| [ Summary ] |
Digestive tract cancer (DTC) occupying 60% of all Japanese cancers is major cancer in Japan. The most common type of DTC is still stomach cancer, followed by cancer of the large intestin. The incidence and death rates for esophageal cancer are increasing in men but decreasing in women. Stomach cancer currently shows a decreasing trend but, large intestinal, pancreatic and biliary tract cancer shows an increasing trend in both men and women. The main cause of liver cancer is HBV and HCB infection. The eradication programs for these disease have been successful for the last twenty years. Secondary prevention through screening programs shows promise for treatment and prevention of stomach and large intestine cancers, however, primary prevention is very important in controling esophageal, pancreatic and biliary tract cancer, for which the prognosis is generally unfavorable. |