Current status of gynecological cancer in China

The aim of this review is to examine the current status of gynecological cancer in China focusing on epidemiological data. Epidemiological data on gynecological cancer in China is sparse. Therefore, most of the data were estimated via extrapolation based on a few available datasets. Cervical cancer is relatively rare and the incidence and mortality rate are largely decreasing. However, in young women, the incidence and mortality rates are increasing. The overall and age-specific incidence rates of cervical cancer appear to be varied according to geographical areas. The overall prevalence rate of human papillomavirus (HPV) in China is similar with other eastern Asian countries, but the age-specific HPV prevalence showed sustained high HPV prevalence rates in elderly women. There is not yet an established national program for cervical cancer prevention. The incidence rate of corpus and ovarian cancers in China slightly increased between 2000 and 2005, but is still lower than Japan or Korea. There is no reliable, national-level data on mortality rates of corpus and ovarian cancer in China. Breast cancer is one of the most rapidly increasing cancers in China. The increase was sharper in young women than in elderly women. Both increased risk and change of population size/structure contributed to the increase of breast cancer.