New HOPE for China’s Child Cancer Victims

On World Cancer Day, U.S. humanitarian group highlights huge strides in care for Chinese kids

On World Cancer Day, Project HOPE, an international humanitarian and health education organization is making huge strides to combat a rising trend of childhood cancer in China.

An estimated 45,000 new cases of pediatric cancer occur each year in China, and Project HOPE has partnered with the Shanghai Children’s Medical Center to establish innovative programs that aim to reverse this alarming trend. More than 14,000 young patients received cancer treatment at SCMC last year.

Thanks to a $1 million USD grant from the HOSPIRA Foundation, Project HOPE and SCMC are addressing the growing medical demands to combat the disease, while enhancing SCMC’s capacity in cancer diagnosis, treatment and research to become a leader in pediatric cancer care in Asia.

“The demand for pediatric cancer care in China is steadily increasing and Project HOPE’s programs are helping to expand SCMC’s capacity to meet the challenges of this disease,” said John P. Howe III, M.D., President and CEO of Project HOPE.

Project HOPE is creating ambitious programs to enhance the capabilities of the pediatric oncology program at SCMC including:

• Professional training in immunology, genetic and molecular biology to support research and advanced clinical care.
• Development of a palliative care program focusing on cancer symptom management to promote physical and psychological support for children with cancer.
• Establishing an integrated social service network to include psychological services and parental support.

“Project HOPE has built a strong relationship with the Chinese people and their leadership for more than 25 years to address some of the country’s most urgent health issues, such as children’s heart defects, diabetes, HIV/AIDS and medical training. We are committed to helping China’s youngest and most vulnerable patients – children – receive the best medical treatment and expertise we can provide,” said Dr. Howe.

Project HOPE is active across many fronts in the battle against cancer – the leading cause of death around the world. The WHO estimates that 84 million people will die of cancer between 2005 and 2015 without intervention. In Central and Eastern Europe, Project HOPE has implemented programs aimed at improving the quality of life of cancer patients and their treatment by coordinating medical and psycho-social care in hospitals in Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania.

World Cancer Day is marked annually on February 4, and led by the International Union Against Cancer, a global consortium of 350 organizations committed to raising awareness and encouraging cancer prevention, detection and treatment in over 100 countries.

About Project HOPE

Founded in 1958, Project HOPE (Health Opportunities for People Everywhere) is dedicated to providing lasting solutions to health problems with the mission of helping people to help themselves. Identifiable to many by the SS HOPE, the world’s first peacetime hospital ship, Project HOPE now provides medical training and health education, and conducts humanitarian assistance programs in more than 35 countries.