The latest report on Taiwan’s top ten causes of death reveals that cancer has remained the leading cause for 43 consecutive years. Among all cancers, lung cancer has ranked first for the 21st straight year, claiming 10,495 lives in 2024. A closer look at the age-standardized mortality rates shows that while most cancer-related deaths are declining, mortality rates for prostate and ovarian cancer have increased—largely due to the lack of evidence-based, effective screening methods, making early detection more difficult.

In 2024, the top ten cancer-related causes of death were: cancers of the trachea, bronchus, and lung (10,495 deaths), liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancer (7,513), colorectal and anal cancer (7,007), female breast cancer (3,050), prostate cancer (1,897), oral cancer (3,687), pancreatic cancer (2,970), stomach cancer (2,221), esophageal cancer (2,076), and ovarian cancer (799).

According to Lü Shu-Chun, Section Chief at the Department of Statistics, Ministry of Health and Welfare, a total of 54,032 cancer deaths were recorded in 2024—an increase of 906 deaths compared to 2023. The cancer mortality rate stood at 230.8 deaths per 100,000 population, with an age-standardized mortality rate of 113.3 per 100,000. Lung, liver, and colorectal cancers have remained the top three causes of cancer deaths for 21 consecutive years.

The rise in prostate and ovarian cancer deaths is a growing concern. Chia Shu-Li, Deputy Director-General of the Health Promotion Administration (HPA), explained that the primary reason for the increase in prostate cancer deaths is population aging, with the median age of diagnosis now at 82. Moreover, both prostate and ovarian cancers lack effective, evidence-based screening programs, making early diagnosis and treatment more challenging and contributing to higher mortality rates.

Chia also emphasized that the HPA has long promoted cancer screening programs to reduce mortality. In 2023, 4.81 million public-funded screenings were conducted for adults, resulting in the detection of 61,000 cases of either precancerous lesions or confirmed cancer. Among them, 51,000 were precancerous cases, and 10,000 were confirmed cancers—of which approximately 90% were detected at an early stage. The HPA projects that in 2025, the number of cancer screenings will rise to 6.77 million, with an estimated 77,000 individuals expected to be identified with either precancerous conditions or confirmed cancer.

Resource: 肺癌連21年居癌症死亡榜首 攝護腺癌、卵巢癌死亡率升