The Hong Kong Health
Department has urged people to adopt a healthy lifestyle and undergo screening
for early detection of cancer.
The statement was issued today as World Cancer Day 2025 was marked.
The International Cancer Control has, since 2020, designated February 4 each year as World Cancer Day to increase worldwide awareness of cancer and to combat the disease together.
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According to the DH, cancer is the number one killer in Hong Kong, causing nearly 15,000 deaths in 2023.
In 2022, more than 35,000 new cancer cases were diagnosed in Hong Kong, where the five most common cancers were lung, breast, colorectal, prostate and liver cancers.
“Given the ageing population, the number of new cases and healthcare demands are expected to further increase,” said the DH in its statement.
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This year's theme, "United by Unique", focuses of placing people at the centre of cancer care. Every patient is unique, and it takes a united effort to help patients receive comprehensive care and lead better lives.
"The Government has long upheld the principle of putting people at the centre
of cancer prevention and control,” said the DH.
According to the DH, about 40 per cent of all cancers can be prevented through the adoption of a healthy lifestyle and the reduction of exposure to major risk factors, such as refraining from smoking or alcohol consumption, being physically active, having a balanced diet, and maintaining a healthy body weight and waist circumference.
The DH has launched a series of health promotion programs targeting various age groups to raise public awareness of health issues through education and publicity.
To shift the emphasis and mindset of the healthcare system from treatment to prevention, the government has established District Health Centres (DHCs) in all 18 districts of the territory to provide health promotion, health risk factors assessment, disease screening and chronic disease management.
Steered by the Primary Healthcare Commission (PHCC), the DHCs actively promote the "Life Course Preventive Care plan" based on the core principles of prevention and whole-person care.
Through this approach, a personalised preventive care plan will be formulated to address the health needs of residents across different life stages based on the most updated evidence.
Family doctors and
primary healthcare professionals collaborate to promote healthy lifestyles and
disease prevention, including providing education and vaccination for cancer
prevention, and advising on cancer screening services according to personal
risk factors.
On cancer screening, the government adopts an evidence-based approach to
achieve early cancer detection. So far, the government has implemented screening
programs for the early detection of cervical, colorectal and breast cancers.
By the end of this year, a pilot program will be launched to subsidise hepatitis B screening by the end of this year, aiming for early detection and treatment of chronic hepatitis B to reduce the risk of complications from chronic hepatitis B, such as cirrhosis and liver cancer.
At the same time, the DH reminds residents to talk to their doctors to understand the benefits and limitations of screening tests before making an informed decision to undergo cancer screening. Relevant health advice is available on the website of the Centre for Health Protection or via the "@DH mobile application".
