Colorectal Cancer: Hatta's Survivor Story
This colorectal cancer diagnosis at a glance
- Sex
- Male
- Treatment
- local therapy, immunotherapy, radiation and traditional chinese medicine
- Outcome
- Cancer-Free / NED
Treatment course, step by step
- CT and biopsy showed rectal cancer with swollen lymph nodes
- Local surgery with an artificial anus was recommended but refused
- May 13, 2007 treatment began at Modern Cancer Hospital Guangzhou with interventional therapy
- After 3 sessions, tumor shrinkage or removal was reported and stool frequency decreased
- Biological immunotherapy and Chinese medicine were added
- After 6 interventional sessions, local radiotherapy was given
- March 2008 check showed no recurrence
- 8 years later he was living normally with annual checkups.
What happened, in summary
Hatta, from Indonesia, developed sudden bloody stool during the 2007 Spring Festival. CT imaging showed a large ulcerated area in the rectum and swollen lymph nodes, and biopsy diagnosed moderately differentiated rectal cancer. A local doctor recommended surgery that would remove the tumor and create an artificial anus, but Hatta refused because he wanted another option. By the time he sought care, he was having 7 to 8 bowel movements a day with ongoing bleeding. In May 2007, he was admitted to Modern Cancer Hospital Guangzhou. Because he did not want surgery, the team used interventional therapy, starting on May 13, 2007. After 3 treatment sessions, the tumor was reported as removed or markedly reduced and stool frequency gradually decreased. His doctors also used biological immunotherapy and Chinese medicine to support immunity. After 6 sessions of interventional therapy, local radiotherapy was added to strengthen disease control and stop bleeding. In March 2008, Hatta returned for follow-up and was told the tumor had not recurred. His CT report was later described as showing no cancer cells. Eight years later, he was living normally and returning yearly for follow-up checks, making this a cancer-free / NED survivorship record rather than Stage IV disease.
Where this story comes from
This is a lay summary of an account first published by Modern Cancer Hospital Guangzhou (Colorectal). Read the original in full
How we source and attribute stories Accuracy and limitations
These are lay summaries of published cancer stories, for information only. No two cancers behave the same way, and nothing here predicts your own diagnosis or replaces advice from your oncology team. Read the full disclaimer