In fact, about 30 percent of cancer can be prevented by a healthy lifestyle or by immunization against infections caused by cancer, according to the WHO.

"Unfortunately, most cancer patients are in advanced or late stages while visiting doctors. The treatment efficacy is inevitably reduced," He noted. "Early detection is the best solution to dealing with cancer."

Making a difference

On April 11, The Lancet Oncology published a major report, examining the challenges to effective cancer control in China, India and Russia. More than 40 specialists warned that China and India, the emerging giants of Asia, are facing huge potential economic and human costs from the disease.

"Some of the main factors responsible for the huge burden brought by this disease, such as insufficient and unevenly distributed healthcare resources and public misconceptions about the disease, are barely visible on China's national agenda," said Paul Goss, a Harvard Medical School professor who led the Chinese study.

But Chinese professionals disagree with Goss. According to Qiao Youlin, chief of CIH's Department of Cancer Epidemiology, China started cancer registry in the early 1960s as part of a nationwide cancer prevention effort. The number of cancer registry sites increased impressively from 30 sites in 2002 to 222 sites in 2012, covering nearly 200 million people or 15.3 percent of the country's population.

The cancer prevention and control training program that Qiao and his team participated in involved the knowledge and capability of professionals in cancer prevention and control as well as conducting cancer research. In 2010, they formulated a key national program for cancer prevention and control in rural areas.

According to the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-15) for Healthcare Development, by 2015, 70 percent of rural women at an eligible age will be checked for common gynecological diseases. The nation will also strengthen advocacy on tobacco control and establish complete surveillance for tobacco epidemic as well as implementing the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. By 2015, smoking rates among people 15 years old and above is expected to be 2 to 3 percent lower than that in 2010.

In addition, China has issued the National Program for Chronic Disease Control and Prevention (2012-15) and other relevant guidelines to strengthen cancer prevention and control efforts. Starting in 2005, major programs on the early diagnosis and treatment of cancer have been put into effect. In 2007, a nationwide movement to promote healthy lifestyles was launched, employing various measures and channels to encourage the public to live better. In 2010, China set out to build state-level demonstration areas in chronic disease prevention and control capacity, aiming at enhancing comprehensive prevention and control capability against chronic diseases.

Shi Yuankai, Vice President of the CIH, has been involved in cancer research for 30 years. He believes that with the increase in early-stage patients being identified, the economic and emotional costs are being reduced. "I think the most challenging part when it comes to cancer prevention and control in China is that the incidence rate is high," Shi told Beijing Review. "It will be definitely better if we could pay more attention to prevention."

Cancer patients in China have shown differences to their foreign counterparts in certain areas. Therefore, original research targeting Chinese patients has become increasingly important, Shi explained.

Established in 1958, the CIH serves as a national center for cancer research and treatment. It is also the largest center of cancer prevention and treatment in Asia in terms of scale, and one of the clinical trial bases approved by China's Food and Drug Administration.

Shi and his research team have participated in major national science and technology projects for innovative drugs, which aim to make 30 new drugs by 2015. A total of 16 projects involving energy and the environment, aerospace and healthcare have been funded as part of the Guidelines on the National Medium- and Long-Term Program for Science and Technology Development (2006-20).

According to Shi, some of the new drugs have already begun clinical trials. In August 2013, The Lancet Oncology published an article by Shi and his team, claiming Icotinib could be a new treatment option for pretreated patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

"Anti-cancer research at our institute is among the best in the world," Shi noted. "Through more cooperation both domestically and internationally, we are trying to use research to benefit our patients, but it will still take time."

Email us at: chenran@bjreview.com