Malaysian Fruit Seller Beats Nasopharyngeal Cancer Odds
An Unexpected Discovery
“Optimistic attitude towards cancer — I can do it. You can do it!”
NG MAN HONG built his life around a small fruit stall in Malaysia, working hard every day without any obvious sign that something was wrong. Aside from two lumps on his neck, each roughly 2 centimeters, he felt completely fine. Concerned enough to get checked, he visited a hospital for a routine examination — and was stunned when doctors diagnosed him with stage 2 nasopharyngeal cancer. The news hit him hard, arriving with no warning at all. Still, rather than giving in to fear, he chose to face the situation with a hopeful mindset.
Weighing His Options
Once the diagnosis was confirmed, his medical team suggested chemotherapy as the standard path forward. Given how abruptly everything had unfolded, NG MAN HONG wanted to explore whether other treatment routes might serve him better before committing to chemo. His thoughts turned to a relative of his — an 80-year-old cancer survivor who had regained her health after being treated at Modern Cancer Hospital Guangzhou (MCHG). Curious to understand what made her recovery possible, he paid her a visit. What he saw impressed him: despite her age and medical background, she remained active enough to get around on a bicycle. That encounter gave him the confidence he needed to consider the same hospital for his own treatment.
He soon made his way to the Kuala Lumpur representative office of MCHG to gather more information. There, he sat down for an in-person consultation with Dr. Xu. Convinced this was the right direction, he wasted no time applying for a visa and set off on his journey abroad to fight the disease.
Arriving at MCHG and Starting Treatment
NG MAN HONG landed at Modern Cancer Hospital Guangzhou on May 13, 2016, with his wife by his side for support. Following a round of diagnostic tests, the hospital’s multidisciplinary team (MDT) reviewed his results and recommended interventional therapy as his course of treatment.
This approach is a minimally invasive procedure guided by DSA imaging technology, requiring nothing more than a tiny 2mm puncture point rather than open surgery. Its key advantage lies in how it delivers anti-cancer medication: the drug is concentrated directly at the tumor site, which boosts its effectiveness against cancer cells while lowering the overall dosage needed and reducing side effects elsewhere in the body.
A Fast, Encouraging Result
The outcome exceeded expectations. After just a single round of interventional therapy, 80% of NG MAN HONG’s tumor had disappeared. He experienced none of the harsher side effects often linked to cancer treatment, such as vomiting or hair loss — the only issue was a temporary dip in appetite, which returned to normal within a few days. His condition has remained stable since, and he has already resumed running his fruit business back home in Malaysia.
Reflecting on the Experience
Looking back on his treatment, NG MAN HONG pointed out a key difference between healthcare in Malaysia and what he experienced at MCHG. Back home, a single doctor typically manages a patient’s case from start to finish. At MCHG, however, care is handled by a multidisciplinary team that collaborates on both diagnosis and treatment planning — an approach that gave him greater peace of mind. He noted that the coordinated efforts of MCHG’s specialists were focused on designing the most suitable, comprehensive treatment plan possible, all aimed at achieving the best outcome for each patient.
