The myth-buster

Li Zhizhong is on a mission to provide accurate information about cancer, Wang Qian reports.

Every minute last year, on average, nine people in China were diagnosed with cancer, while six others died from it, according to the latest data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization, which was released in December.

It is estimated that by the age of 75, one in four people in China will develop cancer in one form or another, which means that it can affect anyone. But for Li Zhizhong, while such figures may paint a bleak picture, a cancer diagnosis doesn't necessarily mean a death sentence.

"The main reasons for the growing number of cancer patients is our increasing life span and detection ability," explains Li, a science writer attempting to help demystify the topic of cancer online, adding that, with an increasing number of people diagnosed, it is time to ensure the public are better informed about the disease.