Joseph Nguyen/New America meida
Experts say an alarming increase in the cancer rate in Vietnam is partly due to rising life expectancy but also say other factors are to blame. They believe the extensive use of pesticides and the growing sale of tainted food are also to blame.
Rates of cancer are up in Vietnam and the prospects look grim considering the expense of chemotherapy is beyond what most people make. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Recent research has indicated that Vietnam has a low survival rate for cancer sufferers even by the standards of other developing countries. The estimated cost of treatment for breast cancer starts at $3,500 USD and can increase to ten times that figure.
Cancer experts estimate Vietnam has up to 150,000 new cancer cases a year and 70,000 deaths from the disease.
It’s the second leading cause of death after heart disease.
Men most commonly suffer from cancer of the lung, liver, rectum, stomach, and upper jaw, while for women, the most common areas are in the breast, cervix, lung, rectum, and thyroid gland. 30-50 percent of new cases are blamed on eating and drinking habits.
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