On the coming New Year, Mr. Lin, Thai, said with tears in his eyes, "After 5 years, I’m 81 years old now. I can still celebrate New Year with you. I’m really happy. Everyone thinks that lung cancer is a kind of incurable disease so no one can survive for a long time. But now I am still here..." Indeed, it’s a miracle that advanced lung cancer patients can survive more than 5 years.

A right choice to live for 5 more years

In 2013, Mr. Lin had a sudden cough and bloody sputum. After examination at a local hospital, diagnosis indicated a central type of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma in his right lung. Then doctors there recommended an open surgery to cut 2/3 of his lung. "My father is too old to withstand this painful surgery. So we refuse it," Mr. Lin's family said with anxiety. To save their father, they searched information on advanced treatments around the world, and finally found Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital (Fuda) in China. They were attracted by argon-helium cryosurgical ablation and brachytherapy at Fuda which inflicted fewer traumas, less pain, and more importantly less side effects. They thought that was the most appropriate treatment for their father.

Accompanied by his daughter, Mr. Lin flew from Thailand to Fuda. When he arrived at Fuda, oncologists from the team of Professor Niu Lizhi asked about his medical history and arranged comprehensive examinations for him. In October 2013,Mr. Lin smoothly underwent a right lung tumor biopsy, cryosurgery and brachytherapy. His daughter said, “This was my father’s first exposure to minimally invasive treatment. On the second day, my father can move around by himself. Compared with a traditional surgery, minimally invasive treatment is very gentle and effective. Except from occasional coughing, my father is fine now. After returning to Thailand, my relatives said that my father was not like an advanced lung cancer patient. They are all curious about the treatments my father had in China."

Cryosurgical ablation-- precise treatment for Mr. Lin

When Mr. Lin returned to Thailand, he started oral targeted drugs for 2 years. During reexamination, no abnormality was found so his family was very happy. It was not until in 2015 that findings showed his right pulmonary hilar tumor was slightly enlarged than before, so he contacted Fuda again. According to his physical condition, the doctor suggested that he should take another medicine during a remote video diagnosis, because Mr. Lin had developed drug resistance to the former drug.

“As an advanced lung cancer patient, I didn’t know that I could live for five more years at that time. Here, I would like to thank Fuda for its careful treatment,” said Mr. Lin.

“The medical staff there is like our family. Professor Niu and Dr. Zhou are all concerned about my father and answered our questions patiently. Nurses there treated us kindly. Even if they are off duty, they still answer our questions patiently,” his daughter added.

In October 2018, the chest CT done in a local Thai hospital showed a newly-found lymph node metastasis in right pulmonary hilus, and a small nodule in right lower lung which was considered to be metastasis. Therefore, Mr. Lin and his daughterwent to Fuda again for further treatment. The medical experts there evaluated his case and finally determined to perform a right lung tumor biopsy and cryosurgery for him. The surgery achieved good therapeutic effects. After testing, his right lung hilar mass was shrunk and inflammatory exudate had been basically absorbed after treatments. At the same time, the focal area implanted new iodine seeds became smaller than before.

Professor Niu said, "For patients with advanced lung cancer, in order to save their lives, and let them live longer and maintain a high quality life, we should provide a professional clinical treatment plan and rehabilitation plan."

Over 2,000 cryosurgeries has been performed to control early lung cancer

Doctors at Fuda have performed more than 2,000 cryosurgeries for lung cancer patients, which relieves the symptoms and pain of patients. At the same time, cryosurgery can well control early lung cancer and it is also a good choice for those who are not suitable for surgery.