Some Facts About Cancer

According to the GLOBOCAN 2022 report by the World Health Organization (WHO), Thailand recorded 183,541 new cancer cases over a single year^{(1), (2)}  — that’s more than 500 people diagnosed every day.

• Many cancers do not show symptoms in the early stages.
• When cancers are detected in their later stages, the chances of being cured decrease, and treatments become more complex.
• If detected early, the chances of being cured are significantly higher.

 

Survival Rates of Cancer Patients Diagnosed at the Localized Stage
 

Early detection of cancer — particularly during the localized stage, when it has not yet spread to other organs — significantly improves the chances of a full recovery and long-term survival.
 According to data from the American Cancer Society, the five-year survival rates for patients diagnosed in the localized stage are as follows:
 

Types of Cancer	Five-Year Survival Rate When Diagnosed at the Localized Stage
Breast cancer	>99%(3)
Prostate cancer	>99%(4)
Colorectal cancer	91%(5)
Lung cancer	67%(6)

Who Should Get Cancer Screening

Cancer screenings aren’t only for older adults or those feeling unwell. You should consider a cancer screening if you:

• Have a family history of cancer
• Smoke, drink alcohol frequently, or consume processed foods regularly
• Work under high stress
• Feel completely healthy, as early-stage cancer often shows no symptoms

 

Why Screen Before Symptoms Appear?

Many cancers show no symptoms in their early stages. Early detection greatly increases the chance of being cured.


By Thanaporn Thamrongrat

 
 

References:
1. GLOBOCAN 2022 – Thailand Fact Sheet
International Agency for Research on Cancer. (2024). Thailand fact sheet. Global Cancer Observatory. https://gco.iarc.who.int/media/globocan/factsheets/populations/764-thailand-fact-sheet.pdf
 
2. Global Cancer Statistics 2022
Bray, F., Laversanne, M., Sung, H., Ferlay, J., Siegel, R. L., Soerjomataram, I., & Jemal, A. (2024). Global cancer statistics 2022: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 74(3), 229–263. https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21834 
 
3. Prostate Cancer Survival Rates
American Cancer Society. (2025, January 16). Survival rates for prostate cancer. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/prostate-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/survival-rates.html 
 
4. Breast Cancer Survival Rates
American Cancer Society. (2025, January 16). Survival rates for breast cancer. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer/understanding-a-breast-cancer-diagnosis/breast-cancer-survival-rates.html 

5. Colorectal Cancer Survival Rates
American Cancer Society. (2025, January 16). Survival rates for colorectal cancer. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/colon-rectal-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/survival-rates.html 

6. Lung Cancer Survival Rates
American Cancer Society. (2025, June 27). Survival rates for lung cancer. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/lung-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/survival-rates.html