Liu Minxia

    mllmx@msn.com

    TARGETING two leading causes of death in Shenzhen and even in broader China, a high-end medical service provider that has gained fame for its Hong Kong medical expertise is rolling out new early diagnosis and treatment services.

    Colon and rectal cancer, which is the third most common cancer in South China, has become the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Shenzhen, second only to lung cancer, said Dr. Seto Wai Kay, Assistant Chief Executive (research) and a Consultant Doctor of the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, citing official data in 2013.

    Noticing an obvious increase in incidences of colorectal cancer among younger adults, Dr. Seto said the international guideline was that people above 50 should have a colonoscopy. But for those with a family history of colon cancer, and parents or siblings who have had benign tumors in the colon, called adenomas or polyps, he strongly urges screening tests as early as at least 10 years earlier than when their parents or siblings were found to have the tumors.

    The International Medical Center (IMC), a high-end clinical service arm of the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, has recently started offering colorectal cancer screening tests including colonoscopies, which can detect polyps and remove them before they have a chance to turn into cancer. He recommends those who worry about the pain or side effects that can possibly come with a colonoscopy to have a fecal occult blood test instead, another important screening test for colorectal cancers and polyps.

    “For anyone who comes to us, we have a tailor-made screening and treatment plan for them to safeguard their health,” said Dr. Seto.

    Second only to cancer, heart disease is the second leading cause of death among Shenzhen residents, according to Yiu Kai Hang, a Consultant Doctor and Cardiology Division Chief of the hospital.

    Electrocardiograms, which are often included in annual health check programs for evaluating heart functions in China, can’t effectively find whether a person has heart problems or not, according to Yiu. Although people aged above 60 are more prone to heart problems, Yiu recommends early screenings, the tests for which can vary greatly for different people considering their age and medical record at the IMC.

    The IMC, a full-service clinic that has departments like pediatrics, obstetrics, gynaecology, traditional Chinese medicine, surgery and reproductive medicine, etc., has also readied itself for deluxe maternity care and childbirth services, which feature a five-star maternity suite complete with catered meals, flat-screen TVs and round-the-clock nursing care.

    “Demand for high-quality maternity care and childbirth services has been rising profoundly due to the second-child policy,” said Wang Jie, a Consultant Doctor with the hospital’s obstetrics department, which has been the most sought-after division of the hospital since its inception. The division has resorted to weekly lottery drawings to allocate quotas for applicants, the number of which is often 10 times its capacity. At the IMC, which caters to high-end customers, it’s easier to make successful reservations with doctors, Wang said.

    Easier access to the services is not the only boon. Birthing suites there, thanks to the hospital’s location bordering Mangrove Park, have broad sea views. Fathers are allowed to witness the whole birthing process and may cut the umbilical cord of their children.

    For those who use the presidential suite, which locates on the top floor of the IMC inpatient building, there is even a tarmac standing by. The suite has a meeting room, a kitchen, a yoga room, two doctors’ rooms and a nursing station.