Prof. Xu Being Honored with“Bethune Medal”

On the National Conference on Health and Family Planning Work held by Ministry of Health in Beijing, China, January 7, 2013, Xu Kecheng is awarded Bethune Medal, the highest administrative award in national health system, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the cause of fighting against cancer in China and the world at large.

Norman Bethune (from 1890 to 1939) was born in a clergy family in Graven Hurst, Ontario, Canada on March 3, 1890. He graduated from Medical School of Toronto University with a bachelors’ degree in 1916. His excellent skill in thoracic surgery was well-famed in the medical community of Canada, England and America. In early 1938, he led a Canada-America medical team to China and committed himself to saving numerous wounded soldiers in Chinese anti-Japanese battlefields. After cutting his finger while operating on a soldier, he contracted septicaemia and died of his wounds on November 12, 1939. Chairman Mao Zedong wrote an essay entitled In Memory of Norman Bethune in an effort to acclaim his utter devotion to others without any thought of self, his great sense of responsibility in his work and call all Chinese to learn the spirit of absolute selflessness from him.

Over the past half a century and more, Norman Bethune has been regarded as the role model in Chinese medical community. In 1991, Chinese government set up an award named after Norman Bethune to reward the most outstanding medical worker in Chinese medical community. The award is appraised every five years. Up to now, only 48 people have been awarded this award, including winners this year.

As the President of Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital, nationally renowned digestive disease expert and oncologist, Prof. Xu Kecheng has made outstanding achievement in the field of anti-cancer treatments and established “3C mode” for cancer treatments, namely Cryosurgery, Cancer Microvascular Intervention and Combined Immunotherapy for Cancer. He has published over 100 papers and edited or compiled over 30 professional books, among which Modern Cryosurgery for Cancer is the first monograph about cryosurgery for cancer in the world. At present, he is the President of International Society of Cryosurgery and the founder & honorary President of Asian Society of Cryosurgery.

Over the past decades, Prof. Xu Kecheng has saved dozens of cancer patients from the verge of death with his universal love and excellent skills. He has been reputed as “Living Bethune”, “Great Doctor with Universal Love”, “Role Model of the Times”. In 2012, Guangdong Provincial government organized “Xu Kecheng model deeds report team” to tour in cities in Guangdong and Beijing. Prof. Xu Kecheng deserves the Bethune Medal that is awarded to him.