Statistics of Cervical Cancer
Worldwide, cervical cancer is the third most common cancer in women. In 2008, there were an estimated 529 000 new cases of cervical cancer, of which over 85% occurred in developing countries; and around 275 000 women died of this cancer, about 88% of whom from developing countries.1
In 2008, cervical cancer was the tenth most common cancer among females in Hong Kong. According to the Hong Kong Cancer Registry, there were 358 new cases of cervical cancer, accounting for 3.1% of all new cancer cases in females. The crude incidence rate was 9.7 per 100 000 female population. The age-standardised incidence rate was 6.9 per 100 000 standard population. The median age at diagnosis was 53 years old. Meanwhile, cervical cancer was the ninth most common female cancer death in 2009. There were 128 deaths in females due to this cancer, accounting for 2.5% of all cancer deaths in females. In 2009, the crude death rate was 3.5 per 100 000 female population and the age-standardised mortality rate was 2.2 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 1989 and 2009. These rates have been adjusted for the effect of changing age structure in the population over the years to allow meaningful comparison. We are observing a decreasing trend which may be explained by increasing awareness and hence, more women receiving cervical screening.
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Source: GLOBOCAN 2008, Cancer Incidence and Mortality Worldwide: IARC CancerBase No. 10 [Internet]. International Agency for Research on Cancer; 2010. Available from: http://globocan.iarc.fr |
| [Trend of Age-standardised Incidence1 & and Mortality Rates2-4 of Cervical Cancer in Hong Kong (1989-2009) ] |
Footnotes:
- Data for compiling 2009 incidence rates are not yet published.
- 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.
- Data in the above chart from 1996 onwards are compiled based on the population estimates under the "resident population" approach instead of the "extended de facto" approach.
- From 2001 onwards, figures in cervical cancer new cases and deaths are compiled based on ICD-10 (C53) and thus may not be comparable with figures for previous years compiled based on ICD-9 (180).
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| Sources: | Department of Health |
| Census and Statistics Department |
| Hong Kong Cancer Registry, Hospital Authority |
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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. Elderly women are at a higher risk of developing and dying from cervical cancer. Incidence rate is very low for women aged below 25 years.
[Average Age-specific Incidence1 and Mortality Rates2-4 of Cervical Cancer ]
Footnotes:
- Data for compiling 2009 incidence rates are not yet published.
- 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.
- Data in the above chart are compiled based on the population estimates under the "resident population" approach.
- From 2001 onwards, figures in cervical cancer new cases and deaths are compiled based on ICD-10 (C53).
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| Sources: | Department of Health |
| Census and Statistics Department |
| Hong Kong Cancer Registry, Hospital Authority |
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