Umar Latinulu: We can defeat cancer if we stay positive

“He is an optimistic person, very easy-going and very talkative.” “He would send presents to our staffs in the global offices from time to time to express his gratitude to Modern Cancer Hospital Guangzhou which has successfully saved his life.” Before we set out to interview Umar Latinulu, other colleagues who had interviewed him before gave us such comments. Umar Latinulu has been awarded as the “Annual Anticancer Warrior” of MCHG for two years. In front of the camera, he greeted all of us with a warm smile. It seemed that cancer has already been successfully kept away from him. When he talked about his disease, he seemed very relax.

“At the beginning of 2011, I found myself having bloody stool which was abnormally thin. The doctors in local hospital thought it was common anorectal disease so he gave me some treatment. After that my symptoms did relieved a little but recurrence still happens. Once by chance I saw an ad saying “Early detection and treatment will bring cancer patients good prognosis”, I decided to have an overall physical examination. When the result turned out, it frightened all my family members: Colon Cancer, Stage III. Colostomy was in urgent need, which means that I have to schlep an excrement bag for the rest of my life after the surgery.”

Umar Latinulu’s expression turned solemn when talked to this point. As a business man, he knew that this treatment would definitely cause much trouble to his career. Actually, he had some doubts about his diagnosis, so he went to Singapore and many other hospitals in Indonesia for a second diagnosis. When all results turned out to be the same and the only suggestion was to take a colostomy as soon as possible, Umar Latinulu was panicked. He lost 7kg at that time.

Fortunately, Umar Latinulu learnt about Modern Cancer Hospital Guangzhou from his friend. “We went to your global office in Djakarta and the doctor here told me that I can be cured without an operation. He showed me 16 advanced minimally invasive therapies as well as the photos of your patients in the hospital.” Umar Latinulu said excitedly, “Indonesia did not have such technologies. This conversation gave me great confidence. My family and friends also supported me to go to your hospital to receive the treatment.”

Therefore, on October 2, 2011, Umar Latinulu reached Modern Cancer Hospital. After admission, MDT group of MCHG gave him a complete examination and then treatment plan was made according to his individual condition: concurrent radiochemotherapy + interventional therapy + natural therapy. So far, Umar Latinulu has received 8 times of interventional therapy and one natural therapy. His physical condition has recovered just as the doctor said in Djakarta office, weight returning to normal level, no constipation, no bloody stools. “My doctor told me that my tumor has shrunk by 95%. CT examination showed that there was no visible lesion.” said Umar Latinulu excitedly.

“Thank god for giving me the chance. Thank Modern Cancer Hospital Guangzhou, who uses advance minimally invasive therapies to treat my cancer and gives me a normal life. After my discharge, I will enjoy my life and do my best to give back to the society.” This was the promise that Umar Latinulu made in front of the camera the first time when we interviewed him. After discharge, he didn’t eat his words. Whenever he came back the hospital, he would take sometime to visit other cancer patients and passing his positive energy to them. When strangers came to him to look for his anticancer advice, he would spare no effort to help them.

“It is very important for cancer patients to stay confident and keep a positive attitude during the treatment. The doctors and nurses in Modern Cancer Hospital Guangzhou have given me such confidence, so now both my life and work have basically returned to normal. Thanks for all things they did for me. For that gratitude, I would like to pass this energy to more cancer patient, and encourage them to fight cancer positively.”

TIPS:

Development of Colorectal Cancer

Stage I: Cancer has invaded submucosa and may have spread to the muscle layer of the colon wall, but it has not spread to nearby lymph nodes yet. (The survival rate is 90%.)

Stage II: Cancer has spread through the colon wall to nearby organs, but there is no metastasis to nearby lymph nodes. (The survival rate is 70%.)

Stage III: Cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes but not invade other normal tissues. (The survival rate is 50%.)

Stage IV: Cancer has spread to distant organs like the liver, lungs, myolemma, and ovary. (The survival rate is 0-40%.)

Advantages of Minimally Invasive Therapies

1.Avoid or reduce the potential danger of cancer recurrence and metastases.

2.Less damage to normal tissues, highly repeatable.

3.Less bleeding in the operation and faster recovery.

4.Small trauma (usually 2-3 mm), less damage to the patient.

5.No toxicity of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

6.Killing cancer cells in local lesions precisely while boosting patient’s immunity.

How to Prevent Colorectal Cancer?

Who Are at Risk?

1. People who is at the age of 40 or above, with digestive tract diseases such as hemafecia, mucus and abdominal pain;

2. Personal history of colorectal cancer

3. Family history of colorectal cancer (first-degree relative )

4. Previous pelvic radiation

5. Family history of polyps in the colon

6. People suffering from ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, schistosomiasis and so on.

*Surgery, in addition to the appropriate chemotherapy and radiotherapy, are effective in treating early cancer, but certain patients in late stage of cancer may not be tolerate surgery well as they can be relatively weak. A combination of carefully planned minimally invasive therapy, chemotherapy or radiotherapy can effectively reduce the side effects and discomfort of treatment and may help patient get better efficacy.