Chinese mother Xiao Caiyu reportedly wants to die rather than continue the treatment of her cervical cancer as her hospital bills continue to pile up, leaving her family in debt.

The 52-year-old mother said that if her cancer gets worse, she will no longer get any treatment as they no longer money left to spend. Their business already closed so they have no means to pay the other bills.

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Xiao and her family are from Southern China and they are one of those whose finances have been affected severely after a cancer diagnosis. Other families who previously had stable income lost everything they had due to the disease.

Xiao was diagnosed with cancer in 2013.

According to Xiao's son, Liang Mianchang, people in their village who are stricken with the disease just return home when they already run out of money and wait for their death. Village folks like them are considered to be "good for nothing," he added.

The Chinese government offers health insurance to their people but once drugs and other medicines are not part of the health insurance coverage.

According to reports, there are private companies offering health insurances but only a small portion of the population are entitled to it. Also, the health insurance from the Chinese government asks their people to make co-payments to cover consultation fees, examination fees, operations, scans and drugs.

Based on a survey, China has the largest number of cancer cases and deaths and the aging population is said to be the target. The factors that are being pinpointed in the rising number of cancer cases are the environmental pollution as well as lifestyle changes.

The World Health Organization's cancer agency noted that 3.07 million cancer cases are being recorded annually in China. If the number of cases continue to rise, China would be losing at least US$5.6 trillion in their output from the year 2012 to 2030.

At present, the Chinese government is still looking for possible solutions in order to improve the government health insurance coverage for diseases such as cancer. 

TagsCancer, Chinese mother, hospital bills, death, Xiao Caiyu