Healthy China - Empowerment Initiative for Oncology Patients Officially Launched

BEIJING, Sept. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On Sept. 15, 2021, the "Healthy China: Cancer Patient Empowerment Public Welfare Campaign" was officially launched in Beijing. Initiated by the Beijing Bethune Public Welfare Foundation, with the People's Daily Health Client as the chief media support partner, the project is supported by Xian Janssen Pharmaceutical Ltd. Under the call of the Healthy China development strategy,Cancer Patient Empowerment Campaign Focuses on the Needs of Elderly Cancer Patients, establish a one-stop health education platform that provides authoritative expert interviews and accessible disease information, continuously supporting elderly cancer patients in achieving their treatment goals. Meanwhile, tailored to the needs of elderly cancer patients, the project will innovatively develop a patient empowerment platform. By stimulating intrinsic potential and fostering the intrinsic motivation for disease management, it will empower elderly cancer patients in China to reclaim their ability to embrace a better quality of life.

“Healthy China Cancer Patient Empowerment Public Welfare Initiative” Project Officially Launched

In recent years, cancer has become one of the most prevalent diseases in China, ranking first globally in both incidence and mortality. According to the latest 2020 global cancer statistics released by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization (WHO), China recorded 4.57 million new cancer cases, accounting for 23.7% of the global total, and 3 million cancer-related deaths, translating to approximately 55 deaths every 10 minutes. The middle-aged and elderly population constitutes a high-risk group for malignant tumors. With the accelerating aging of China's population, the incidence rate is projected to continue rising in the coming years. Consequently, elderly cancer patients not only face the direct challenges of the disease but also grapple with age-related declines in physical function and cognitive capacity, rendering their treatment and rehabilitation pathways significantly more complex and demanding. Meanwhile, the psychological and social challenges faced by this demographic are frequently overlooked, leaving a substantial proportion of their care needs unmet.

Recognizing the health needs and life goals of elderly cancer patients in China, the Beijing Bethune Public Welfare Foundation has partnered with various stakeholders to explore a novel patient empowerment model. “Guided by the principles of humanitarianism, health, responsibility, and legacy, the Beijing Bethune Public Welfare Foundation unites efforts from all sectors to continuously advance multiple care programs for cancer patients, tangibly improving their lives in China. Today, with the support of Xian Janssen and in collaboration with Health Times of People's Daily, we have launched the ‘Healthy China: Cancer Patient Empowerment Public Welfare Campaign’, which aims to raise public awareness of cancer, empower cancer patients and their families in China, help them pursue a better quality of life, and advance the Healthy China Action Plan,” said Sun Zhiwei, Chairman of the Beijing Bethune Public Welfare Foundation.

The "Healthy China · Cancer Patient Empowerment Public Welfare Initiative" project will implement a series of measures centered on the health and well-being goals of cancer patients. The initiative will convene authoritative experts across multiple disciplines, including hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, to establish the "Healthy China · Cancer Patient Empowerment Public Welfare Initiative Think Tank." It will share knowledge on disease diagnosis and treatment, provide comprehensive health education handbooks, and create a one-stop patient education platform. By utilizing content and formats better suited for older adults, the project aims to meet patients' needs for clinical consultation and rehabilitation. Alongside achieving health objectives, the project focuses on patients' and their families' pursuit of a better quality of life by launching the "Silver Hair 1+1" Better Life Creation Camp. Designed around the knowledge and skills most urgently desired by elderly patients and their caregivers, the camp will offer a series of courses covering smartphone photography, emotional management, nutritional counseling, and more, helping patients and their families foster a high-quality life.

Li Chenyu, Assistant Editor-in-Chief of the People's Daily Health Client, stated, “As the incidence of cancer continues to rise year by year, we have come to deeply recognize the urgent need of cancer patients for disease management and social support. Many patients are seeking assistance through various online and offline platforms, hoping that by being equipped with more knowledge and supported by additional resources, they can achieve their health goals while spending more quality time with their families. To this end, Health Times of the People's Daily hopes to leverage this cancer patient empowerment project to harness the advantages and influence of central media. Through authoritative health education and innovative empowerment, we aim to help optimize the diagnosis and treatment process, stimulate patients’ inherent potential, advance the ‘Healthy China’ initiative, and create a more scientific and compassionate social environment for cancer patients in China.”

September 15 marks the 18th World Lymphoma Day. As the lead expert for this project, Professor Ma Jun, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO) and Director of the Harbin Institute of Hematology & Oncology, pointed out, “The treatment and rehabilitation of cancer patients is a long-term process, requiring regular follow-up visits to adjust treatment plans in a timely manner. In practice, however, many patients fail to adhere to prescribed treatments, leading to disease progression and deterioration that severely compromises survival. Taking lymphoma as an example, with effective comprehensive disease management, it can absolutely become a treatable and manageable chronic condition, with survival periods exceeding eight years. Through the cancer patient empowerment public welfare project launched today, we hope to equip patients with more tools and confidence to combat the disease. Looking ahead, I believe that as public awareness of cancer continues to grow and more disease management initiatives are implemented, patients’ clinical prognosis and quality of life will see substantial improvements, truly realizing the goal of scientifically fighting cancer for a better life.”