The oldest (89 year-old) pancreatic cancer patient’s Nanoknife surgery was completed at FUDA

In the morning of September 13, China News Service, Nanfang Daily, Yangcheng Evening News, Southern Metropolis Daily and New Express etc. media reporters gathered at Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital for reporting the recent first case of an 89-year old pancreatic cancer patient’s Nanoknife surgery in the world. It’s the oldest patient around the world that accepted Nanoknife surgery. The success of this operation marks the great progress and breakthrough in Nanoknife therapy for pancreatic cancer.

It’s learned that pancreatic cancer is the most malignant tumor of digestive system. And its morbidity is on the rise. In 2010, about 36.8 thousand people died of pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is the fourth most common cancer cause of cancer-related death in America. Its peak incidence age is between 70 to 90 years old. The incidence rate of male and female is about same.
 

At the same time, it’s a dangerous disease. Because it located in hidden position and the early symptoms are not apparent. Most patients find it in terminal stage. Less than 20% of patient can accept operation, and more than 80% of patient can’t accept it.

Now, as for pancreatic cancer, most adopt chemotherapy, but the effect is poor. The median survival time of advanced local pancreatic cancer is only 6 months. If occur metastasis, the average survival time is only 3 months. With highest death rate, pancreatic cancer is called “The king of cancer”.

However, with Nanoknife technique, prognosis of pancreatic cancer patient has been improved. Its advantage is can insert several needle electrodes to the tumor that can’t be removed by operation. It can kill cancerous cells by electrodes without damaging bile duct, pancreatic duct, vascular and intestine etc. such normal tissues apparently.

Data from research of America shows that applying NanoKnife therapy to treat advanced pancreatic cancer doubles the survival time on average. Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital has introduced this technique and applied in clinic research since 2014. It’s the first hospital introduced NanoKnife therapy and the hospital with most cases of applying NanoKnife therapy in treatment in mainland of China.

On August this year, Fuda Cancer Hospital treated an 89-year old pancreatic cancer patient from Philippines. He accepted Nanoknife therapy and the surgery was very successful. Investigation shows that the patient is the oldest patient who had Nanoknife therapy for pancreatic cancer in the world at present. The success of the surgery sets a new record in the field of medicine.
 

The patient was born in 1927. On March this year, he developed yellow skin and yellow sclera with symptoms of itching, dark urine and bad appetite etc. After having physical examination at local hospital, he was diagnosed as pancreatic cancer. On Aril this year, he had operation at local hospital. Doctor found the tumor couldn’t be cut during operation. Then, they closed the abdomen after chole enterostomy. Then the patient became worse. He lost about 4 kilogram over three months, and the pain became worse.

On August 7, he went to Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital. In the morning of August 11, chief president of Fuda Cancer Hospital Xu Kecheng organized experts to have a consultation to make treatment plan. Dr. Niu Lizhi was the surgeon performing Nanoknife surgery. After operation, the pain was relieved and his condition became better. He could get off bed on the second day after surgery. After a week, his examination shown that CAI99 (tumor marker) index dropped significantly. The effect of the surgery was remarkable. 

Dr. Niu Lizhi explained, patient had cardio-cerebral vascular disease with history of diabetes and hypertension etc, and his vessel is fragile, therefore, it’s easy to cause mass blooding during puncturing. Besides, patient’s gastrointestinal function was weak and the bile duct was surrounded by the tumor, which would cause intestine damage, biliary fistula and pancreatic fistula etc. The risk and difficulty of the surgery is so great unprecedentedly.

“Before surgery, expert teams made a detailed treatment plan through, especially in designing the puncturing route in operation thoroughly. Guided by the advanced equipment and GPRS, needles of NanoKnife (irreversible electroporation) were placed in targeted position to kill cancerous cells.”Niu Lizhi told the author.

