My teacher suffered from breast cancer and underwent surgery. I asked whether she had undergone chemotherapy, she said, “Definitely no!” Her husband is a well known oncologist and has written a thick book on cancer.
At the end of 2006, our hospital organised a seminar on “How to Bring about Long Term Survival of Cancer Patients?” Besides inviting some specialists on the field, we also invited several advanced cancer patients who had survived by not less than three years. During the seminar something unexpected and touching happened. Mr. Lu, a lung cancer patient from Hunan came up to the stage to share on how he had planned to live the 100 days of life left as declared by his doctor. In 2004, he suddenly had cough and was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer. “I must not die. I’ve a ninety years old mother to take care of, and my son has just entered a university,” he told himself. He had a countdown; 90 days, 80 days, 70 days….When there were fifty days left, he came to our hospital accompanied by his sister who lived in Hunan Province. He underwent cryosurgical ablation.
In a low voice, Mr. Lu calmly related the experience he had gone through during that period. He did not cry nor laugh. Then he gave a long sigh and said, “Now I’ve survived for more than 1000 days!” The entire audience fell to complete silence, many wiping their tears. Then a young man went up the stage, held Mr. Lu and cried. Before any one could tell what was happening, the young man took the microphone and said, “I’m a reporter and I did not come to give a show. I had never thought that my uncle could survive!”
It turned out that he is Li Ling, a well-known journalist of the San Xiang Metropolitan News. It was he who phoned me to help the “alien” Huang Chuncai of Chenzhou, Hunan. Mr. Lu who is his uncle has been surviving for seven years. LI Ling told the audience that the news that his uncle was diagnosed with lung cancer sent the whole family into disarray. His mother, a sister of Mr. Lu, was in tears all day and she asked around which hospital could cure his brother’s illness. Finally, she learned about Fuda Cancer Hospital from CCTV. Li Ling said, “In the past, I did not believe or trust any hospitals because I had seen far too many advertisements. Now, my uncle survives! The medical profession is a sacred profession and doctors are great!”
As Li Lin was bowing his head to thank the medical staff, a middle aged man went on the stage and said: “I am the director of the oncology department of XXX hospital. I hold a PhD in medicine. I am very ashamed that whenever patients are admitted, we would, without considering its suitability, give them courses of chemotherapy until they finally die …” His eyes were wet.
Later, a slightly older doctor came on stage and took over the microphone and said “I am the head of the radiotherapy department of XX hospital which is affiliated to XXX University. Whenever patients are admitted, radiotherapy is given even if they are not fit to be given radiotherapy. Radiotherapy is our conventional “weapon”, a legalized therapy which we use without considering whether patients can go through the ordeal and survive; doctors are to take charge of the sickness and not “life”. Upon hearing the speeches by those patients, I fully understand that a doctor must have a clear conscience.”