Mahani Colon Cancer Malaysia

At a ward of Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital No 5 ward district, Dayang Mahani from Sabah in Malaysia was sitting on the white sofa. Light pink veil and violet long dress matched perfectly. In the daylight through window, she was glowing. There was a pair of bright eyes below the veil. Mahani told us her story that brought from a distance sincerely.

The young woman in blue vest next to Mahani was her young sister Forencia.

Dayang Mahani from a beautiful city Sabah in Malaysia is a devout Muslim. On June this year, a sad news destroyed her happy and peaceful life.

Bad news

At a meeting, Dayang Mahani fainted away with massive bleeding in gut. She was sent to local hospital for physical examination. No one expected that a misfortune came to her quietly. After having a series of examination like blood routine examination and endoscopy examination, the sad news arrived—she was diagnosed with colon cancer.

“At that moment, my life was totally changed, like at end of the world.” Mahani told the reporter.

It’s said that Mahani had sudden anemia on February 2015. For she has had kidney failure for several years, she didn’t pay attention on that. On June this year, the next time falling ill was for cancer.

In the days following, Mahani went to several hospitals in Malaysia and had check-ups many times. Doctors of Malaysia thought that it’s high risk to have surgery for Mahani. Based on her condition, she once had hypertension, diabetes and kidney failure. The surgery of cutting colon tumor needs 7 hours, and Mahani might die for kidney failure.   

Doctor’s words like a blow to Mahani. She was desperate, confused and terrified, which made her overwhelmed at that time. She tried taking herbal medicine and other treatments. Mahani said, she thought life was very precious. There was only one chance for life. She didn’t want to die in that way, but what could she do.

Hope of life

Mahani reads Koran every morning, and she believes Allah will bring light and life to her. One day, Mahani’s sister was watching TV. She suddenly shouted, “Watch TV now!” Mahani looked over the TV broadcasting about NanoKnife therapy of Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital. Unluckily, the program was almost finished when Mahani watched it. She just remembered the name of “FUDA”, and then she searched it in the internet right away. 

“After searching in the internet, I felt a lot. I saw many successful patient cases of applying NanoKnife therapy. Therefore, I told my husband I want to contact this hospital.” Mahani couldn’t hide her excitement. Because it’s a vital chance for her to survive, she wanted to seize it. So Mahani sent all her diagnostic information and waited for reply.

As time went on, the process of waiting Mahani was suffering. A few days later, she finally received good news. After checking Mahani’s CT report, doctors of FUDA thought her condition could be controlled by surgery. After receiving reply, Mahani made an important decision—going to Guangzhou.

Accepting surgery

On September this year, Mahani arrived at Guangzhou, China from Sabah of Malaysia, thousands of kilometers away. After being admitted to hospital, Mahani’s condition was very dangerous. Medical staff of Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital conducted careful preoperative examination for her. 

Her attending doctor Shi Juanjuan said that Mahani was so obese and her BMIwas over 35. In addition, Mahani once had massive bleeding in gut, unknown coma, diabetes, hypertension and kidney failure that needed dialysis and so on. There were high-risk factors to operation, so it’s a high-risk operation.

As chief surgeon of this operation, president of Fuda Cancer Hospital Dr Niu Lizhi was very discreet and said that given that patient’s condition couldn’t accept traditional open surgery with big trauma. Mini-invasive surgery should be adopted and the time of operation couldn’t be too long. After Mahani’s treatment plan being designed precisely and well prepared, operation team decided to perform surgery for Mahani on September 27. 

Although knowing the risk of operation was high, Mahani still was willing to have a try. “I hope I could live a quality life rather than sitting on wheelchair.” She said.

In the morning of September 27, Mahani was sent to operation room. She couldn’t stop praying the operation could be performed smoothly. Mahani recalled that before going to operating table, she told doctor not to save her if she fainted away during the operation unluckily, because she didn’t want her family tortured by suffering waiting. When recalled that, she swept in a choked voice.

With anesthesia, Mahani was in to the place. The atmosphere of operation room was solemn. The operation team headed by Niu Lizhi was performing laparoscope combined and hand assisted ascending colon resection tensely. 

Dr Niu Lizhi introduced that because patient had previous surgery, intestinal adhesion might appear. At that time, he planned to use hand assisted laparoscope to separate it. In that way, mini-invasive surgery could be conducted with laparoscope. The treating method was specially designed for the patient. As for the high-risk operation factors that patients have, Dr Niu Lizhi paid much attention to every part in the process of operation, especially to continuous hemotodialyses that done immediately after operation. 

