Lung cancer incidence and mortality in China, 2011

The National Central Cancer Registry (NCCR) of China is responsible for cancer surveillance. Cancer registration data from registries located in each province are submitted annually to the NCCR for analysis and publication. The lung cancer incidences, and mortalities were estimated in 2011 in China by NCCR.

In 2014, 234 population-based cancer registries' data in 2011 were submitted to the NCCR and 177 cancer registries' data were selected after quality evaluation. The selected data were classified into urban and rural areas; the crude incidence and mortality rates of lung cancer were calculated by age and gender. Age-standardized rates were calculated by China and World standard population. The 6(th) National Population Census data of China was used to estimate the 2011 lung cancer burden in China.

Lung cancer remained the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer death in China in 2011. Lung cancer incidence and mortality were higher in men and urban areas than those in women and rural areas. The rates were relatively low in patients under 40 years of age, and dramatically increased after age 40, reaching a peak in patients aged 80-84.

The burden of lung cancer was serious in China in 2011, especially for men in urban areas. Effective methods of intervention, such as air pollution and smoking controls, should be enhanced in the future.