The mainland has 2.8 million new cancer cases a year, and the number is expected to exceed 3.8 million in 10 years, says He Jie, president of the Cancer Institute and Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.

Risk factors of the rising epidemic include smoking, unhealthy diets, obesity, less exercise and environmental pollution, he says. Lung cancer has the highest prevalence and mortality rate in the country.

He urges people 40 and older to receive the low-dose spiral computed tomography every year to ensure early detection and treatment. Currently, most lung cancer is detected in the late stage.

China's first national cancer institute will open at He's hospital within a year.

China Daily - Reuters