Falling into endless darkness

My name is Jose Antonio Santos, from the Philippines. Last summer, my life suddenly fell into endless darkness. Multiple lumps suddenly appeared on my neck and armpits, and I suffered from night sweats and persistent high fever. In just two months, I lost 15 kilograms. In the Philippines, doctors diagnosed me with lymphoma, but the chemotherapy regimen made me live a life worse than death - vomiting, hair loss, numbness in hands and feet, and the tumor did not shrink. The attending doctor shook his head helplessly: "Maybe we have to consider palliative care." That was the darkest moment in my life, until late one night, I accidentally saw a report about the International Cancer Center of Guangzhou R&F Hospital on my mobile phone.

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“Medical care should not just be cold instruments and drugs, but the warm power of science and humanity.” - Jose Antonio Santos


Dawn across the ocean

With the last glimmer of hope, I contacted the International Medical Department of R&F Hospital. They arranged a Chinese translator to communicate with me via video on the same day, and remotely guided me to organize my medical records. When I arrived in Guangzhou, the special car was waiting at the airport, and the nurses even prepared a patient meal that suited the taste of the Philippines. After admission, the MDT team (hematology and oncology, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy experts) re-evaluated my condition through PET-CT and liquid biopsy. The doctor held up the report and said to me: "Your lymphoma is refractory, but we can use 'immune combined targeted' treatment, and the side effects will be much smaller."

 

Treatment: From suffering to hope

In the Philippines, chemotherapy made me vomit seven or eight times a day, but the treatment plan at R&F Hospital was completely different. The doctor explained: "Traditional chemotherapy is like 'indiscriminate bombing', while ours is 'precision bomb disposal'." Before the treatment, I felt stinging all over my body even when I drank water; but on the third day of treatment, I was able to walk to the window and enjoy the scenery! The nurse recorded my blood count every day, and the nutritionist customized a high-protein diet for me. The most surprising thing was that my hair stopped falling out.

 

Regaining a new life

After a checkup six months later, all my lymph nodes returned to normal. Now, I can accompany my wife to the market and teach my grandson to ride a bicycle. Looking back at the treatment in the Philippines, I tried all kinds of drugs like a "laboratory mouse"; at R&F Hospital, experts found the most suitable treatment for me through genetic testing, and used tablet animations to demonstrate the principle before each medication.

Cebu in 2024

(This article was narrated by Mr. Jose and authorized by the Guangzhou R&F Hospital Cancer Center)

 

Guangzhou R&F Hospital Cancer Center opens the era of "survival without chemotherapy" for cancer patients and wins a lasting victory for life. If you or your family are facing difficulties in cancer treatment, please contact Guangzhou R&F Hospital Cancer Center. We provide multilingual medical record consultation, contact us immediately to get an assessment of treatment qualifications.

Contact us:

email: rfcancercenter@gmail.com |

whatsapp: +86 18565157271

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