The Experiences of Early Detection, Early Diagnosis and Early Treatment of Cancer in Rural Areas of China

Background: The cancers of the lung, liver, stomach, esophagus, colorectum and nasopharynx account for more than 70% of the causes of cancer death, making them the major cancer burdens in China. The early detection and treatment of cancers including lung, liver, stomach, esophagus, colorectum and nasopharynx was supported by the central government special financial transfer payment in the rural areas in 2006-2017. Aim: To improve the efficiency of early diagnosis and early treatment to reduce cancer mortality and incidence in the population in China. Methods: Cancer screening methods developed by Group of Expert Committee of Cancer Foundation of China were used, including digestive tract endoscopy for stomach and esophageal and colorectal cancer, LDCT for lung cancer, AFP and abdominal ultrasound for liver cancer, EB virus antibody detection and nasal endoscopy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Results: Among the cancers of lung, liver, stomach, esophagus, colorectum and nasopharynx, the screening high risk population were 55,363; 126,443; 103,3036; 1,425,642; 252,911; and 79,726 respectively; and the screening detection rates of precancerous lesions and cancer were 0.62%, 0.66%, 0.87%, 1.62%, 5.29% and 0.49% respectively; and the early diagnosis rates were 47.80%, 60.86%, 71.24%, 73.38%, 91.85% and 64.43% respectively; and the treatment rates were 83.28%, 90.33%, 87.94%, 82.91%, 94.04% and 95.88% respectively. Conclusion: The programs for early detection and early treatment of colorectal cancer and esophageal cancer demonstrated a promising benefit, which should be generalized to broad population implementation.