age-standardised incidence and mortality rates of cervical cancer in Hong Kong between 1983 and 2007. These rates have been adjusted for the effect of changing age structure in the population over the years to allow for meaningful comparison. The decreasing trend may be due to more and more women becoming aware of the condition and received regular cervical screening.

Footnotes:

1. Data for compiling 2006 and 2007 incidence rates are not yet published.
2. The age-standardised incidence and mortality rates are compiled based on the world standard population specified in GPE Discussion Paper Series: No.31, EIP/GPE/EBD, World Health Organisation, 2001.
3. Data in the above two charts from 1996 onwards are compiled based on the population estimates under the "resident population" approach instead of the "extended de facto" approach.
4. From 2001 onwards, figures in cervical cancer new cases and deaths are complied based on ICD-10 (C53) and thus may not be comparable with figures for previous years complied based on ICD-9 (180).

The following figure shows the average age-specific incidence and mortality rates of cervical cancer in Hong Kong. Both incidence rate and mortality rate generally increase with age with a peak at the age group of 80-84 and the group of 85 and above, respectively. This means elderly women are at higher risk of developing and dying from cervical cancer. Incidence is very low for women aged below 25 years.

Footnotes:

1. Data for compiling 2006 and 2007 incidence rates are not yet published.
2. The average age-specific incidence (mortality) rates over a 5-year period are calculated by dividing the average number of new cases (deaths) over the period by the female population at the middle of the period.
3. Data in the above chart are compiled based on the population estimates under the "resident population" approach instead of the "extended de facto" approach.
4. From 2001 onwards, figures in cervical cancer new cases and deaths are compiled based on ICD-10 (C53).