Prostate cancer cases rise in S. Korea

SEOUL, Sept. 8 (Yonhap) -- The number of prostate cancer cases in South Korea has risen sharply in recent years, with more than three out of every 100 men over 55 suffering from the disease, a poll showed Tuesday.

According to a survey of 10,363 men aged 55 or over conducted during the past
three years, 3.4 percent of every 100 respondents said they were diagnosed as
having prostate cancer. The survey was conducted by the Korean Urological
Association (KUA) on a national level for the first time.
The rate is much higher than the 1.3 percent reported for the city of Changchun
in China and 2.3 percent for Osaka in Japan, but lower than the 5.8 percent
recorded for the United States and 5.3 percent of Europe, it said
"In the past, prostate cancer mainly occurred in men in their late 60s in South
Korea, but it is increasingly found among men in their 50s in recent years," said
KUA head Paick Jae-seung.
Prostate cancer currently ranks fifth out of all cancers among males in South
Korea, he said.
ksnam@yna.co.kr