Decades into modern medical cares, with incredible improvement in medicines, diagnostic methods, and medical devices, the average life-expectancy in developed countries has dramatically extended. Many lethal diseases, especially infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, hepatitis, and pneumonia can now be easily treated or prevented and are no long regarded as major threats to public health. Moreover, the research of human genetics and molecular and cellular biology has not only helped us to understand in much depth the driving force of life, aging, illness, and death, but also led to the discovery of innumerable diagnostic tests and medicines. However, just as exciting as it was when the human genome was decoded, we also desperately realized that aging and death are the inevitable course of life. Immortality only exists in the distant future, if not just in fictions.
Death can come in many forms, but nothing is as dreadful as cancer, a rather complex disease related to aging and mutation of one’s own body. A cancer can quietly lurker for many years or even decades before becoming life threatening, but it can also come so robustly and roaring and claim a life within a few weeks. Regardless of the origin or form of cancer, it is a term equal to death sentence to most people.
As one of the countries with the longest history of medicine and medical care, China has developed a broad and profound culture related to disease and decease. There are a multitude of pluralistic religions in the Chinese culture, such as Daoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism, each having its own views of life and death. Deeply influenced by these religions and beliefs, the Chinese have developed distinct thinking patterns, world views, and lifestyle than those of the western culture . Many Chinese people even believe in the traditional Chinese medicines more than western medicines when it comes to treatment of complex diseases such as cancer.
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