A Chinese “tumor research institute” is currently being investigated after a woman came forward with allegations that her mother, who is suffering from breast cancer, was tricked into paying a whopping 200,000 yuan (around Rs 22.76 lakh) for unconventional treatments, including bloodletting and applying cement to her skin. The incident came to light when the woman, known as Wang, discovered that her mother had been diagnosed with advanced stage breast cancer at the end of 2021.
Soon after the diagnosis, Wang and her mother were introduced to a traditional Chinese medicine doctor named Yu in Wuhan. Yu claimed to specialize in cancer treatment and invited them to his Dongyusanbao Tumor Research Institute, where he boasted about inventing a medicine that could kill cancer cells. To gain their trust, Yu presented what appeared to be legitimate patent documents and prestigious awards certificates for his cancer treatment, according to Wang.
Filled with hope, Wang’s mother immediately purchased the first batch of liquid medication from Yu at a cost of 20,000 yuan (US$2,700), which he claimed was a simple oral remedy. Over the course of a year, Wang and her mother made six trips from their home in northeastern Liaoning province to Wuhan, resulting in a total expenditure of over 200,000 yuan.
In addition to the oral medication, Yu performed numerous injections into Wang’s mother’s breasts to extract blood. He also instructed her to apply a mixture of cement and lime to her skin under the armpits, claiming that it would help shrink the cancerous lumps. However, after following these instructions for two months, Wang’s mother’s skin became infected.
It later emerged that Yu does not possess any medical qualifications, and his institute is not authorized to provide medical treatments. He confessed to selling the women health-enhancing products and stated that his bloodletting method was meant to promote good health, not acupuncture. Furthermore, the certificates and documents he presented were purchased online for a few thousand yuan.
The authorities are currently conducting an investigation into this bizarre case.