At 11 pm of September 27, patient’s family was waiting outside the operation room anxiously. Two more hours passed by and the surgery was completed successfully. All medical staff and Mahani’s family gave a sigh of relief. After waking up from anesthesia, Mahani burst out in tears while closing two hands for praying, “ Allah, I’m still alive.”It’s arranged by destiny, and it’s the gift of Allah.

Behind the success of operation

Chief surgeon Dr Niu Lizhi explained that all medical staff that participated in the operation was worried about Mahani. The most difficult part was to keep all vital signs steady. Well preparation, tacit cooperation of surgery team and advanced equipment contributed to the success of operation. For example, patient had to take kidney dialysis during the operation, which required the support of advanced equipment and instrument. From anesthetic management, internal medicine to kidney dialysis required fully cooperation of experienced experts of all departments.

“Success of the operation makes FUDA surgery team’s medical skill improved to a new level. We can complete the operation that foreign hospitals couldn’t, which was inspiring. ” Dr Niu Lizhi said excitedly.

After two weeks, Mahani and her family members picked up their luggage. They were going to come back Sabah. Writer and medical staff of FUDA gave her a farewell dinner. The ward was full of people. To this treatment experience at Guangzhou, Mahani had endless words of thanks. Though we were from different countries with different languages, at that moment, Mahani’s heart was tied to Fuda.

“Doctors of FUDA really make me feel the responsibility of white angels. They show the glory of humanity all the time, which gives me the hope and power of rebirth.” Mahani said.

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.

Ladana Lung Cancer with Bone Metastasis Thailand

On June 19, the day before Ladana was discharged from hospital, medical workers dressed her up and took her to dinner for celebrating the success of her operation. Ladana was happy like a child. Her hair was carefully combed. And she was on a blue dress with a stylish silk scarf. At 62, she was full of vitality, and didn’t seem like a cancer patient. 

Ladana from Thailand, a last stage lung cancer patient with bone metastasis

In January 2013, Ladana developed symptom of cough and the symptom alleviated after seeing a doctor at local hospital. She didn’t think she would be associated with cancer for there was no history of cancer in her family.

After three months, she had re-examination and found a lump in left lung by CT, which means lung cancer should be considered. “Local doctors suggested surgery to resect the five centimeter large tumor. Then, control the metastases of right lung and lymph nodes by chemotherapy. But doctor wasn’t sure whether I could live for six months after having these treatments. ” Ladana said.

When she felt so rough, she watched a video about latest treatments technology for cancer at Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital at at YouTube by accident. She searched related information and made comparison with treatment technology in US. After consideration, she made her mind to have treatment at Fuda Cancer Hospital, because her life might be save here. 

She sent the results of CT scan and biopsy and other information to the E-mail of Fuda Cancer Hospital to ask treatments. Doctor replied her soon and suggested cryosurgery.

Cryosurgery is a latest technique for treatment of cancer which has been approved by the United States’  Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in 1998 and China’  SDA in 1999. It’s one of characteristic mini-invasive treatments in “CCC+P” cancer treatment mode that created originally by Fuda Cancer Hospital. Cryosurgery is an important ablation technique for tumors. It destroys tumors by cycles of freezing and thawing. Cryosurgery's destructive effects on tumors are due to two major mechanisms, one immediate, the other delayed. The immediate mechanism is the damaging effect of freezing and thawing the cells. The delayed mechanism is the progressive failure of microcirculation; ultimately, vascular stasis becomes operative as an important cause of tumor tissue destruction.

On September 13, Ladana was processing admission at Fuda Cancer Hospital. On September 18, she accepted cryosurgery for left lung and biopsy. And the surgery was successful. Three day later, she could leave hospital and return to her country.

Then, doctor sent e-mail to tell her, the result of gene test showed that she was suited to have targeted therapy and targeted drug could control metastatsis. Doctor told the drug’s name to Ladana. She insisted to take it for three years. During treatment, she paid great attention to diet and kept taking regular exercise. However, she neglected re-examination. Throughout the three year, she never went to hospital for re-examination.

The author asked her, “Why didn’t you go to hospital for re-examination?” Ladana said regretfully, “I thought that targeted drug, healthy diet and regular exercise were enough. It’s not unnecessary to have re-examination because I didn’t feel unwell. Until one day, I got chest congestion and easy fatigue. Therefore, I decided to come back Fuda Cancer Hospital for re-examination. Then the result showed that a tumor which was three centimeter larger than before was in her body.”

