Charity program launched to help cancer patients

Doctors and research organizations, including Chinese Association of Oncology, and Chinese Association for the Study of Pain, jointly launched a charity program for cancer patients in Beijing last week.

The program team consists of top oncologists and specialists, as well as media professionals and business leaders. It aims to raise the public's awareness on cancer pain as a disease that needs to be treated, and aims to provide quality care and support to patients and their families, through a series of activities in future.

According to a report released during the launching ceremony, about 6.6 percent of cancer patients in China suffer from cancer pain — 50 percent of them have moderate to severe pain, and 30 percent have unbearable pain.

About 70 percent of cancer pain sufferers haven't received any standardized anti-pain treatment. That results in painful experiences for both patients and families, the report shows.

The report was based on a survey conducted by the cancer rehabilitation and palliative care professional committee under Chinese Anti-Cancer Association in more than 100 hospitals nationwide.

"Many people believe they would become addicted if they receive anti-pain treatment, and such worry is groundless," says Han Jisheng, honorary head of the team, and an academician with the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

"Standardized treatment is indispensable for cancer treatment."

The team hopes ultimately cancer patients will live a painless and dignified life, says Yu Jinming, head of the team, an academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, and president with Shandong Tumor Hospital.

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