In a heartbreaking turn of events, mainland Chinese actress Zhu Jianqing, 33 years old, who once stood on the stage of Huangmei Opera, was diagnosed with a brain glioma in October 2024. After nearly two years of treatment, she is currently unable to walk or sit up independently, but her strong desire to “keep on living, and return to the stage to perform” remains unwavering. Her family revealed that they have already spent around 500,000 to 600,000 yuan on her treatment, with an estimated additional cost of about 400,000 yuan still needed in the future. Recently, her family made a public appeal for assistance for the first time.
Zhu Jianqing, hailing from Xincang Town, Taihu County, Anqing City, Anhui Province, graduated from the Performance Bachelor’s program at Huangmei Drama Art School of Anqing Normal University. She embarked on her career as a Huangmei Opera actress, participating in various plays such as “The Daughter-in-law Riding a Horse,” “Cutting Grass,” “Wedding Night,” and “Chopping Lady.”
According to Zhu Jianqing’s sister-in-law, Huang Bitian, in the autumn of 2024, Zhu started experiencing symptoms such as increased drowsiness and decreased memory, followed by persistent headaches for half a month.
In mid-October 2024, she underwent a cranial MRI scan in Anqing, revealing the presence of a brain glioma.
Her family stated that Zhu Jianqing subsequently traveled to Changzheng Hospital in Shanghai and underwent her first surgery on November 8 of the same year. After the surgery, she spent over ten days in the intensive care unit. Starting from January 2025, she continued treatment at the Second Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine. Her family accompanied her to seek medical help in Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Guizhou, and other places. Currently, Zhu Jianqing is unable to walk independently, and sitting up is also challenging, as the lesion has affected her spine, lumbar spine, and other areas.
Huang Bitian mentioned that from the time of diagnosis in 2024 until now, the costs incurred for surgeries, hospital stays, radiation and chemotherapy, targeted drugs, and seeking medical treatment in various places have been roughly estimated at 500,000 to 600,000 yuan, with the actual expenses potentially being even higher.
Between March and June this year, the monthly treatment costs ranged from 20,000 to 40,000 yuan.
According to the current treatment plan outlined by her family, Zhu Jianqing may require a second surgery and additional treatments in the future, with an estimated need of around 400,000 yuan still remaining.
For nearly two years, Zhu Jianqing’s parents had not sought public assistance. Huang Bitian explained that her parents had believed they could manage on their own, but as the treatment costs continued to escalate, their savings were gradually becoming insufficient.
On September 18, the family made their first public plea for help through an online platform. As of the interview with “Red Star News,” more than 180,000 yuan had been raised on the crowdfunding platform, along with contributions from relatives and friends, totaling close to 200,000 yuan.
Currently, Zhu Jianqing spends most of her time lying in bed. Her family mentioned that when she is awake, she still watches live broadcasts of Huangmei Opera, pausing to watch familiar stages and colleagues.
Despite the impact on her voice from radiation and chemotherapy treatments, with a loss of her ability to hit high notes, she still discusses with her family the hope that if her health improves, she wishes to return to the stage.
“I still want to keep on living, and I want to return to performing on stage.” This is a phrase that Zhu Jianqing’s family members recounted as her constant refrain.