Is the cancer cure rate high in China?

I am Klaus, an oncologist who has worked at a university hospital in Berlin for 15 years. Last year, as part of a Sino-German cancer research collaboration, I spent six months at the Cancer Center of Ruijin Hospital, affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. This experience completely shattered my preconceived notions about cancer treatment in China—it is not “backward” as some Western media portray it, but rather presents a unique landscape where tradition and modernity, efficiency and compassion intertwine. Today, when I attempt to answer the question “Is China's cancer cure rate high?”, my response is grounded in both data and the empathy of a clinician.

I. “Cure rate” is a complex concept: Consider the whole before the individual

In oncology, “cure rate” is typically measured by “five-year survival rate” (the proportion of patients surviving five years after diagnosis). According to the latest data released by the National Cancer Center in 2024, China's overall five-year cancer survival rate has risen from 30.9% in 2003-2005 to 44.0% in 2016-2019. Survival rates for some high-incidence cancers approach developed-country levels: breast cancer's five-year survival rate reaches 82.0% (close to the U.S. rate of 89%), thyroid cancer stands at 92.0% (a global leader), and colorectal cancer has reached 57.6%.

However, “overall data” can obscure disparities. Klaus observed in his outpatient practice at Ruijin Hospital that cancer survival rates in China are significantly influenced by cancer type, stage at diagnosis, and access to treatment options:

• Early-stage cancers: Due to the recent “popularization of early screening” (e.g., low-dose CT for lung cancer and endoscopy for gastric cancer now covered by insurance), many patients are detected at Stage I. The five-year survival rate for this group generally exceeds 80%, approaching “clinical cure.”

• Advanced-stage cancers: Survival rates for Chinese patients with difficult-to-treat cancers like liver and pancreatic cancer remain lower than in Europe and the US (e.g., China's five-year liver cancer survival rate is approximately 14.1%, compared to 20.8% in the US). This disparity stems from many patients being diagnosed at advanced stages and differences in access to targeted therapies and immunotherapy.

“But what truly astonished me is how rapidly China's grassroots hospitals are catching up in cancer diagnosis and treatment capabilities,” Klaus remarked. During a consultation at a county-level hospital in Zhejiang, he observed oncologists proficiently applying the latest NCCN (National Comprehensive Cancer Network) guidelines. Through telemedicine systems, they collaborated with Shanghai specialists to develop personalized treatment plans for patients—a scenario “unimaginable in China just a decade ago.”

II. Behind the “Cure”: The Triple Pillars of Technology, Healthcare Insurance, and Culture

According to Klaus's observations, the advancement of cancer treatment in China stems not from a single factor, but from the combined effects of “technological iteration + institutional safeguards + shifts in social attitudes.”

1. Technology: The Leap from “Catching Up” to “Keeping Pace”

China's top-tier tertiary hospitals now possess cancer treatment equipment on par with global leaders: proton therapy centers (e.g., Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Hospital), Da Vinci surgical robots, and gene sequencing platforms (e.g., CancerNGS testing by CancerGenomics) are widely deployed. China ranks second globally (behind only the U.S.) in the number of clinical trials for immunotherapy (PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors) and targeted therapies (e.g., drugs for EGFR-mutated lung cancer). Some drugs, like camrelizumab, have even become international benchmarks as “China-originated innovations.”

What impressed Klaus most was the widespread adoption of the “multidisciplinary team (MDT) model.” At Shanghai Ruijin Hospital, every patient with advanced-stage cancer is assigned to a multidisciplinary team comprising specialists from surgery, internal medicine, radiation oncology, pathology, and radiology. Through case discussions, they formulate the optimal treatment plan. “While this model is standard in Germany, in China—even at top-tier hospitals in second- and third-tier cities—MDT has evolved from an ‘option’ to a ‘necessity.’”

2. Medical Insurance: China's Solution to “Treatment Without Financial Ruin”

For many international patients, the “financial toxicity” of cancer treatment poses the heaviest burden. In the United States, a new anticancer drug may cost tens of thousands of dollars per month; even with insurance, the out-of-pocket expenses can still overwhelm families. In Japan, despite broad health insurance coverage, patients must still bear 30%-50% of the cost for high-priced new drugs.

