THE number of cancer cases among children is rising in the city, according to a report by Shenzhen Special Zone Daily.

    Shenzhen Children’s Hospital treated 100 patients diagnosed with leukemia last year, and 50 others with various forms of cancer.

    Children often do not or cannot report their symptoms properly, causing many cases in which the disease is not diagnosed in its early stages. “The cancer will worsen and progress rapidly. Fortunately, children benefit from treatment more often than adults,” said Li Changgang of the blood and cancer department of the hospital.

    A boy nicknamed Xiaowu was diagnosed with leukemia last March. His mother said she was astonished by the diagnosis. She had noticed his frequent fevers and some red dots on his body, but couldn’t have expected it.

    “Children have had less contact with the outside world than adults, so cancer among children is more often a result of genes,” said Li. The blood and cancer department has 65 beds, which does not meet the increasing demand.

    Qingwawa Charity Foundation, which targets children diagnosed with serious illnesses like cancer, has raised about 280,000 yuan (US$45,900) and helped 23 poor families.

    “I didn’t expect to get 10,000 yuan from the foundation for my daughter. The money is really helpful,” said Lin Haoxiang, whose 1-year-old daughter was diagnosed with leukemia.

    “The sick children are usually from poor migrant families, sadly enough, therefore taking care of them requires a lot of money and energy,” said Yu Yunfei, deputy director of the foundation. University students, along with social workers, are helping some of them to study and develop hobbies.

    Around 30,000 children are diagnosed with cancer in China each year, one-third of whom suffer from leukemia. Each year, more than 250,000 children are diagnosed with cancer worldwide and about 90,000 die of the disease.(Luo Songsong)