The cancer mortality rate in China has increased by 80 percent over the past 30 years, and it is reported that some 1.8 million cancer-related deaths annually, Qatar News agency reported, citing Health Minister Chen Zhu as saying.

Speaking at the 2010 World Cancer Congress at Shenzhen City recently, he said that cancer has become China's leading cause of death among urban and rural residents.

The congress was held between Aug 19 to 21.

Chen added that there is a rapid increase with about 2.6 million people suffered from cancer annually in China of which 1.8 million patients died.

At present, cancers in the lungs, liver, stomach, esophagus and colorectal area were the most common types of cancers in China.

"Cancer mortality rates in rural areas were obviously higher than in cities and cancer-prone areas tend to be concentrated in western regions and rural areas," he said.

According to a report issued by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), more than half of those cancer patients were living in low-income and middle-income countries, and this figure will soar to 70 percent by 2030.

The report shows that 12.7 million people suffered from cancer worldwide in 2008.

The death toll was as high as 7.6 million, which exceeded the combined number of deaths from AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.

Source : Bernama