In China, more than 8 people are diagnosed with cancer every minute. Facing this serious public health challenge, one organization has been quietly fighting for nearly 40 years - the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association2 .
In a conference room at a Beijing cancer hospital, a dozen experts are conducting a multi-disciplinary consultation for a thymoma patient. Surgeons, medical oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, and nutritionists each offer professional opinions, ultimately developing a personalized treatment plan.
This multi-disciplinary collaborative diagnosis and treatment model is a microcosm of the "holistic integrated management" concept promoted by the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association for many years.
Since its establishment in 1984, the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association has developed into the oldest, largest, and most influential scientific and technological society in China's oncology field5 , with 42 professional branches, 30 local anti-cancer associations, 46 group member units, and over 40,000 individual members2 .
To unite various sectors of oncology, organize scientific cooperation and conferences, promote international non-governmental exchanges, conduct various training courses and seminars, cultivate oncology scientific and medical talents, compile and publish academic journals, and mobilize social forces to participate in cancer prevention knowledge dissemination, fully addressing the cancer challenge1 .
To become a leading non-governmental organization dedicated to improving cancer survival rates, reducing incidence and mortality, and enhancing cancer control levels in China and globally7 .
Cancer has become a leading cause of death worldwide, particularly severe in low- and middle-income countries2 .
Facing the increasing trend of cancer incidence and mortality, China has formulated and implemented a national cancer prevention and control plan with "Three Earlies (early prevention, early diagnosis, early treatment)" as the core2 .
Cancer proportion in causes of death in the 1970s2
Cancer proportion in causes of death in the 21st century2
Mortality rate per 100,000 in the 1970s2
Mortality rate per 100,000 in the 21st century2
| Rank | Cancer Site | Cases | Incidence (1/100,000) | Percentage (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lung | 651,053 | 48.32 | 19.31 |
| 2 | Breast | 248,620 | 37.86 | 7.49 |
| 3 | Stomach | 420,489 | 31.21 | 12.47 |
| 4 | Liver | 355,595 | 26.39 | 10.54 |
| 5 | Colorectal | 310,244 | 23.03 | 9.20 |
| 6 | Esophagus | 291,238 | 21.62 | 8.64 |
| 7 | Cervix | 87,982 | 13.40 | 2.61 |
| 8 | Uterus | 57,709 | 8.79 | 1.71 |
| 9 | Prostate | 49,007 | 7.10 | 1.45 |
| 10 | Ovary | 45,233 | 6.89 | 1.34 |
In terms of mortality, lung cancer also ranks first, with approximately 529,000 people dying from lung cancer each year. Liver cancer, stomach cancer, esophageal cancer, and colorectal cancer follow2 .
Population aging, microbial infections, smoking, unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, and rising obesity rates are all important factors leading to increased cancer mortality2 .
The Chinese Anti-Cancer Association promotes standardized and scientific cancer prevention and treatment by developing clinical practice guidelines for various cancers.
In recent years, the association has published multiple guidelines including thymic epithelial tumors, lymphoma, and cancer-related malnutrition, providing evidence-based recommendations for clinicians.
For incidentally discovered asymptomatic small anterior mediastinal nodules (typically considered ≤3 cm), magnetic resonance imaging is recommended for differential diagnosis3 .
When considering benign lesions (thymic cysts, thymic hyperplasia, small lymph nodes), follow-up with CT or MRI after 3-6 months is recommended, then every 1-2 years3 .
Non-therapeutic surgery should be avoided for asymptomatic benign lesions3 .
CACA guidelines emphasize the role of multidisciplinary teams in diagnosis and treatment, providing personalized treatment recommendations for patients based on lymphoma's complex pathological types, diverse treatment strategies, and different clinical outcome prognoses.
Notably, the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association focuses not only on direct cancer treatment but also on nutritional issues of cancer patients. The latest "Guidelines for Prevention and Treatment of Cancer-Related Malnutrition" released in 2025 point out that the overall prevalence of malnutrition in hospitalized cancer patients in China is as high as 80.4%, with 58.2% being moderate or severe malnutrition4 .
Prevalence of malnutrition in hospitalized cancer patients in China4
Malnutrition adversely affects clinical outcomes, prolongs hospital stays, and reduces patients' quality of life4 . Malnourished cancer patients have more comorbidities and complications, higher medical costs, shorter survival times, and decreased tolerance and sensitivity to tumor control treatments4 .
Therefore, cancer patients need nutritional therapy even more, which should become a necessary basic treatment and first-line treatment for cancer4 .
Start with nutrition education whenever possible
When nutrition education cannot meet 60% of requirements
When oral nutritional supplementation cannot meet 60% of requirements
Most practical hospital nutrition therapy method
Compromise method
Nutrition support teams should become core members of multidisciplinary integrated treatment[from multidisciplinary treatment to holistic integrated management]4 .
Association guidelines emphasize that nutrition therapy should become first-line treatment, routinely implemented like other cancer treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy4 .
The Chinese Anti-Cancer Association has promoted the "holistic integrated medicine" concept in recent years, an integrated medical model spanning multiple disciplines aimed at providing patients with comprehensive, continuous, personalized diagnosis and treatment services5 .
In July 2023, the association established the sixth "Belt and Road Holistic Integrated Oncology Training Base" at Guangzhou Modern Cancer Hospital, promoting the dissemination of China's cancer prevention and control levels to Southeast Asian countries through cooperation in talent cultivation and collaborative exchanges5 .
The holistic integrated medicine model differs from traditional multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment by focusing not only on the disease itself but also on the patient's psychological state, nutritional status, quality of life, and long-term rehabilitation, achieving a shift from "treating disease" to "treating people".
| Aspect | Traditional Multidisciplinary Diagnosis | Holistic Integrated Medicine |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | The disease itself | The patient as a whole |
| Treatment Approach | Layered and hierarchical | Integrated and personalized |
| Participants | Medical experts | Including the patient themselves |
| Scope | In-hospital diagnosis and treatment | Full-cycle management |
| Goal | Disease control | Improving quality of life and survival rate |
The Chinese Anti-Cancer Association has always actively participated in international exchanges and cooperation. Since 2000, the association has organized the Chinese Cancer Congress (CCO), which, characterized by its comprehensiveness, interdisciplinary nature, high-end quality, and cutting-edge focus, has become the highest-level academic conference in China's oncology field5 .
The association is also a formal member of the International Union Against Cancer, a position it has held since January 19971 .
Through the "Belt and Road" holistic integrated oncology training bases, the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association shares successful strategies and experiences in cancer prevention and treatment with Southeast Asian countries, including early diagnosis, health education, preventive measures, etc., helping these countries formulate more effective cancer prevention policies and reduce incidence and mortality5 .
Sharing China's successful cancer prevention and treatment strategies with Southeast Asian countries to help reduce cancer incidence and mortality5 .
In the hospital corridor, a patient who just finished treatment smiled and said: "Getting cancer is unfortunate, but meeting these doctors and joining the patient groups of the Anti-Cancer Association is the luck within misfortune."
As Professor Jin Xianzhai, one of the founders of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association, said: "Cancer prevention and treatment is not a matter of fighting alone, but a systematic project that requires the participation of the whole society."
From experts to patients, from laboratories to wards, from hospitals to communities, in this battle concerning life, everyone is a participant.