Breast Cancer Awareness in China Links to A Young Singer's Name, Beina Yao

Her death shaped the landscape of China' breast cancer awareness in women

The nation shocked

On January 16th, 2015, news of Singer Yao Beina's death swarmed the social media in China.

She was called the "Voice of China". Her singing in 2014 CCTV Spring Festival Gala at 12:01 to celebrate new year's coming was one of her signature performances.

It was her singing Mandarin version of  "Let it go",  the Oscar winning theme song of Disney's movie "Frozen" 2013, that contributed to the movie's popularity in China.

It's breast cancer

Born in September 26, 1981, She died at 33, lost the battle to breast cancer.

In April, 2014, when she randomly found some skin dimpled under her left breast in a day. She went to see doctors and was diagnosed breast cancer in Peking People Hospital.

Roughly 1 year after mastectomy and chemotherapy, she went back to work and brought her success in singing to a higher level.

In December of 2014, she returned to Shenzhen Hospital of Peking University, North of China to get treatment.  Her cancer recurred, has metastasized to brain.

A big controversy scandal was found when three reporters from a local newspaper sneaked into the hospital morgue to take picture of deceased Yao Beina. Under public's criticisms, no such pictures was released in the open.

She was quite a warrior

Still in her 20s, She chose to do the mastectomy with certain resolution after diagnosis awed her doctors  and family.

Then she agreed to openly show her illness to the public,  as the ambassador for pink ribbon breast cancer awareness event in 2013.

5 days before her death, while she still had clear consciousness, she insisted her father signing the cornea donation agreement.

That decision saved two persons' visions.

From oncologists' perspectives

Breast cancer more was diagnosed in 50-54 year old in Chinese women, much younger than American women. It seems that more young women (<35)was diagnosed of breast cancer than before in China. In general, younger patients might have higher risk for cancer recurrence, said Dr. Li Yanping, Shijitan Hospital of Beijing, when she was interviewed by Chinanews.

Dr. Xu Binghe, Cancer Hospital of Chinese Medical Science Academy, wrote an article titled "Why breast removal surgery didn't remove breast cancer" to a public newspaper "Wen Hui Newspaper". In that article, he explains breast cancer treatment should base on types for best care.

A new landscape of breast cancer awareness

At present, the majority of female patients already were in advanced stages when they seek medical attention.

Yao Beina's death of breast cancer in such a young age shocked the nation. Breast cancer prevention, screening tips and breast cancer knowledge were hot topics sweeping the medias in January and February of 2015.

Before her, Dr. Yu Juan, PhD, Fudan University, died of breast cancer at the age of 32; Actress Chen Xiaoxu, famous for her role as "Lin Daiyu, Sis Lin" in the TV drama "The Story of the Stone" or "The Dream of the Red Mansion" died of breast cancer at the age of 41.

Yao Beina, 姚贝娜, her name will link to breast cancer, for years to come. With her singing voice, her fight for breast cancer and her lost, she has brought the breast cancer awareness to a whole new level in China.