J Korean Med Sci.  2007 Sep;22(Suppl):S11-S16. 10.3346/jkms.2007.22.S.S11.

Population-based Breast Cancer Statistics in Korea during 1993-2002: Incidence, Mortality, and Survival

• Lee JH
• Yim SH
• Won YJ
• Jung KW
• Son BH
• Lee HD
• Lee ES
• Yoo KY
• Ahn SH
• Shin HR
• The Members of Korean Breast Cancer Society (KBCS)

• KMID: 1785783
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2007.22.S.S11

Abstract

In 2002, breast became the most common cancer site in Korean women. Using national breast cancer incidence data during 1993-2002, crude, age-standardized, and age-specific rates for incidence and mortality were calculated. Survival was examined for cases diagnosed during 1993-2002 and followed up to 2004. Observed survival was calculated using the life table method and relative survival using the Ederer II method. Age-standardized incidence rates in female increased from 14.5 in 1993 to 26.2 per 100,000 in 2002. Age-specific incidences showed peaks in women in their forties. Mortality rates increased from 3.7 in 1993 to 4.6 per 100,000 in 2002 and showed peaks in women in their fifties. Five-year relative survival for female breast cancer diagnosed during 1993-2002 was 82.2%. When we examined the secular trends using cases diagnosed 1993-1999 for complete 5-yr follow-up, the 5-yr relative survival increased from 75.2% in 1993 to 83.5% in 1999. The data from this study will provide valuable information to plan and evaluate actions against breast cancer including national breast cancer screening.

Keyword

Breast Cancer; Incidence; Mortality; Survival; Cancer Registry; Korea

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Breast Neoplasms/*epidemiology/mortality
Breast Neoplasms, Male/epidemiology/mortality
Epidemiologic Factors
Female
Humans
Korea/epidemiology
Male
Middle Aged
Survival Rate
Time Factors

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Incidence trends of female breast cancer in 1993-2002. (A) Incidence trends of female invasive breast cancer and CIS by year of diagnosis. (B) Age-specific incidence rates of female invasive breast cancer by time period of diagnosis. CIS, Carcinoma in situ; CR, Crude rate; ASR, Age-standardized rate using WHO world standard population.

• 

  Fig. 2 Mortality trends of female breast cancer in 1993-2002. (A) Mortality trends of female breast cancer by year, (B) Age-specific mortality rates of female breast cancer by time period of death. AS, Age-standardized using WHO world standard population.

• 

  Fig. 3 Age-specific incidence rates for male invasive breast cancer by time period of diagnosis.

• 

  Fig. 4 Trends of observed and relative 5-yr survival rates for female invasive breast cancer diagnosed during 1993-1999.

• 

  Fig. 5 Stage-specific 5-yr relative survival rates for female invasive breast cancer and CIS diagnosed during 1993-2002. CIS, Carcinoma in situ.

Reference

1. Parkin DM, Bray F, Ferlay J, Pisani P. Global cancer statistics, 2002. CA Cancer J Clin. 2005. 55:74–108.

2. Shin HR, Won YJ, Jung KW, Kong HJ, Yim SH, Lee JK, Noh HI, Pisani P, Park JG, Ahn YO, Lee SY, Lee CW, Woo ZH, Lee TY, Choi JS, Yoo CI, Bae JM. Nationwide cancer incidence in Korea, 1999-2001; first result using the National Cancer Incidence Database. Cancer Res Treat. 2005. 37:325–331.

3. Shin HR, Jung KW, Won YJ, Park JG. 139 KCCR-affiliated Hospitals. 2002 Annual report of the Korea Central Cancer Registry: Based on registered data from 139 hospitals. Cancer Res Treat. 2004. 36:103–114.

4. Korean Breast Cancer Society. Clinical characteristics of Korean breast cancer patients in 1998. J Korean Med Sci. 2000. 15:569–579.

5. National Statistical Office. 2006. Accessed 7 September 2006. Available at http://kosis.nso.go.kr.

6. Segi M. Cancer Mortality for selected sites in 24 countries (1950-1957). 1960. Sendai, Japan: Tohuku University of Medicine.