China's health insurance system provides a “safety net” for cancer patients: Following the 2023 national medical insurance catalog update, 17 anti-cancer drugs saw average price reductions of 62%. Among them, “sky-high priced drugs” like PD-1 inhibitors and osimertinib (a lung cancer targeted therapy) were included in reimbursement coverage. Some regions (such as Guangdong and Zhejiang) have also incorporated CAR-T cell therapy (an immunotherapy) into critical illness insurance, reducing patient out-of-pocket costs to 10%-20%.

Klaus once encountered a gastric cancer patient from rural Henan diagnosed at an intermediate stage. “His total costs for surgery, six rounds of chemotherapy, and twelve targeted treatments amounted to approximately 280,000 yuan. However, through basic medical insurance (covering 60%), critical illness insurance (covering an additional 15%), and medical assistance (covering the remaining 10%), his personal out-of-pocket expense was ultimately only 28,000 yuan.” He remarked, “Such a level of coverage might not be fully achievable even in Europe's high-welfare countries.”

3. Culture: The Unique Bond of “Family Support” and “Doctor-Patient Trust”

In Germany, cancer treatment emphasizes “patient autonomy,” with family members typically not directly involved in decision-making. In China, however, the family serves as the core support system for cancer treatment. Klaus observed that treatment choices—such as whether to undergo surgery or participate in clinical trials—are often collectively decided by children. Family members accompany patients throughout their care journey, manage daily routines, and even proactively study cancer knowledge to communicate with doctors. “This ‘whole-family involvement’ model may increase psychological pressure for patients, but it also enhances treatment adherence and reduces instances of ‘giving up on treatment.’”

Additionally, trust between Chinese patients and doctors is being rebuilt. In the past, some patients harbored doubts due to information asymmetry; today, with the proliferation of science communication (such as medical science accounts on short video platforms and official hospital science livestreams), more patients are beginning to understand concepts like “cancer as a chronic disease” and “living with cancer,” making them more willing to cooperate with standardized treatment. “I once encountered a breast cancer patient who proactively researched the NCCN guidelines after diagnosis and came to discuss her questions with me. Such ‘learning-oriented patients’ are rare even in Europe,” Klaus remarked.

III. Challenges Persist: Urban-Rural Disparities and the Hidden Concerns of “Overtreatment”

As a meticulous clinician, Klaus did not shy away from the issues. He pointed out that the “improved cure rates” in China's cancer treatment still face two major challenges:

• Uneven distribution of resources across urban-rural and regional areas: While tertiary hospitals in first-tier cities offer cancer care on par with international standards, county-level hospitals in some remote regions still lack basic resources like pathology diagnostics and radiotherapy equipment. This forces many patients to seek treatment across provincial borders, delaying timely care.

• “Overtreatment” in certain areas: Due to physician experience limitations or patient anxiety, some grassroots hospitals may engage in “excessive surgery” or “excessive chemotherapy.” For example, some early-stage prostate cancer patients who could manage their condition through Active Surveillance (AS) are instead advised to undergo immediate surgery—an issue requiring stricter guideline training and industry oversight to improve.

Conclusion: China's Cancer Treatment in the Present Tense

In Klaus's view, China's cancer cure rates have evolved from “catch-up” to “parallel runner”: survival rates for certain cancers now match international standards, driven by synergistic advances in technology, healthcare coverage, and cultural adaptation. However, regional disparities and survival gaps for specific cancers require sustained attention.

“To summarize in one sentence, I would say: China's cancer treatment is undergoing a leap from ‘quantity’ to ‘quality.’ For many patients, ‘cure’ is no longer an unattainable dream, but a goal achievable through standardized treatment, family support, and social resources,” he concluded. “This is perhaps the most compelling aspect of China's healthcare system—it not only pursues technological advancement but consistently places ‘people’ at the center of treatment.”

Document dated 2025-10-30 10:17 Modify