The result made Ladana worried and scary. Her mood just likes a shredded paper scattered on the ground, but she couldn’t pick up. She decided to have cryosurgery once again.

Ladana (left 4) and medical workers

Before surgery, doctor explained the risks of it. Because the tumor was close to the helium of the lung and trachea, cryosurgery possibly could cause bleeding, hemoptysis, temporary tracheal obstruction and pulmonary atelectasis. Hearing these complications that may occur, Ladana was worried for several hours, but she still believed Dr. Niu Lizhi’s medical skills. 

In the noon of June 14, she accepted her second cryosurgery. “Before operation, anesthetist gave me a lot of encouragement and let me trust doctor. After operation, doctor sent me to ICU one day for observing condition. During my illness, there were doctors and nurses taking care of me in turn all the time. ” She said.

Three days after operation, Ladana’s indicators of physical examination were normal without complication. Doctor told her she could be discharged from hospital after having a rest for two days.

After being treated at Fuda Cancer Hospital twice, she found that the hospital has not only excellent medical skills but also humanistic care. She said gratefully, “what impressed me most is medical workers’ meticulous care and attention. At the same time, I must express my gratitude to translator and support staff for their high quality service. ”

                                             Ladana and medical workers

Before leaving, Ladana wrote her experience and expression of gratitude to medical workers of Fuda Cancer Hospital on the notebook.

A center for treating tumors & prolonging lives

Cancer is probably the most dreaded disease anyone can have. When I received my invitation to the blessing of the new wing of The Fuda Cancer Hospital in Guangzhou, China, I didn’t think twice about going and seeing for myself what the hospital has to offer particularly for cancer patients. Together with media friends, I boarded a direct flight from Manila to Guangzhou which took two hours and 25 minutes. We arrived in Guangzhou, China late in the evening. The following day, we were welcomed by Manila-based Fuda volunteer Edward Puno and his gracious wife Cindy who took us for a tour around the new wing of the Fuda Cancer Hospital. Upon entering the hospital premises, we were all so impressed with the hospital facilities. We were informed that the Fuda Cancer Hospital had dedicated a whole floor to their Filipino patients. Each room is complete with all the amenities, including a flat screen TV which has an ABS-CBN channel. “This it to make every Filipino patient at Fuda Hospital and their respective families feel at home,” explains Puno. 

I was expecting a gloomy hospital atmosphere but was pleasantly surprised to be greeted by a cheerful ambiance which was provided mainly by the elegant interiors and the ever-smiling staff, which is a big plus especially for patients who have nothing to smile about. There was no language barrier problem since the hospital made sure there were coordinators from different countries to specifically attend to the needs of their foreign patients and their families.

Because of the hospital’s high standards, we immediately inquired about the costs of treatments and hospital stay. We were told that regardless of what room patients and their families choose (there are VIP rooms which have a living room, kitchen, and extra bedroom; suite rooms; standard rooms; and rooms for four patients), the total hospital cost remains the same. Once the patient arrives, a proposed treatment plan is given to the patient or a family member. Expect no surprise or additional charges as Fuda doctors do not charge professional fees, which makes the treatment very reasonable and worth every cent.

A money changer, restaurant and coffee shop are conveniently located inside the hospital premises.              

At the helm of this state-of-the-art hospital is chief executive/president Dr. Kecheng Xu, a world-renowned specialist in oncology, gastroenterology, and hepatology. After graduation from Nanton Medical College in 1963, he had his post graduate studies at Fudan University. He was a visiting professor on hepatology and oncology at Chiba University, Japan and took further studies at the Reiter State University, Tulane University, and Johns Hopkins University in the United States. He is the incoming vice president of the International Society of Cryosurgery.

Boasting a very competent team of doctors, Fuda Cancer Hospital has for the last 10 years successfully treated thousands of domestic and international patients. It is the first hospital in China to successfully perform cryosurgery with over 8,000 cases, more than what any other hospital in the world has done. 

Dr. Franco Lugnani, president of the International Society of Cryosurgery based in Italy, has singled out Fuda Cancer Hospital to be the cryotherapy center in the Asia Pacific region for the hospital’s excellent work.

 “Cryosurgery can be done for any part of the body, from head to toe,” says Dr. Lizhi Niu, deputy chief executive of Fuda Cancer Hospital.