Besides making detailed treatment plan in advance, medical team’s perfect cooperation was also important. Dr. Niu Lizhi said: “Experts of ultrasound department, CT department and cardiology department gave overall technical supports in the surgery for completing the world-class highly difficult surgery.”The surgery’s success proves the safety and validity of this technique. At the same time, it also shows that Nanoknife therapy in China has reached the world level.

Ms. Lin from Guangxi Province with Pancreatic Cancer

On August 31, 2016, the last day of summer holiday, middle school teacher Ms. Lin was so happy. She took off hospital gown and put on white shirt and red pants with bright smile. She was cheerful for her recovery, and she believed she could go back school soon. Before discharge, she was willing to take photo with chief surgery president Niu Lizhi and doctor in charge Long Xinan for saving her life.

Ms. Lin with her son, chief surgeon president Niu Lizhi (right 1) and doctor in charger Ling Xinan (left 1)

It’s no exaggeration to describe Mr. Lin’s different conditions from admission to discharge using words “quite a different person”. 

At the noon of August 11, busy nurse station became quiet at Fuda Cancer Hospital. Nurses were just like spinning tops starting to stop, the sound of footsteps broke the peace. Helped by two men, a lady was coming in with painful expression. She pressed upper abdomen and hunched over while dragging slowly… The nurse rushed up to meet her.

Middle-aged man said urgently: “Nurse, my wife has pancreatic cancer. These are CT scans and medical reports. Please help us complete admitting procedure and arrange a ward bed.”

“Ok, we will arrange for you immediately…” Nurse said and helped to hold the lady to the ward.

The lady was Ms. Lin, a middle school teacher from Guangxi. The two men were her husband and son.

Soon, ward director Qian Wei, attending doctors Shi Juanjuan and Long Xinan etc. carried out regular examination and inquired history.

Ms. Lin lying on the bed, said painfully, “On April this year, paroxysmal pain occurred in my left upper abdomen, then in left back. Once I stretch the spine or walk, the pain became worse. Squatting or hunching over will relieve it. The pain makes me eat and sleep barely. ”

Ms. Lin went to a doctor soon. She made gastroscope at local hospital and found her with chronic non-atrophic gastritis. The doctor prescribed some gastric drugs for her.

“After taking medicine for some time, the pain didn’t reduce, even became more serious. I went to large hospital in local for physical examination. When I saw the words “terminal pancreatic cancer” on the sheet of enhanced CT report, my mind was blank. That’s terrible!” Ms. Lin recalled.

In the past decade, two teachers and a family member of her school were died from pancreatic cancer. She remembered exactly that their survival time were from three months to half year.

“This devastating diagnose was a hard hit that we didn’t prepare. At that time, she was so sad. And the pain was so bad that she could hardly eat food, which made her losing a lot of weight. I was very anxious. Since that we couldn’t escape, just treat it actively.” Ms. Lin’s husband said and had a deep breath.

In mid-June, accompanied with husband, Ms. Lin admitted to local cancer hospital. They decided to give up surgery and tried to take Traditional Chinese Medicine, because surgery was hard to perform and the surgery plan was not ideal. However, Ms. Lin’s condition didn’t improve after a month. “Though I took painkillers and sleeping pills every night, the pain still tortured me and made me couldn’t sleep, which made me restless…” Seeing Ms. Lin’s signs of distress, husband was very worried.

On July, Ms. Lin learned about a new technique named “Nanoknife” in Internet by her classmate. It could treat pancreatic cancer that wrapped about vascular and nerves. And she asked several doctor friends, they all said that Nanoknife therapy for pancreatic cancer was a good choice. Therefore, they went to Guangzhou immediately and hope to have treatment at larger cancer hospital.

However, ward beds of large hospital were not enough. After waiting many days, Ms. Lin admitted to hospital finally, but doctor told her that they couldn’t arrange surgery right away and advised to have chemotherapy. For chemo was more harmful to body, Ms. Lin didn’t accept the treatment plan. Hearing that Fuda Cancer Hospital has abundant experience on Nanoknife therapy for cancer, they transferred to FUDA at once.  

