Tue, Jun 09, 2026 page3

• Soap star’s death brings leukemia awareness

  • By Fion Khan / Staff writer
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  Internist Chiang Kuan-yu (姜冠宇) yesterday warmed people not to ignore four warning signs of possible early leukemia symptoms.

  The caution was issued following news of Taiwanese actor Fu Jun’s (傅子純) abrupt death on Sunday.

  Best known for his role in the popular TV soap opera Rookies’ Diary (新兵日記), Fu died of leukemia at the age of 46, Formosa TV (FTV, 民視) Phoenix Talent Company (鳳凰藝能) confirmed on Sunday.

  

  Actor Jun Fu Jun is pictured in an undated photograph.

  Photo: Hu Shun-hsiang, Taipei Times

  “His family had no prior knowledge that he had leukemia,” general manager James Chao (趙善意) said. “The illness struck suddenly and he passed away.”

  Leukemia is a complex disease and its early stages often show no obvious symptoms, Chiang said in a social media post yesterday, warning that anyone experiencing unexplained fever, persistent fatigue, paleness, unusual bleeding or bruising, or bone pain should stay vigilant and get a basic blood test.

  According to Captain Clinic president Liu Po-jen (劉博仁), leukemia is primarily caused by the uncontrolled proliferation of white blood cells.

  While white blood cells normally serve as the body’s immune defense, genetic mutations can cause them to multiply uncontrollably, crowding out healthy red blood cells and platelets, Liu said in a social media post.

  This could lead to frequent infections, easy bruising, bleeding, chronic fatigue and paleness, he said.

  People should be mindful of four major risk factors: dietary habits, sleep deprivation and irregular schedules, chronic stress and toxin exposure, he said.

  First, consuming fried foods, sugary beverages and barbecued meats can subject the body to chronic oxidative stress and inflammation, he said.

  Residual pesticides, plasticizers and heavy metals could cause long-term damage to the blood cell formation system, he added.

  Second, staying up late or working rotating shifts disrupts the circadian rhythm, interfering with immunity and DNA repair, which allows mutations to bypass the body’s defenses more easily, he said.

  Third, prolonged elevation of stress hormones, such as cortisol, suppresses the immune system and prevents inflammation from subsiding, he said.

  Fourth, exposure to benzene — found in paint, solvents, gasoline vapors and combustion byproducts — has a well-established link to leukemia, he said.

  Higher exposure to pesticides increases the risk of leukemia and lymphoma, while smoking is a known risk factor for acute myeloid leukemia, he added.

  While research continues into whether diet, sleep and stress directly cause leukemia, evidence is strong that they affect immune health and overall cancer prevention, he said.

  The links between blood cancers and benzene exposure, pesticides and smoking are well supported by scientific evidence, he said.

  Diet, sleep, stress management and toxin avoidance are critical to safeguard the immune system, he said.

  He recommended eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and high-quality protein while reducing consumption of processed foods, fried foods and sugary beverages.

  He advised maintaining a regular sleep schedule, ideally getting at least seven hours of sleep and going to bed before 11pm.

  Regular exercise, walking and meditation can help manage stress, he added.

  People should minimize benzene exposure, avoid heating food in plastic containers and staying away from cigarettes and secondhand smoke can help protect long-term health, he said.
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