As I have stated before, cancer treatment is highly complex. I do not think a doctor or even a hospital can treat all diseases. The MD Anderson Cancer Center that I referred to at the beginning of the book, though it ranks first in the United States their experts are still very humble.
A few months ago, a professor from MD Anderson Cancer Center called me saying that a patient had come from Beijing and suffered from synovial sarcoma on the left leg. He had received chemotherapy in their hospital and was preparing to undergo amputation. The patient was twenty-eight years old, unmarried and refused to undergo amputation. As the professor had good knowledge of our hospital, he recommended the patient visit us. After the patient exchanged twenty odd emails with me, he finally came to our hospital. The patient was from Shandong Province, he was tall and strong. On admission, he walked on crutches. He was not only anxious and fearful but also full of doubts. It was not surprising, after all, considering what he'd been through. He told me that he had spent half a year in the United States, accompanied by his parents. Parents' love is universal, they had not returned home to Shandong for a year. First they went to Beijing where he had a biopsy and chemotherapy, who would have thought that his leg would become so badly swollen after chemotherapy. They immediately went abroad with him to the United States. In our hospital, an MRI scan showed there was a 10 cm × 6 cm mass on his left leg. He received microvascular intervention therapy. A week later, his left leg became gradually more flexible, after a further week, he could walk. A month later, he was able to walk three times around the hospital. An MRI review revealed his tumor had shrunk by 20% and a second microvascular intervention therapy was administered. A total of twelve tissue samples from different body parts were taken for biopsy and the results showed all tissues were necrotic. Recently he was readmitted into hospital to recheck, an MRI scan showed that the tumor had further reduced.
I have considered why patients from developed countries came to our hospital and can give three reasons: Firstly, no further treatments can be administered in their own countries. Secondly, patients are unwilling to accept treatments recommended by doctors in their own countries, such as the aforementioned patient who received treatments in the MD Anderson Cancer Center in the United States. Thirdly, patients proactively search to find a more satisfactory treatment.
Two years ago a pair of American sisters came to our hospital. They almost simultaneously suffered from breast cancer, which required them to undergo breast-conserving surgery. Both of them came to our hospital to accept percutaneous cryotherapy. The treatment results were ideal. Later they came back to our hospital to do body checkups. This year a doctor from our hospital paid them a follow-up visit in New York. They have been leading a happy life. The reason why they chose our hospital in the end was their search for more adequate treatment.(Figure 25)
The majority of foreign patients who visit our hospital are those that find themselves in a position where there are no more available treatments to have in their own countries. A few months ago, two sisters from Phoenix were admitted to our hospital. The younger sister suffered from kidney cancer. Two years ago, she underwent surgical removal. A year later, a tumor as big as child’s head relapsed on the right side of her abdomen. She underwent radiotherapy, chemotherapy and molecular targeted therapy. Unfortunately, American doctors told her they could not do anything more for her. The sisters were unwilling to give up, so they came to our hospital. On the day she received treatment, I went to the operating room to watch the operation. The abdominal cavity was opened, a huge tumor appearing on the right of abdominal cavity. Firstly 80% of the tumor was removed, then cryosurgery was administered for residual tumor tissue. I walked out of the operating room, meeting the patient’s sister waiting at the door. I showed her the photos I had just taken. This Caucasian lady suddenly burst into tears crying out, “China, Thank you!” She hugged me repeating “thank you!” I was also moved to tears with this display of strong family love. (Figure 26)
With consideration to the well being of our species, our world should have no borders. Medicine serves for human health without borders. Every hospital has its own strengths and should work together rather than with restrictions. How honoured we are to perform mutually complementary work for patients.