Question 1

5-year relative survival for all cancers diagnosed in Korea

Accepted Answer

73.7% — Diagnosed 2019–2023, nationwide statistics Thyroid 100.2% · Prostate 96.9% · Breast 94.7% Not the results of any one hospital (National Cancer Center, Korea National Cancer Registry statistics)

Question 2

5-year relative survival for stomach cancer in Korea — US SEER 39.8%

Accepted Answer

78.6% — National endoscopy screening every 2 years from age 40 Early stomach cancer is sometimes treated by endoscopy alone Much of the gap comes from when it is found (Korea National Cancer Registry statistics 2019–2023 · SEER 2016–2022)

Question 3

5-year relative survival for liver cancer in Korea — US SEER 21.9%

Accepted Answer

40.4% — Resection, transplant, RFA, embolization, targeted, immuno Carbon-ion and proton therapy considered for some stages The stage review decides the order of treatment (Korea National Cancer Registry statistics 2019–2023 · SEER 2016–2022)

Question 4

Treatment visas depend on how long you stay

Accepted Answer

90 days — Up to 90 days: short-term medical visa C-3-3 Over 90 days: treatment and recovery visa G-1-10 Registered-agency documents support your visa application (HiKorea · Ministry of Health and Welfare)

Question 5

Get a written opinion before you travel to Korea

Accepted Answer

5 business days — Submit imaging (DICOM), biopsy results, and diagnosis Surgeons and oncologists review together for one opinion Stage, treatment options, expected time and cost range (Korea Cancer Center operating rules)

Question 6

The quality of your records shapes the accuracy of the opinion

Accepted Answer

3 things — ① Original CT, MRI, PET files and radiology reports ② Pathology report (cancer type, subtype, grade) ③ Diagnosis or medical summary (treatment history, meds) (Remote review guide)

Question 7

Serious cancer care in Korea is handled by tertiary hospitals

Accepted Answer

47 hospitals — Ministry of Health and Welfare, 5th term (2024–2026) Reviewed every 3 years: case mix, specialists, accreditation Most run an international clinic with coordinators (Ministry of Health and Welfare)

Question 8

International patients who came to Korea in 2025

Accepted Answer

2.01 million — Only 3.0% were treated at tertiary hospitals Mostly skin and cosmetic; few with serious illness The path to cancer care is still narrow (Ministry of Health and Welfare, international patient statistics 2025)

Question 9

Conventional radiation, proton, and carbon-ion — the differences

Accepted Answer

3 types — Proton: stops at a set depth (Bragg peak) Carbon-ion: carbon ions break both DNA strands Korea's first carbon-ion therapy began in 2023 (National Cancer Information Center · NCCN Guidelines for Patients)

Question 10

Rough length of stay by type of treatment

Accepted Answer

10 days – 8 weeks — Endoscopic resection about 10 days · surgery 2–3 weeks Carbon-ion or proton 3–5 weeks · first chemo cycle 2–3 weeks Stem cell transplant up to around 8 weeks (Treatment journey guide)

Question 11

Telemedicine for international patients becomes officially allowed

Accepted Answer

May 2027 — Medical Overseas Expansion Act, amended May 2026 First visits and prescriptions possible remotely Follow-up checks and prescriptions continue back home (Medical Overseas Expansion Act amendment (May 2026))

Question 12

What continues after treatment ends

Accepted Answer

3 things — Your medical team sets the follow-up test schedule Note your side effects and share them at your next visit Eat and exercise gently, a little at a time (National Cancer Information Center, care after cancer treatment)

CancerGPT: ask anything about cancer

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