7. Ries L, Harkins D, Krapcho M, Mariotto A, Miller B, Feuer E, Clegg L, Eisner M, Horner M, Howlader N, Hayat M, Hankey B, Edwards B. SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2003. Accessed 12 September 2006. Bethesda MD: National Cancer Institute;Available at http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2003/. based on November 2005 SEER data submission, posted to the SEER web site, 2006.

8. Sankaranarayanan R, Black RJ, Swaminathan R, Parkin DM. An overview of cancer survival in developing countries. IARC Sci Publ. 1998. 145:135–173.

9. American Joint Committee on Cancer. AJCC Cancer staging manual. 1997. 5th ed. Philadelphia, USA: Lippincott-Raven.

10. Ederer F, Heise H. Instructions to IBM programmers in processing survival computations. methodological note No.10. 1959. Bethesda MD: National Cancer Institute.

11. Dickman P. Accessed 6 September 2006. Available at http//www.pauldickman.com.

12. MacMahon B. Epidemiology and the causes of breast cancer. Int J Cancer. 2006. 118:2373–2378.

13. Parkin DM, Whelan SL, Ferlay J, Storm H. Cancer incidence in five continents. 2002. vol VIII. Lyon, France: IARC.

14. Botha JL, Bray F, Sankila R, Parkin DM. Breast cancer incidence and mortality trends in 16 European countries. Eur J Cancer. 2003. 39:1718–1729.

15. Korean Breast Cancer Society. Nationwide Korean breast cancer data of 2002. J Korean Breast Cancer Soc. 2004. 7:72–83.

16. Yoo KY, Kang D, Park SK, Kim SU, Kim SU, Shin A, Yoon H, Ahn SH, Noh DY, Choe KJ. Epidemiology of breast cancer in Korea: occurrence, high-risk groups, and prevention. J Korean Med Sci. 2002. 17:1–6.

17. Bae JM, Won YJ, Jung KW, Suh KA, Yun YH, Shin MH, Ahn YO, Lee DH, Shin HR, Ahn DH, Oh DK, Park JG. 134 KCCR-affiliated Hospitals. Survival of Korean Cancer Patients Diagnosed in 1995. Cancer Res Treat. 2002. 34:319–325.

18. Sankaranarayanan R, Swaminathan R, Brenner H. Cancer survival in developing countries: an overview. 2006. Union Internationale Contre le Cancer (UICC) World Cancer Congress.

19. Coleman MP, Gatta G, Verdecchia A, Estéve J, Sant M, Storm H, Allemani C, Ciccolallo L, Santaquilani M, Berrino F. EUROCARE Working Group. EUROCARE-3 summary: cancer survival in Europe at the end of the 20th century. Ann Oncol. 2003. 14:Suppl 5. v128–v149.

20. Nomura K, Sobue T, Nakatani H, Maehara M, Kiryu Y, Tsukuma H, Doi M. Cancer statistics in Japan 2005. 2005. Tokyo, Japan: Foundation for Promotion of Cancer Research.

21. Sant M, Allemani C, Berrino F, Coleman MP, Aareleid T, Chaplain G, Coebergh JW, Colonna M, Crosignani P, Danzon A, Federico M, Gafà L, Grosclaude P, Hédelin G, Macè-Lesech J, Garcia CM, Møller H, Paci E, Raverdy N, Tretarre B, Williams EM. European Concerted Action on Survival and Care of Cancer Patients (EUROCARE) Working Group. Breast carcinoma survival in Europe and the United States. Cancer. 2004. 100:715–722.

22. Parkin DM, Chen VW, Ferlay J, Galceran J. Comparability and Quality Control in Cancer Registration. 1994. Lyon: IARC.

23. Lee DH, Shin HR, Ahn DH, Chun BY, Kam Sin, Ahn YO. Accuraey of Cancer Death Certificates in KOREA: A comparison between diagnoses in the central cancer registry and certified underlying causes of death. J Korean Cancer Assoc. 2000. 32:210–219.

24. Ministry of Health and Welfare. 2005 Annual report on the cause of death statistics (based on vital registration). 2006.