She was in her 70s and didn't expect to develop lung cancer, and her weight plummeted by 7kg

Ms. Leong is 75 years old and is from Ipoh, Malaysia.

On January 23, 2024, an ordinary day, Ms. Leong, who was at home, suddenly felt her heart beating violently, accompanied by a burst of chest pain, so she immediately rushed to the local hospital for examination. After the examination, the doctor ruled out a heart problem for Ms. Leong. When investigating lung factors, the doctor found that Ms. Leong's left lung had two huge masses measuring 3.4*4.5*3.4cm and 4.4*2.5*3.6cm respectively. The CT scan showed a moderate amount of pleural effusion. Furthermore, the fluid was extracted and analyzed, revealing that Ms. Leong was suffering from lung cancer.

This bad news upset Ms. Leong, who was always optimistic, but she still chose to face it bravely. From 24 February to 1 March of the same year, Ms. Leong received a course of traditional chemotherapy at the local hospital. The chemotherapy did help Ms. Leong recover from her chest pains, but it also brought side effects such as a 7kg weight loss and hair loss. These adverse effects made Ms. Leong, who was already thin, look even thinner.

（Ms. Leong）

Integrating minimally invasive treatment allows a septuagenarian with lung cancer to breathe freely

Optimistic people tend to have good luck. The brother of Ms. Leong's colleague, who was also tortured by lung cancer, found hope after receiving integrated minimally invasive treatment from St. Stamford Modern Cancer Hospital Guangzhou. Before the treatment, he suffered from stage IV lung cancer, experiencing symptoms such as chest tightness, chest pain, constant cough and difficulty in breathing. At its worst, he even had trouble to sleep, which resulted in a 16-kilogram weight loss. After the minimally invasive treatment, most of these symptoms disappeared, and the tumor markers in his right lung significantly decreased. This remarkable improvement filled him with joy and gratitude, leading him to recommend our hospital to Ms. Leong.

“He received 4 courses of treatments at this hospital. When he returned, he shared with me details about the lung cancer treatment offered at this hospital, which I felt was superior to what was available locally. So, I decided to come here right away." After speaking with this cancer patient, Ms. Leong felt the same and was even more thankful for his sincere recommendation. It was as if she had found hope.

With full confidence and expectation, Ms. Leong came to our hospital accompanied by her husband on March 6, just a few days after finishing chemotherapy. After a thorough examination before treatment, it was found that Ms. Leong's lung cancer had multiple metastases in lymph nodes and pleura. After eliminating the clinical contraindications, our experts carefully discussed and devised an integrated minimally invasive treatment plan for Ms. Leong, which included "interventional therapy + naturopathy."

Interventional therapy delivers a high concentration of anti-tumor drugs, up to 2-92 times greater than systemic chemotherapy. It can precisely target the tumor without harming surrounding normal tissue, leading to fewer side effects and higher safety compared to traditional therapies. This makes it an ideal option for elderly cancer patients, such as Ms. Leong, who have had poor results from conventional treatment.

As of the most recent follow-up, Ms. Leong has undergone a total of 3 courses of treatment. The lateast CT scan revealed that the lesions on Ms. Leong's lungs have significantly reduced in size and the pleural effusion which previously occupied almost half of her lungs has nearly disappeared! Furthermore, the symptoms of coughing and breathlessness that were disrupting Ms. Leong's sleep have vanished, and she now wakes up feeling refreshed every day. For the first time since falling ill, Ms. Leong had a good night’s sleep.

(before treatment vs. after treatment)

"The first time I came, I was out of breath and I couldn't do any of the exercises that normal people do easily. After the treatment, my condition is better than ever, especially in all aspects of my body. I feel very good, much more relaxed than before, as if I was not sick," Ms. Leong said, eyes shining, as if even more determined to the original choice.

Having them with me on this journey, I am no longer afraid of cancer

Talking about her experience of hospitalization at St. Stamford Modern Cancer Hospital Guangzhou, Ms. Leong was overflowing with satisfaction. She said, "The medical staff at this hospital are very good, especially the nurses. They are very enthusiastic and always make me happy." As a family member accompanying her, Auntie Leung's husband also has a deep understanding of the situation. "This place is very different from the local hospitals in Malaysia. Here, they provide family members with bed facilities, self-service kitchens, and food. They also take care of pick-up and drop-off of flights and visa matters for us."

On the road to fighting cancer, apart from effective treatment, the strongest support is perhaps the company of family and friends. During Ms. Leong's treatment, her family and friends sent warm greetings and wishes every day, such as "I wish you a speedy recovery" and "Stay happy." "My son too asks me every day, 'Mum, how are you today?'" "My husband is even better, very considerate, taking care of me every day beside me, thank you!" Ms. Leong looked at her husband sitting beside her, with tears in her eyes, expressing her unspeakable gratitude to her family members. She was deeply moved and once choked up to the point of speechlessness.

(Ms. Leong and her husband)

The couple wants to convey a message to all cancer patients around the world: “Having cancer is no longer as terrifying as it was 20 or 30 years ago. With specialized hospitals and advanced medical technology, we can find the right solution even if we have cancer. Ultimately, those of us facing cancer should maintain a positive attitude and keep our spirits high. We must conquer the disease and not let it defeat us!”

Until the final moment, there is still an opportunity to reverse the situation! Best wishes to all individuals battling cancer!

*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.