Tong Cong tinh shares his anticancer story

Spirited, vigorous and gray- haired, this was my first impression of Tong Cong Tinh, resulting in mistaking him as a family member of patient. Now his physical condition is like normal people after treatments, and only needs timely review per six months or twelve months.

When mentioned the situation when he began getting sick, Tong Cong Tinh told us with tremor, “ In 2009, I started to feel a little block in esophagus when eating foods, but I didn’t pay attention to it since there is no other sign. And then the blocked feeling was getting worse, so I went to local hospital for check up. When doctor told me I got esophageal cancer, I was so scared and anxious-- I totally didn’t know what to do.” Under family’s consolation and encouragement, Tong Cong Tinh calmed down and made up his mind to fight against cancer to the end. Suffering from cancer is unfortunate, but the lucky thing is that his cancer was located at the lower esophagus where it can be removed by operation. Tong Cong Tinh made a difficult decision to have lower esophagus removal and total gastrectomy after discussed to his doctors.

“There were very painful days after surgery. I lost 17kg weight suddenly and life was completely disrupted. I had to discard my preferences and strictly obeyed doctor’s order in my diet”, Tong Cong Tinh described his postoperative living circumstance to us. In order to better control cancer, Vietnamese doctors suggested chemotherapy, but he refused due to the worry his weak condition couldn’t endure the side effect of chemotherapy.

A friend who underwent treatment in Modern Cancer Hospital Guangzhou recommended him to China. After a series of research: consulting in Hanoi office, reading newspapers, searching in internet and so on, Tong Cong Tinh got to know the advantages of minimally invasive treatments in Modern Cancer Hospital Guangzhou: small trauma, quick effect and little side effect. He decided to go China after comparison. In Modern Cancer Hospital Guangzhou, he recovered well and regained weight after underwent interventional therapy, natural therapy, etc. There was no recurrence or metastasis according to several rounds of review after returned to Vietnam.

“It was a period of unforgettable days in Modern Cancer Hospital Guangzhou. The doctors and nurses were so kind to me and their services were very attentive. Moreover, what moved me most was that my family always encouraged and supported me. They helped me a lot materially and spiritually. My mom who was already 90 years old came to Guangzhou to visit me from Vietnam regardless of trouble and the long distance. It was my family that gave me confidence to fight against cancer in these five years. Many thanks!” Tong Cong Tinh said gratefully, “Every patient felt scared and hopeless at the moment when was diagnose with cancer, but don’t lose faith and pluck up courage to beat it. Thus life will go back to normal track.” This is the advice Tong Cong Tinh gave to other patients.

At present, Tong Cong Tinh regains normal life. He can even play badminton like normal people, continue doing what he likes, and enjoy life. Cancer is still the unresolved medical problem in the world, but there is also miracle if you can find correct treatment, keep steady confidence and cooperate actively and bravely in treatment, like Tong Cong Minh did.

*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.