Samsung Medical Center said Tuesday that one out of 10 cancer patients sought treatment at its Comprehensive Cancer Center with data showing that those who did had a higher chance of living longer.

The 118,000-square meter hospital, located in Gangnam, southern Seoul, reported that more patients sought treatment after getting diagnosed or treated at other domestic hospitals.

Hospital data spanning five years showed about 9,000 patients first got diagnosed elsewhere and got treated at SMC while about 4,500 got treatment at another hospital and switched over to SMC last year.

SMC said that the hospital proved better treatment effects for people diagnosed with remote metastatic cancer, saying that the average five-year relative survival rate for these patients was 26 percent compared to the average rate of 2 percent in Korea.

Those diagnosed with remote metastatic cancers, also known as phase 4 cancers, are those that spread to other, distant organs from the place of origin. People with stage 4 cancers often have limited treatment options and benefit little from treatment.

“We did not withhold any investments or support to provide better treatment methods for patients in the past 10 years, and all medical staff and employees will work to give hope to cancer patients,” said Nam Seok-jin, director of the cancer center.

By cancer type, SMC said it excelled in treating prostate cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and renal cancer.

SMC also said that it reached a near 100 percent five-year relative survival rate for cancer patients over 80 years old. “Most people at this age push back or give up treatment, but those at SMC can extend their life through good treatment,” the hospital said.

Around 21,000 people are diagnosed with cancer each year.

yjc@docdocdoc.co.kr

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