Organized by the Beijing Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, eight hospitals in China's capital have combined efforts to set up a clinic offering preventative treatment for liver cancer, China Youth Daily reported Monday.
The paper said that liver cancer is now the third biggest killer for all cancer patients in the world and the number of liver cancer patients in China including those who died of the disease is 300,000 on average a year, accounting for more than half of the world's total. Most of them are in the 40-49 age group.
China has 120 million hepatitis B carriers and an average of 500,000 Chinese die of liver disease annually, it added.
The liver disease is characterized by its quick development and difficulty in prevention and treatment.
Therefore, prevention among people at risk is of great importance, a Chinese medical expert said.
(Xinhua News Agency February 25, 2003)
