The survival rate of stomach cancer has increased from 20 percent in early 1990s to the present 90 percent, said Zhao Tide, head of the Yunnan Provincial Tumor Hospital.

Around 15 years ago, only 45 percent of breast cancer patients could survive five years or longer, the ratio has climbed to 70 percent. Ninety percent of the esophagus cancer patients who are found to catch the disease in its early stage can live at least five years.

In addition, some previously considered incurable diseases such as acute leukemia, chorion epithelioma and malignant lymphoma have become curable, according to the doctor.

(Xinhua 12/08/2000)