Doctors from throughout China have been discussing how to treat a 15-year-old girl who has a malignant tumour over nearly two-thirds of her face.
The tumour has been growing with no effective treatment for more than a year because Xia Lipa's family cannot afford the high medical fees.
Xia is from Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Tekes County, where she lives, suffered flooding very recently.
A relief team sent to the county found Xia in poor health and living in a tent. The team sent her to the People's Hospital in Urumqi, the regional capital, on May 24.
The tumour has grown out from Xia's left nasal cavity and has deformed her nose, mouth and teeth, according to Zhang Jin, the doctor in charge of the case. A biopsy showed that the tumour was malignant and it is still growing.
Zhang said: "It is a rare case in Xinjiang and even throughout the country."
Xia is in very weak condition and also suffers from severe anaemia. She can only eat some liquid food and breathe through her mouth, Zhang said. Due to her poor health, Xia cannot currently undergo any surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy. She is receiving blood and glucose transfusions to improve her physical condition.
People from Urumqi and elsewhere donated money and food to Xia after hearing of her plight. The total amount donated has now exceeded 100,000 yuan (US$12,000), said Wu Jie, an official at the Urumqi hospital.
(China Daily May 31, 2002)
