BEIJING, April 19 (Xinhua) -- China has seen notable declines in the incidence and mortality rates of several common cancers, with the overall five-year survival rate for cancer patients steadily rising, according to data released by the National Cancer Center.
The incidence and mortality rate of esophageal cancer in China fell by around 4.5 percent annually, according to the figures announced on Friday during a week-long national campaign to promote public awareness of cancer prevention and control, which runs from April 15 to 21 this year.
The death rates for lung cancer and nasopharyngeal cancer dropped by an average of about 2 percent annually, the latest data also showed.
"China has achieved steady progress in cancer prevention and control, bringing more confidence and hope to patients and their families," said He Jie, head of the National Cancer Center, noting that the country's cancer incidence rate stands at the global average.
These positive results came as the country has taken a raft of measures to push forward the line of defense against cancer in recent years, guided by the principle of prevention first.
Research indicates that over 40 percent of cancers can be effectively prevented through primary prevention measures, such as adopting a healthy lifestyle and reducing exposure to carcinogens.
In 2023, Chinese authorities issued guidelines on the high-quality development of cancer prevention and control, stressing the need to raise public health awareness and reduce risk factors. The document set a target of over 80 percent by 2030 for the awareness rate of core knowledge on cancer prevention and control.
One of the latest moves to achieve the goal is a set of codes for a cancer-preventing healthy lifestyle issued by the National Health Commission (NHC). Consisting of 15 simple and viable tips, it is affectionately dubbed by netizens as the national version of the "cancer prevention manual."
Beyond lifestyle guides, the country has been committed to building a multi-tiered network of cancer prevention and control and making early cancer screening more accessible to its population, with cancer registry sites now covering 98.6 percent of all counties and districts nationwide.
Meanwhile, screening coverage for cervical and breast cancer among women has reached 98 percent at the county and district level, and the early diagnosis rate for major cancers in key areas has surpassed 55 percent.
A broader coverage of early screening leads to early treatment, which "offers an effective path to long-term survival for patients with malignant tumors," said Liu Jixian, director of the Department of Thoracic Surgery at Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, adding that most patients with early-stage cancer can achieve clinical cure through diversified and comprehensive treatment approaches.
Breakthroughs in diagnostic and treatment technologies have also contributed to the country's fight against cancer.
For example, a CAR-T drug, developed by a Chinese pharmaceutical company, is expected to break new ground in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer.
"China has a high incidence of gastric cancer, and there are few treatment options for patients after second-line treatment failure," said Zhang Jingdong, deputy head of Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute. "This drug has made a breakthrough in terms of its target."
The homegrown drug reflects the burgeoning innovation capacity of China's pharmaceutical industry. Currently, China accounts for around one-third of the world's innovative drugs in development. In 2025, the total value of outbound licensing deals for Chinese innovative drugs exceeded 130 billion U.S. dollars.
The innovative drug development in China is still gaining steam. A total of 14 innovative drugs have been approved for market so far in 2026, many of which are for cancer treatment, data from the National Medical Products Administration showed.
Aside from advances in new drugs, artificial intelligence has been playing a greater role in the country's efforts to nip cancer in the bud.
DAMO PANDA, an AI system developed by Alibaba's DAMO Academy, has shown promising results in the early detection of pancreatic cancer, one of medicine's most lethal adversaries. The cutting-edge technology has now been deployed not only in urban hospitals but also in some remote areas.
Liu Wen, an NHC official, pledged greater support for scientific research on key issues in cancer prevention and control to accelerate the development of related technologies and drugs.
Digital and smart technologies should be further applied to break down regional barriers and ensure more standardized and equitable cancer care nationwide, the official added. ■
