According to data published on GLOBOCAN by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Vietnam recorded 180,480 new cancer cases and 120,184 cancer deaths in 2022. The incidence rate stood at 150.8 per 100,000 people, with a mortality rate of 99 per 100,000.

Prof. Mai Trong Khoa, former Deputy Director of Bach Mai Hospital (Hanoi), said Vietnam's capacity for cancer diagnosis and treatment is improving, yet many people still seek medical care only when the disease is at an advanced stage.

Late arrivals lead to late diagnosis

According to Professor Khoa, the rising number of cancer cases is driven by multiple factors, including population growth, environmental conditions, diet, lifestyle and other risk factors. At the same time, advances in science and technology have made it possible to accurately detect many cases that might previously have gone undiagnosed.

Vietnam has mastered numerous modern techniques in cancer diagnosis, screening, and treatment.

“It can be said that the diagnostic and treatment equipment, particularly equipment for cancer screening and early detection, in Vietnam is now on par with that in developed countries,” Khoa said.

Medical experts and healthcare workers are also capable of making use of these technologies. However, Professor Khoa noted that having modern equipment does not necessarily mean patients will be diagnosed at an early stage.

At major hospitals, many cancer patients still seek care only after the disease has progressed. When cancer is diagnosed at an advanced stage, treatment becomes much more difficult and costly, while its effectiveness is lower.

People remain reluctant to undergo screening

Khoa said an important reason patients arrive at hospitals late is that people are not proactive about cancer screening. Although information about cancer has become increasingly widespread, many people still avoid medical checkups because they are afraid of being diagnosed with the disease. They only come for medical examination when they feel ill.

Early-stage cancer, meanwhile, may not cause obvious symptoms. If people seek medical care only after experiencing unusual signs, they may already have missed the optimal window for treatment.

The cost of medical examinations and treatment is also a barrier, particularly for people facing financial difficulties.

Another bottleneck is the uneven access to healthcare services across different regions.

Professor Khoa said central-level hospitals and major cities have better conditions for developing medical equipment, technology and specialized human resources. In remote and disadvantaged areas, access to modern equipment and specialists remains limited.

The gap also reflects differences in economic conditions and access to information. Urban residents have more opportunities to undergo screening, while in disadvantaged areas, finding the time and money for regular checkups is not always easy.

Professor Khoa said policies are needed to ensure people in different regions can access appropriate early-detection services.

Importance of cancer screening

According to Professor Khoa, a rise in the number of detected cancer cases is not necessarily a bad sign. As diagnostic capacity improves and more people seek medical care, the number of patients diagnosed may increase. What matters is the stage at which the disease is detected. If it is caught early and treated effectively, that would be a very positive development.

“Our goal is to bring the cancer mortality rate down. That is what we need to achieve,” Professor Khoa emphasized.

To achieve this goal, Vietnam needs to strengthen public communication, help people better understand the importance of cancer screening and reduce the reluctance to seek medical care. At the same time, it needs to narrow gaps in medical personnel, equipment and healthcare services between regions.

According to Professor Mai Trong Khoa, Vietnam's cancer challenge is no longer simply a question of “whether we have enough equipment,” but of how to ensure people reach the healthcare system early enough. As the proportion of patients diagnosed at an early stage increases, that will provide the foundation for reducing the cancer mortality rate.

Phuong Thuy