My name is WONG CHUN WAI, I’m 51 years old from Selangor, Malaysia.

At the beginning of May 2023, I was diagnosed with lung cancer. A few months later, I was told that I only had one year to live......

The torture of chemoradiotherapy made me lose 10kg
But I got the bad news that only had 1 year left to live

I first noticed something was wrong with my body while climbing the stairs at home. I live above our shop, on the third floor. For some time, I realized that every time I reached the second floor, I had to stop and catch my breath. When I got to my door, I still needed to rest and breathe heavily before I could unlock and enter. My wife was also puzzled by this and took me to the hospital for a check-up. The entire process of examinations took about one to two months. It wasn’t until August, after a CT scan, that I was diagnosed with stage III lung cancer, with a tumor measuring 5.8*8*9.2cm. By then, my symptoms of shortness of breath and coughing had become significantly worse.

Later, I did six cycles of chemotherapy in the local area, and after the chemotherapy, my tumor successfully shrank to 2.3*2.8*2.0cm, but the symptoms, such as cough, still didn’t change much, which made me still have bad sleep. At the doctor's suggestion, I did more than 20 more chest and brain radiotherapy, and it will not end until the Spring Festival in 2024.

However, it didn’t last long. About three months later, I underwent a re-examination and discovered that my tumor had grown larger than before. The local doctor informed me that there were no other treatment options available at that time; I could only continue with chemotherapy. He said that if my condition improved, I might have a year to live, but if it worsened, I could have as little as six months. His words hit me like a thunderbolt, leaving me unable to calm down for a long time.

The thought of approaching the end of my life plunged me into endless darkness and fear. My family was heartbroken when they learned the news. Faced with the only available treatment option, I hesitated. During the time I underwent chemotherapy and radiation therapy, my body and mind endured immense torment. The side effects left me unable to eat or sleep, and I lost 10 kilograms. I didn’t want to endure such pain any longer. I wondered, was there really no other way to save me?

Less trauma + less side effects + significant efficacy

Minimally invasive treatment helps me fight lung cancer without worry

Ever since then, my family has been brainstorming to help me find a solution through various channels. I later learned from my downstairs neighbor that one of his relatives had cancer cells in his lungs and decided to go to St. Stamford Modern Cancer Hospital Guangzhou after treatment at a specialized hospital in Malaysia failed. After several rounds of treatment, the doctor reported that his tumors were largely inactive. When I heard this news, I was so excited that I immediately visited him with my family.

As soon as I saw he was aglow with health, I immediately made up my mind to go to St. Stamford Modern Cancer Hospital Guangzhou for treatment, and my family respected my decision. After that, my sister and I went to the hospital's international service center in Malaysia. After detailed consultation and understanding, on June 19, 2024, I officially came to this hospital.

After my admission to the hospital, I underwent a comprehensive physical examination. The diagnosis revealed that I have small cell lung cancer in my right lung, with multiple metastases affecting the right pleura and lymph nodes, classified as stage IIIc. Following discussions among the MDT at the hospital, my doctor developed an integrated minimally invasive treatment plan for me, which includes seed implantation, interventional therapy, and naturopathy.

(Group photo of Mr. WONG and Director Hu Ying (middle))

My attending doctor, Director Hu Ying, explained my treatment plan in detail. She emphasized that minimally invasive techniques, such as seed implantation, are less damaging to patients compared to traditional chemoradiotherapy. The 125I seed implantation involves placing seeds directly into the tumor, allowing for targeted destruction of cancer cells through localized γ radiation. This method is highly safe, effective, and has few side effects, making it particularly suitable for cancer patients like me who have experienced a relapse after traditional treatments and cannot tolerate surgery due to age.

After the first treatment, my cough and other symptoms got better. After the 2nd  treatment, I was no longer out of breath when I walked and climbed the stairs, and I was gradually able to sleep peacefully until dawn. When I returned to the hospital for the 3rd time for a follow-up, my symptoms, such as asthma and cough, were all gone, and Director Hu also told me that from the CT scan, my right lung tumor and pleural metastases had been greatly reduced!

(When first admitted to the hospital in 2024  VS the third return to the hospital for review: the tumor lesion has shrunk significantly)

This news made me excited! My family members were all delighted when they heard about it, and they all said that they would have come here for treatment earlier. In addition, what made me even more satisfied was that during the treatment here, I didn’t have to avoid certain foods like I did when I was receiving treatment locally. I ate well, slept well, and could go out for a walk. During my recovery at home, I even rode a motorcycle to the street to buy things. I didn’t look like a patient at all.

Another thing that impressed me deeply was that I took a picture of the wound after treatment and showed it to my family. They were all shocked and thought it was incredible: “Wow! The wound is so small!” As someone who has experienced this technology, I admire it and have been exclaiming to people around me for a long time that it is really difficult to find treatment technology that can produce such small injuries in Malaysia.

Strengthening my resolve, grateful for their support

When I first decided to come here for treatment, some people around me didn’t support me, worried that I would be deceived, but I still came here completely trusting. I think if I was hesitant at the beginning, I shouldn’t take this step. Fortunately, my choice was right.

Director Hu Ying is my attending physician. She is very attentive and patient with me. Since it was my first time to come into contact with such a magical, minimally invasive technology, I was like a child who was full of curiosity about the outside world and kept asking questions. However, every time I asked a question, Director Hu patiently answered and explained it to me, trying to make me understand and feel at ease to the greatest extent, which also made me trust her firmly. The nurses in the hospital are also the same, in addition to their daily caring and concern, they occasionally chatted with me and joked with me, which made me feel a lot of warmth. Even in a foreign country, I was not that lonely.

(Mr. WONG took a photo with medical staff before being discharged from the hospital)

In addition to medical care, the hospital organizes many engaging activities to help patients relieve their worries. Once, when my niece accompanied me for a follow-up examination, the hospital held a medical tourism event on Beijing Road, one of the famous attractions in Guangzhou, China. Unfortunately, I needed an injection and some rest at that time, so I couldn't go out. However, my niece attended the event, took many photos, and learned a lot about the local architecture and culture. When she returned, she vividly shared her experiences with me, which turned out to be quite an interesting event.

(Medical tourism activities of International Health Club)

Finally, I want to tell everyone: Friends who have cancer, you should be more open-minded, don't have negative thoughts all day, and don't worry about how much time you have left; you should be happy every day and do what makes you happy and what you want to do. In short, I hope we can get better, and we should cheer up!