Performed mostly under local anesthesia, cryosurgery can be used to treat tumors that could not be removed for early or end-stage cancer. A cryosurgical (CSA) probe is inserted into the tumor and a refrigerant is passed through the probe; the temperature is raised to thaw the frozen tumor. This process is repeated two or three times to complete ablation and thawing of the whole tumor. CSA can be carried out with the help of surgery, endoscope, ultrasound or CT- guided. Percutaneous cryosurgical ablation is a minimally invasive technique with little side effects. It will not cause pain, instead it can stop pain rapidly. CSA is suitable for cancer patients with unresectable tumors or patients that cannot tolerate surgery.

“For those who are beyond surgery or other treatments, cryosurgery aims to extend survival,” he adds.

Dr. Xu explains, “After they have been treated in our hospital, more than 70 percent of these patients experience significant improvement and their survival time has been prolonged, not by months but rather by years. Many patients, including those with liver cancer and lung cancer, have lived for more than five years, with the longest survival time of nine years. Some pancreatic cancer (the “king of cancer”) patients even lived for an additional 55 months.” 

Once a cancer patient comes in, an honest assessment is given as to whether or not the patient can be treated and what he/she can expect. Dr. Mu Feng, president of North District Fuda Hospital, also adds that a routine checkup, particularly a PET CT scan, by a skilled and competent doctor is important.

As there are various approaches to treating cancer, there are also various hospitals in China doing cryosurgery. Thus, one must do an extensive research on which treatment and which hospital can best cater to our sick loved one’s needs. In this age of modern technology, cancer patients, through early detection, do have the chance to survive or, at the very least, extend their lives. The decision is theirs to make.

The story of Yang Suhui

Yang Suhui, 56 years old, is a native of Taizhou, Zhejiang province. On June 25, 1991, her 4-year-old son Xu Jianfeng went lost near Southern Mansion, Guangzhou. She has embarked on the road of looking for her son for over 20 years. Even though she has been disappointed many times and gone through divorce, unemployment, fraud, she never thought of giving up. She had thought that she could spend the rest of her life looking for her son, but she never expected that she is left with little time.

At the end of 2014, Yang Suwen was diagnosed with middle stage lung cancer. The illness did not let her give up; instead it only strengthened her determination to find her son. As long as there is a piece of clue, she would travel all the long way to different places across the country with medicine. She is determined to race against with death and find her son before she fells.

However, life is cruel. Long time running has aggravated her condition. Last week, Yang Suhui was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer with bone metastases. When her life is going to fall apart, her best hope is to hear her son call her “mom” again.

Yang Suhui’s story has attracted broad attention from the society after reported by media such as Guangzhou Daily. After read relevant coverage, Xu Kecheng, the Chief President of Fuda Cancer Hospital, decided to lend a helping hand to the mom who is racing against death. He noted that FUDA will appropriate 50,000RMB from Fuda Boai Fund to pay for her medical bill so she can receive treatment at the hospital without worries of financial burden.

Prof. Xu Kecheng, the Chief President of FUDA, is doing physical examination for Ms. Yang Suhui

In the morning of April 6, Yang Suhui was admitted into Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital. Prof. Xu paid a visit to her and encouraged her with his own example. He said, “I was diagnosed with liver cancer 10 years ago. After treatment, I am living a normal life. If I can make it, you can make it as well.”

When it comes to treatment, she expressed her heartfelt wishes-she doesn’t want to do chemotherapy. It turned out that she has been receiving conservative treatment ever since the onset of her disease for fear that chemotherapy would make her lose hair and change her appearance. “I’m afraid my son cannot recognize me when he sees me…”

To meet her wishes, Xu Kecheng noted that a team of specialists will be organized to make treatment plan based on her condition. A comprehensive treatment plan that includes cryo-ablation, vascular intervention and so on will be made to minimize her pain. For now, Yang Suhui is having advanced stage lung cancer. The tumor in right lung is pressing the trachea with blockage in bronchus. Fortunately, Fuda once admitted a patient who has similar condition as Yang Suhui. After treatment, the patient has survived for about 10 years.

Prof. Xu Kecheng said frankly that according to her current condition, the treatments to be applied are not likely to eliminate all the cancer cells but the treatments are able to control the spread of cancer cells and prolong her lifespan.

Yang Suhui held hands tightly with Prof. Xu Kecheng and expressed her appreciation to FUDA for the care and assistance she has received. Reporters from Guangzhou Daily, Southern Metropolis Daily, Nanfang TV, Today’s News of Guangdong TV, Guangzhou TV have covered the benevolent gesture of Fuda Cancer Hospital.

Xu Kecheng, the Chief President of Fuda Cancer Hospital, interviewed by several media of Guangzhou