Xintiandi turns pink for breast cancer awareness
Xintiandi was illuminated in pink on Wednesday for the Breast Cancer Care campaign.
Shanghai’s iconic Xintiandi turned pink on Wednesday night in honor of Breast Cancer Month. The whole area was bathed in pink light to raise awareness about this increasingly prevalent form of cancer.
During the lighting ceremony, a program by Estee Lauder and the Shanghai Cancer Prevention and Control Foundation was also established to offer breast cancer education, support and treatment services in rural areas of China.
Under the program, experts from Shanghai Cancer Center will go to impoverished areas in Sichuan and Yunnan provinces to provide free consultations and medical services to women with breast cancer. They will also conduct local talent training.
Breast cancer is the most common female cancer in China and its incidence is rising by 3 to 4 percent annually, faster than the global average.
The average age of breast cancer patients in China is nearly 10 years younger than that in Western countries. Women in poverty-stricken areas account for 14 percent of total patients in the nation.
According to Dr Yu Keda from Shanghai Cancer Center, experts will provide education to the public and high-risk populations on breast cancer prevention. They will also carry out screenings for those with high risk.
Training will be offered to local doctors at breast disease departments. The establishment of a new long-distance consultation, treatment and diagnosis platform will also improve clinical practice in rural regions.
