Is Cancer Treatment Available in China?

Last autumn, my mother was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. As Canadians working in Shanghai, my family and I didn't panic. Instead, we opened a search engine and typed: “Is cancer treatment available in China?” The question seemed absurd—after all, China is the world's second-largest healthcare market. Yet in a cross-cultural context, “cancer treatment” is often equated with “cutting-edge equipment,” “specialty drugs,” or “internationally recognized standard protocols.”. With this question in mind, I visited top-tier cancer hospitals in Shanghai, consulted oncologists, and spoke with local patients undergoing treatment. The answer gradually became clear: Cancer treatment in China not only exists but is rapidly aligning with international standards while retaining unique local characteristics. Here are my observations.

I. The Basic Treatment Network: “China Speed” in Coverage

Upon first arriving in China, I assumed cancer treatment was exclusive to major cities. Yet deeper investigation revealed a far denser diagnostic and network of therapy than I had imagined. According to data from the National Cancer Center, over 1,500 tertiary hospitals nationwide now have specialized oncology departments. County-level hospitals commonly offer chemotherapy, basic radiotherapy, and surgery for common cancers. “Even in third-tier cities, patients can receive standardized initial treatment,” Dr. Li, Chief Physician of Oncology at Shanghai Ruijin Hospital, explained to me. “This avoids the situation where many patients previously delayed their treatment by traveling to major cities.”

This extensive coverage stems from policy support. Since 2016, China's “Cancer Prevention and Control Action” has prioritized enhancing primary hospitals' early screening capabilities (e.g., low-dose CT for lung cancer, gastroscopy for gastric cancer) and standardized treatment training. After initial screening at a community hospital, my mother was directly referred to a tertiary hospital's multidisciplinary team (MDT). From diagnosis to surgery, it took just two weeks—a pace that is often months in North America.

II. Cutting-Edge Technologies: Breakthroughs from “Catching Up” to “Keeping Pace”

While the foundational network addressed the question of “availability,” technological advancement answers “quality.” I once worried China might rely solely on traditional chemotherapy, but reality surprised me:

• Targeted and Immunotherapy: China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has approved over 40 targeted anticancer drugs and more than 10 PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. Some of these drugs (such as Hengrui Medicine's camrelizumab) have been tested in global clinical trials, with efficacy data published in The New England Journal of Medicine. My mother's doctor recommended a domestically produced targeted drug for HER2-positive breast cancer, priced at just one-third of imported alternatives and covered by medical insurance.

• Precision Radiotherapy: Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Hospital stands as the world's fourth facility equipped with both proton and heavy ion therapy systems. Its local control rates for head and neck cancers and prostate cancer match those of the MD Anderson Cancer Center in the United States. During my visit, I observed patients from Malaysia, Singapore, and even referrals from Europe and the United States.

• Surgical Innovation: The Da Vinci surgical robot is now widely adopted in China's top hospitals, with increasing cases of minimally invasive lung and liver cancer resection. What impressed me most was Chinese surgeons' exploration of “function-preserving surgery,” such as a 30% increase in breast-conserving rates over the past decade. This approach complements the Western emphasis on “radical cure first.”

III. Integrating Traditional Chinese Medicine with Western Medicine: An Underrated “Chinese Solution”

What surprised me most was the role of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in cancer treatment. While many Western friends question TCM's lack of evidence-based support, in China's oncology clinics, it functions more as a “supplement” than a “replacement.”

After surgery, my mother experienced severe nausea. Western antiemetic drugs proved limited in effectiveness, so her attending physician suggested trying Chinese herbal medicine. We consulted the hospital's Integrative Medicine Department, where a physician prescribed a formula containing Pinellia and ginger tailored to her constitution, supplemented with acupuncture. “This isn't mysticism,” explained the department director. “It works by regulating gastrointestinal function and neurotransmitters.” He added, “Multiple randomized controlled trials confirm that Chinese medicine reduces chemotherapy-induced leukopenia and improves patients' quality of life.”

Today, approximately 70% of cancer patients in China receive complementary TCM alongside Western treatment. Some TCM hospitals even offer “cancer rehabilitation clinics,” using herbal paste formulas and dietary therapy to help patients regain strength. This holistic approach complements modern medicine's tendency to prioritize disease over the whole person.

IV. Challenges and Gaps: An Unfinished Story

Of course, China's cancer treatment still has shortcomings. The most prominent is the uneven distribution of resources—MDT teams at top hospitals require 1-2 weeks of waiting, while remote areas still rely on empirical treatments. Secondly, there is a time lag in access to new drugs. Although China has accelerated new drug approvals (such as approving its first CAR-T cell therapy in 2021), some of the world's newest drugs still enter the market 1-2 years later than in Europe and the United States. Lastly, public awareness remains a challenge, with some patients still refusing early screening due to fear of cancer, leading to a higher proportion of advanced-stage cases compared to developed nations.

Conclusion: A Nation Redefining Cancer Treatment

Returning to the initial question: “Does China have cancer treatment?” The answer is not only “yes,” but also “it is uniquely leading in certain areas.” Here, hospitals boast proton therapy equipment on par with Mayo Clinic while preserving millennia-old wisdom of syndrome differentiation and treatment. They rapidly introduce international novel drugs while exploring combination therapies better suited to Asian constitutions.

For foreigners, choosing China for cancer treatment may require overcoming language and cultural barriers. Yet more patients like my mother are proving through their experiences: this place not only saves lives but also offers the warmth of compassionate care and the vitality of medical innovation. Cancer is never synonymous with “terminal illness.” In China, it resembles a battle requiring multi-disciplinary coordination, and China is fighting this battle exceptionally well.

(Note: Case studies are based on real observations, with some data referenced from public reports by the National Cancer Center and NMPA.)

Document dated 2025-11-03 10:59 Modify