Through series of physical examination, Ms. Lin’s head of pancreas was occupied cyst-solid tumor. Pancreatic cancer should be considered. There were peripancreatic and retroperitoneal multiple large lymph nodes. Part of lesion adhered to the pancreatic tumor. Lower back occurred pain, which meant that celiac plexus was compressed and invaded by the tumor…

President Niu Lizhi and medical team had a discussion on Ms. Lin’s condition and decided to conduct pancreas tumor needle biopsy, irreversible electroporation (Nanoknife therapy) and retroperitoneal block.

The operation was scheduled in the morning of August 17. Ms. Lin went to operation room with her husband and son. Her husband patted her hands, said: “Don’t worry. Have a sleep and you will be fine.”

On that morning, President Niu Lizhi and medical team’s Nanoknife ablation surgery for Ms. Lin was successful. Several days later, she had puncture and drainage by Doctor Zhang Yishi.

After having two operations, Ms. Lin didn’t have pain in abdomen and back. She finally could have a good sleep. Her appetite recovered and condition was improved. During hospitalization, Ms. Lin’s husband accompanied her all the time. After Ms. Lin’s appetite becoming better, he often cooked soups and rice paste for her. “She is malnourished. I can only cook soups and rice paste for her. I cook in different ways every day. Today is adding red dates, and tomorrow will add vegetable, shredded meat and black fungus. Once people say it’s good for health, I will cook. Just like her sentence, I am born to serve her…” Hearing husband’s word, Ms. Lin was so happy.

Abdomen and back were not painful. Ms. Lin often asked husband and son to take her out. Going out made her joyful. She straightened her back and couldn’t help slapping thighs while singing a song lightly.

Ms. Lin was no longer gaunt. She was energetic with bright eyes and smile on her face. She could chat with people who visited her happily and easily.

In the morning of August 31, Ms. Lin expressed her great gratitude to medical staff that helped her before discharging from hospital and said excitedly: “I thought my life was going to the end and I couldn’t survive for a long time. Fortunately, I met you who bring me to life! ”

Mr. Wu from Inner Mongolia with esophageal cancer

On February 2, 2016, Mr. Wu from Inner Mangolia went to Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital for re-examination with the company of his son. When learning that thre result of re-examination showed each indicator was normal, he held attending doctor Xing Yanli’s hands tightly with eyes full of tears and said: “Ms. Xing, thank you very much. Thank also goes to Doctor Li Hongmei and Guda Cancer Hospital. There are not only excellent medical skills, but also high-quality service.”

Mr. Wu (right) and Doctor Xing

64-year-old Mr. Wu had been manager of a factory for 20 years and wanted to enjoy retirement. However, he was diagnosed as esophageal cancer with lymph metastasis. His son was eager to save him and took him to Beijing for medical care, but doctors’ answers were “resection”. Mr. Wu was afraid of the risk of resection and hoped to find a treatment plan with less wound. Two sons inquired here and there. Learning that the characteristic cancer treatment mode of Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital suited father’s wish of treating in Internet, they decided to have a try at Guangzhou.

 

On August 21, 2015, Mr. Wu went to Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital with his son. What surprised him was that chief president Xu Kecheng visited him. Mr. Wu recalled: “President Xu was very humble and joked that I was just 64, and he was 75, 11 years older than me. He was a cancer patient too. I should be confident because they would help me. After hearing president’s words, I was relieved suddenly.”

Learning that Mr. Wu hoped to have treatment with less wound, chief president Xu Kecheng organized a consultation with experts at once. At final, they decided to treat Mr. Wu with photodynamic therapy.

 

In fact, there are many patients afraid of surgery like Mr. Wu. Besides conventional surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital has personalized treatment techniques of “CCC+P” treatment mode, including cancer photodynamic therapy, a mini-invasive treatment which eliminating cancerous cells by photosensitizer and laser.  

