The annual Cancer Awareness Week for the Prevention and Treatment of Cancer was held in Beijing, April 15-22, 2007. The China Cancer Foundation (CCF) - a non-profit organization, first organized this event in 1995.
The entire health community, from the Ministry of Health to city-level health departments responded to this nationwide campaign.
During Cancer Awareness Week, leading cancer institutes and hospitals will hold free check-ups and screening for early detection of cancer as well as health seminars to educate the public on how to prevent cancer.
The highlight of this year's campaign was a free consultation held by the Cancer Institute and Hospital (CIH) under Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences at Longtan Park, east downtown Beijing on April 21 and 22.
According to Ms Fu Fenghuan, the vice director of CIH, this was the largest consultation ever held in terms of scale.
"The consultation lasted for two days compared to only half-day in the past. This year we chose Longtan Park for the examination in order to provide a more convenient and comfortable atmosphere and increase public interest; we previously held the consultations in the hospital. In addition, we increased the staff to 150 doctors and health care workers, numerous members from the Beijing Anti-Cancer Club, and over 80 volunteers recruited from the CCF's official website," Ms. Fu told Beijing Review.
The consultation provided by senior doctors involved examinations for breast, lung, and rectal cancer as well as patients' psychological and nutritional problems.
"I'm very delighted with the doctors and members from Beijing Anti-cancer Club. They were very concerned and patiently answered my questions," 68-year-old Mr. Lu Jingxue told Beijing Review. He is a veteran soldier whose daughter-in-law is an ovarian cancer survivor.
"Ignorance is the worst barrier in the fight against disease, especially cancer. At first, we were totally shocked and frustrated on hearing my daughter-in-law had been confirmed with ovarian cancer; we knew nothing about it, and never thought that it would happen in my family.
"Hence, we began to read books and newspapers to learn more about cancer. The more you know, the less afraid you become. This makes you stronger to fight against it.
"Now, my daughter-in-law is gradually recovering from the disease after a successful operation. But she is busy working at the moment, so I come here to consult with the doctors so I can tell her how to take good care of herself in a scientific way as the doctor and other cancer survivors recommend. Such events like this are really helpful, the more the better. Nothing is more important than health," said Mr. Lu.
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