Mongolia to boost early detection of stomach cancer with South Korean assistance

A Mongolian-Korean cancer research team will be formed under a new agreement established on February 18.

The National Cancer Center of Mongolia and Korean Cancer Association agreed to cooperate in early detection of stomach cancer and organize training workshops in the Republic of Korea for Mongolian doctors.

Director of the National Cancer Center J.Chinburen noted, “It’s important for people to stop fearing endoscopy and other tests for detecting stomach cancer. We will try to have the government pay more attention to the cancer prevention program and equipped all provincial and district central hospitals with endoscopes. We plan to submit a recommendation for having men above the age of 40 and women above the age of 35 undergo examinations once every year. Regular examination is important because it’s hard to detect cancer at early stages.”

Member of Parliament Ya.Sodbaatar stated, “Early detection is the most effective way to fight stomach cancer. The second highest rate of stomach cancer is found in Mongolia out of all countries in the world. We must approve a program for improving early detection of stomach cancer, finance it through the state budget, and include everyone in it.”

A representative from the Korean side emphasized that early detection is significant for reducing the number of people dying due to stomach cancer. He added that the two sides will work closely on developing an accurate prevention program and focus on raising public awareness about preventing stomach cancer. As stomach cancer is the second most popular form of cancer in both men and women in Mongolia, the representative urged to pay more attention to this issue.

Doctors say that 39.1 percent of cancer patients have liver cancer, 14.7 percent with stomach cancer, and 6.6 percent with oesophageal cancer. It’s possible to prevent both stomach and oesophageal cancer through regular endoscopy exams, say doctors.