"The health of women's breasts should no longer be neglected by society," said a medical delegate to the Chinese Women's Ninth National Congress last week.

China's first breast cancer prevention, treatment and research center, the largest of its kind in Asia, was opened in Tianjin Medical University's tumor hospital where advanced medical techniques have made early discovery, diagnosis and treatment available for patients.

However, due to the lack of preventive knowledge, tens of thousands of Chinese women are still at the risk of unknowingly developing the disease.

A 28-year-old woman surnamed Dai, the youngest patient in the breast cancer ward of Beijing tumor hospital, said, "I had never done a breast examination till last month when I found lumps around my breasts by chance. I knew nothing about breast cancer before my illness was diagnosed."

China's anti-cancer organizations have joined the fight against breast cancer.

Sponsored by the China Cancer Research Foundation (CCRF) and Avon China Ltd Co., a program offering free medical examinations, titled "Kiss Goodbye to Breast Cancer", will be launched in the Tibet Autonomous Region in September.

The program, including lectures and consulting services, was designed to make more women in remote western regions aware of the importance of breast health protection, said Meng Xiangzhu, of the CCRF.

A newly published novel, Redemption of Breasts, written by a doctor, Bi Shumin, has evoked public concern about the long ignored issue. The story portrays a group of breast cancer patients struggling to fight both physical and mental afflictions.

Breast cancer has a high incidence among women aged 30 to 54. Every year more than 1.2 million women worldwide suffer from this disease, and 500,000 die from it.

The latest data from the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association (CACA) shows the incidence and death rates of breast cancer in China's major cities rose respectively by 37 percent and 38.9 percent over the last 10 years, while the death rate in rural areas rose by 39.7 percent.

Xu Guangwei, council chairman of the CACA and honorary president of the Beijing Tumour Hospital, said the death rate from breast cancer could be greatly reduced if the disease was diagnosed early and around 90 percent of early diagnosed patients could recover with small operations and simple treatments.

Early discovery, the key to a higher recovery rate for Western patients, was realized mainly through breast examination, or nationwide screening in countries like the United States, Xu said.

"Painful radiotherapy, chemotherapy or breast removal can be avoided in early-phase breast cancer, which can be identified in a routine general examination and will need just simple cure. These women can still enjoy a comfortable life," Xu said.

Xu is making preparations for a project offering general examinations to millions of women, the first large-scale examination drive for Chinese women. The project, however, was yet to be launched because of a lack of funding, said Xu.

(Xinhua News Agency September 1, 2003)