Interventional Therapy Gave Me Six Cancer-Free Years — and a Healthy Baby

My name is Winda Fitrianah Muchlis, and I come from Jakarta, Indonesia. I am 45 years old today, and my cheeks are full of color and life. It’s hard to believe that I was once a woman fighting stage IV ovarian cancer.

Surgery Wasn’t the End — The Cancer Came Back

Back in June 2016, a sharp, unbearable pain took hold of my abdomen. A check-up at my local hospital revealed a growth of roughly 9 centimeters on my left ovary. My doctor urged immediate removal, and, terrified, I agreed to surgery right away. I truly believed that once the tumor was gone, the cancer chapter of my life would close for good.

That hope didn’t last. By December, only months after the operation, the same abdominal pain and discomfort returned. Further testing revealed a new growth, about 1.4 centimeters, in my pelvic lymph nodes. I remember thinking, in near despair, whether cancer was going to haunt me for the rest of my days.

What kept me going was the memory of my uncle, who had overcome lymphoma at St. Stamford Modern Cancer Hospital Guangzhou and was now living cancer-free. His recovery gave me courage, and I decided to follow the same path he had taken.

Arriving in Guangzhou, Weak but Hopeful

I arrived at the hospital in January 2017, roughly eight months after my ovarian surgery. By then my body was worn down by abdominal pain, diarrhea, and general weakness. The nursing staff and doctors welcomed me warmly and had me rest for a full day before starting any tests.

Once the examinations were complete, the diagnosis was confirmed: postoperative recurrence of left ovarian cancer at stage IV, with metastasis to both the mediastinal and subclavian lymph nodes. After the multidisciplinary team (MDT) reviewed my case, they designed a minimally invasive interventional treatment plan aimed at strengthening my immune system alongside fighting the disease.

A Treatment That Didn’t Hurt — and Worked

My very first round of minimally invasive interventional treatment surprised me — there was no pain at all during the procedure. That experience alone dissolved much of the fear I had carried about cancer treatment in general. Within a short time, my condition improved noticeably; the abdominal pain and diarrhea disappeared, and I started to feel like myself again. I found myself laughing with fellow Indonesian patients, chatting with the nursing staff, and even stepping out for meals and short walks. Seeing me so full of energy, the medical team celebrated right along with me.

After my third round of interventional treatment, follow-up scans delivered the news I had been praying for: the 1.4-centimeter tumor had vanished completely. I was overwhelmed with gratitude. Watching my body heal so quickly convinced me that traveling thousands of miles for treatment had been the right decision. I remain thankful for my own courage in pursuing this path, and especially grateful to the doctors and nurses who cared for me so attentively and helped me leave cancer behind.

An Unexpected Gift: Becoming a Mother Again

As someone who had already gone through ovarian cancer surgery and a difficult recurrence at stage IV, I never allowed myself to hope for another pregnancy. Yet after completing standardized, minimally invasive treatment at St. Stamford Modern Cancer Hospital Guangzhou, and after following my doctors’ guidance on diet, exercise, and an active lifestyle, that hope became reality — my child arrived.

The moment I held my healthy, adorable baby, I felt as though I had discovered the greatest treasure of my life, and I cried tears of pure joy. I believe it was through God’s guidance that I found this hospital and received treatment that not only restored my health but also preserved my ovarian function. Even the doctors treating me back in Indonesia were astonished — they had never encountered a stage IV ovarian cancer patient whose ovarian function remained so intact. The medical team monitored me closely from the earliest weeks of pregnancy through to a safe delivery, and they, too, praised the treatment technology at St. Stamford Modern Cancer Hospital Guangzhou for offering new hope and a new life to cancer patients.

Reuniting With My Doctor After Six Years

On November 15, 2023, I returned to the hospital as what the staff call an “anti-cancer star” — someone who has survived six years cancer-free. I walked in filled with gratitude and anticipation, and to my delight, I unexpectedly ran into Dr. Lin Jing, the very physician who had guided my treatment back in 2017. We greeted each other warmly, and I thanked her with a smile that came straight from the heart. We spent a long while reminiscing about my treatment journey and exchanging heartfelt wishes.

Dr. Lin first treated me in 2017, and it was through her dedication and hard work that I gradually transformed from a frail patient into a healthy woman. She witnessed every step of my recovery, from weakness to strength, until I was finally discharged in good health. Meeting her again six years later, full of energy and cheer, brought visible relief and joy to her face. She congratulated me warmly on my recovery and reminded me, as always, to keep up with regular check-ups so I could stay healthy for the long term.

Just before the event began, when Dr. Lin walked through the door, I felt exactly like a graduate unexpectedly reunited with a beloved mentor. Caught off guard, I told her, half-laughing and half-nervous, that I hadn’t known she would be there and wasn’t prepared with anything to say. Still, I made sure to express my deepest gratitude and admiration for her skill — she hadn’t only helped me survive, she had helped me become a mother again. Recalling how patiently she explained my condition to me, time and again, back in those difficult days, still moves me. I wish her nothing but good health, happiness, and a long life.

Choosing the Right Treatment Makes All the Difference

Having lived through a cancer recurrence myself, I always encourage other patients to be thoughtful and deliberate when choosing their treatment path, in order to avoid unnecessary physical suffering. What carried me through were the small things: caring nurses, patient doctors, organized medical trips, and a warm, family-like atmosphere among the staff. My advice to fellow patients is this:

• Look for high-quality treatment services delivered in a supportive, comfortable environment
• Protect your mental and emotional wellbeing — a positive mindset genuinely strengthens the body’s immune response
• Choose treatment approaches with fewer side effects and faster recovery where appropriate for your condition

At the “In Long Years of Fighting Cancer, Feeling Warm in Modern Cancer Hospital” event for returning anti-cancer stars, I once again voiced my gratitude. I still remember the fear and hopelessness cancer brought into my life — the thought that I might never have children, the helplessness after my resection surgery, and the panic that followed the recurrence. But then I found St. Stamford Modern Cancer Hospital Guangzhou, and a comparatively simple treatment turned my life around. I was restored to health and blessed with a beautiful son. I am thankful that I never gave up on myself, and even more thankful for everything this hospital has given me. None of this would have been possible without the right treatment at the right time.

My hope is that more cancer patients around the world gain access to high-quality treatment options. If you or someone you love is facing cancer, hold on to hope, and never give up.

About Interventional Therapy

Interventional therapy is performed under the guidance of medical imaging equipment. Using precision tools such as specialized tubes or catheters, doctors deliver anti-tumor medication directly into the tumor at concentrations 2 to 8 times higher than what intravenous drips can achieve. At the same time, the arteries feeding blood to the tumor are blocked (embolized), helping to shrink or eliminate it entirely.

Key advantages of this approach include:

• Minimal trauma to the body, fewer complications, and a strong safety profile
• Faster recovery compared to more invasive procedures
• A suitable option for patients who haven’t responded well to conventional radiotherapy or chemotherapy, or who are unable or unwilling to undergo surgery