 

In late August and October of 2015, Mr. Wu had twice esophageal cancer photodynamic treatment successively. On September 7, he had iodine 125 seeds implantation of cardial lymph nodes. The surgery was successful. After surgery, Mr. Wu had a good recovery. Attending Doctor Xing Yanli said, “After these treatments, Mr. Wu’s condition became better. He just need to have regular re-examination.”

 

On February 23 this year, Mr. Wu went back to Fuda for re-examination and all was right. His son said sincerely: “Thank Fuda Cancer Hospital. I hope you can establish a branch at Inner Mongalia for benefiting cancer patients there.” On February 25, Mr Wu and son headed for home happily.

Mr. Wu (right) and his son give their thumb-ups to Fuda Cancer Hospital

Almasy from Hungary with Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

Nowadays, many cancer patients go abroad for medical care and advanced medicine for cancer. However, like an international hospital, Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital accepted cancer patients from different countries. Almasy from Hungary is one of them.

                Almasy took gift and gave thumb-up to nurse

Flying to Guangzhou three times for medical care during three months

Hungary, a landlocked country of central Europe, located in Danube Floodplains, is more than 7 thousand kilometer away from China, which takes nearly 10-hour flight.

Almasy is 45-year old engineer with a happy family. Two years ago, he had paroxysmal pain in right abdomen once or twice a week. Then, he developed in pain right should and back too. In early 2015, he had a physical examination at hospital of Hungary and was diagnosed as intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

The result of diagnose like a bolt out of blue made Almasy shocked and so sad.

A month later, he had chemotherapy twice at local hospital, but he showed symptoms of nausea, vomiting and blood poisoning. Doctors thought that the side effects of chemo were big and suggested no more chemotherapy.

On March 2016, Almasy had pain in right abdomen again. The result of re-examination showed the hepatic tumor was bigger. He was depressed, but he had to find proper treatment plan at once.

 Soon, he learned that Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital in China had many characteristic therapies from local doctor Alina. After having a comparison with other hospitals, on early April, he flew to Guangzhou at first time and accepted treatment at Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital.

According to Director Qian Wei of the third ward’s words, Almasy received much attention from hospital. A medical team headed by President Niu Lizhi made a comprehensive treatment plan based on his condition. After having cryosurgery and iodine seed implantation and so on, Almasy’s condition was under control.

FUDA’s humanistic care touched him

Almasy can’t speak English, so Fuda Cancer Hospital found a translator from volunteers to help and take care of him. “There are lots of doctors who had studied abroad with fluent English. I can’t speak English, which causes a big obstacle in communication. They specially find a translator for me. The guy speaks Hungarian so well.” Almasy appreciated this very much.

With careful treatment and nursing at Fuda Cancer Hospital, his physical and mental condition was much better. During his treatment, a Hungarian television went to Guangzhou especially to ask him how he felt about the treatment at FUDA.

Almasy told author, in recent years, cancer incidence were higher and higher, but the survivor rate and recovery rate were lower than average level of Union Europe. Related departments of Hungary invested a large number of money to cancer prevention and treatment. And cancer fund was specially established for raising money for local cancer patients.

“After cryosurgery, I feel better and my appetite returns. I believe I can go home soon…” It’s from a video recorded by Almasy on 26th July, which aimed at sharing his treatment experience at Fuda Cancer Hospital with his friends and Hungarian cancer patients. Vice president Mu Feng was invited to be guest in the video.

In order to express his gratitude to medical staff, Almasy gave chocolates to doctors and nurses. But according to rules of Fuda Cancer Hospital medical staff can’t accept patients’ money and gift. The chocolates were re-gifted to other patients. Later on, nurses gave a set of delicate tableware with Chinese characteristic to Almasy. He said happily, “it’s so delicate. I am reluctant to use it.” 

The strong humanistic atmosphere at Fuda Cancer Hospital moved Almasy so much.