K Hospital in Hanoi launched a ceremony to raise public awareness of cancer on Saturday.
Vietnam has seen a sharp increase in the number of cancer patients and annual deaths, while diagnosis is often late
According to the hospital, cancer has become a major burden for many countries, including Vietnam. The Global Cancer Observatory showed that so far this year, 18.1 million people have contracted cancer, resulting in 9.6 million deaths.
Vietnam alone has reported 164,671 new cancer cases since early this year, including 114,871 fatalities.
A report from the Global Cancer Observatory and the National Cancer Institute, Vietnam has around 115,000 new cancer patients per year, including 94,000 deaths.
Doctor Nguyen Tien Quang from K Hospital said that cancer could be completely cured if detected early enough. He added that most cancer patients in Vietnam go to hospital for medical check-up quite late, so the treatment effectiveness is limited.
He warned that people of more than 40 years old usually face a higher risk of cancer. So, it is necessary for them to have regular medical check-ups.
A bicycle parade around Hanoi was also held to raise awareness about the issue.
