Overcoming Fear of Chemotherapy Through Minimally Invasive Care

A Frightening Diagnosis

In 2013, SURIANI TJUA received the news no one wants to hear: she had cervical cancer, discovered while she was in Malaysia. She recalls being paralyzed by fear in that moment, convinced her life was coming to an end and unable to put her feelings into words. It took the steady support of her family and friends to pull her back from despair, as they reminded her that her diagnosis, Stage II cervical cancer, still left plenty of room for hope.

A Difficult First Round of Treatment

Encouraged by her loved ones, SURIANI TJUA began treatment at a hospital close to home. She underwent a course of twelve chemotherapy sessions, but the experience took a heavy physical toll, bringing on diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, appetite loss, and hair loss. Unable to bear the side effects any longer, she switched course and moved on to radiotherapy instead, completing twenty-eight sessions that succeeded in keeping her tumor in check for a while.

That progress didn’t last. Doctors soon found that her lymph nodes had swollen, raising concern that the cancer had spread further, possibly reaching the liver and lungs as well. Still haunted by her earlier experience with chemotherapy, SURIANI TJUA could not bring herself to continue with that approach, and she began searching instead for a different way forward.

Discovering an Alternative in Guangzhou

A chance discovery changed everything: a friend came across information about Modern Cancer Hospital Guangzhou online and suggested she visit the hospital’s representative office in Jakarta for a free consultation. There, she learned about the hospital’s minimally invasive treatment options, approaches designed to bring fewer side effects and a faster recovery than conventional chemotherapy. That knowledge gave her a renewed sense of hope, and she made up her mind quickly to pursue her cervical cancer treatment in China.

Arriving at Modern Cancer Hospital Guangzhou

SURIANI TJUA landed at Modern Cancer Hospital Guangzhou on April 29, 2015. Following a thorough medical evaluation, the hospital’s multidisciplinary team (MDT) put together a combined treatment plan built around interventional therapy, cryotherapy, and chemotherapy.

At first she pushed back against the idea of undergoing chemotherapy again, still carrying the memory of how much it had worn her down before. Her attending physician took time to walk her through the reasoning behind the plan, explaining that chemotherapy would only play a supporting role this time, while interventional therapy and cryotherapy would form the backbone of her care. Compared with standard chemotherapy or surgery, the doctor explained, these minimally invasive techniques cause less trauma to the body, come with fewer side effects, and tend to produce better results.

A Turning Point

Reassured by her doctor’s explanation and encouragement, SURIANI TJUA agreed to move forward with the plan. She later said that while the treatment wasn’t entirely free of side effects, what she experienced was mild compared to what chemotherapy had put her through before. She was pleasantly surprised to notice her tumor shrinking after just the first round of treatment.

Since then, her care has continued with a combination of:

• Interventional therapy
• Cryotherapy
• Chemotherapy (in a supporting role)

Her condition has improved steadily, and the metastatic cancer cells have been largely eliminated. Reflecting on how her experience at Modern Cancer Hospital Guangzhou compared with treatment back home in Indonesia, SURIANI TJUA pointed to the reassurance of being cared for by a full multidisciplinary team, and to having more choices available to her beyond conventional chemotherapy, including minimally invasive options that involved far less suffering.

A Message of Hope for Fellow Patients

Looking back at how far she has come since her diagnosis, SURIANI TJUA describes a profound shift, from the shock and hopelessness she felt at first to the optimism she carries now. During her interview, she expressed heartfelt thanks to her family, friends, and medical team for standing by her throughout the journey. She also had a message for other people facing cancer: don’t let fear isolate you. Stay hopeful, stay confident, keep communicating with the people around you, and hold on to a positive outlook.