Cancer Screening Status in Korea, 2011: Results from the Korean National Cancer Screening Survey

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the use of screening for stomach, liver, colorectal, breast, andcervical cancers, which are included in the Korean National Cancer Screening Programme. In 2011 theNational Cancer Centre in Korea conducted a nationwide, population-based, cross-sectional interviewsurvey using multi-stage random sampling. Participants included 4,100 cancer-free men 40 years and overof age and women over 30 years of age. The lifetime screening rates for stomach, liver, colorectal, breast, andcervical cancers were 76.2%, 54.3%, 56.1%, 79.0%, and, 74.8%, respectively. The rates of recommendedscreening for stomach, liver, colorectal, breast, and cervical cancers were 64.6%, 22.9%, 35.3%, 60.4%,and 62.4%, respectively. More than 70% of all screening was attributed to organised cancer screeningprogrammes. The main reason given for non attendance was ‘no symptoms’. A greater effort is needed toincrease screening rates, especially for liver and colorectal cancers.