Vietnamese Lung Cancer Patient Finds New Hope in Guangzhou

A Persistent Cough Signals Something Wrong

In early 2018, Thi Hue Nguyen, a woman from Vietnam, began noticing a nagging cough that refused to go away. By March, the cough had worsened considerably, and she found herself growing short of breath after even mild physical activity. Concerned, she visited a local hospital on April 2, 2018, where a chest X-ray revealed an abnormal growth and fluid buildup around her right lung. A follow-up CT scan performed a week later, on April 9, confirmed the presence of a malignant tumor measuring approximately 2.8 by 3.2 centimeters in her right lung. The diagnosis was lung cancer.

A Family’s Protective Decision

Wanting to shield her from unnecessary fear and to help her stay calm enough to pursue treatment, Thi Hue Nguyen’s husband and son chose not to reveal the full diagnosis to her at first. At the local hospital, doctors drained roughly 3,000 milliliters of fluid from her chest cavity and started her on medication. Within a month, however, her condition worsened again with no real improvement in sight.

Determined to find better options, her husband and son began exploring alternatives. A friend’s recommendation led them to St. Stamford Modern Cancer Hospital Guangzhou. After arranging a remote consultation through the hospital’s Ho Chi Minh branch office, the family made the decision to bring her to China for treatment. It wasn’t until they had already departed for China that they finally told her the truth about her illness.

Beginning Treatment in Guangzhou

Thi Hue Nguyen was admitted to the hospital on May 10, 2018. Following a thorough evaluation, her multidisciplinary care team first focused on relieving the fluid buildup around her lung before moving forward with a tailored, minimally invasive treatment plan.

• May 11, 2018 – Thoracentesis drainage removed approximately 3,000 milliliters of blood-tinged fluid from her chest
• May 17, 2018 – Radioactive particle implantation, with 30 iodine-125 seeds placed directly into the tumor based on its size and her overall condition

The implanted particles were designed to release low-dose radiation directly at the tumor site continuously for about two months. Alongside this, she returned periodically for sessions of gene-targeted drug therapy and interventional therapy to reinforce the treatment’s effect.

Encouraging Results

The combined treatment approach produced noticeable results fairly quickly. A chest X-ray taken on June 30, 2018 showed that the tumor in her right lung had shrunk considerably. According to her care team, she reported feeling better within roughly two weeks of starting treatment. By July 6, 2018, when she was discharged, her condition had stabilized: the tumor continued to shrink, the pleural effusion had cleared entirely, and she was eating well and in good spirits.

Before-and-After Comparison

Imaging taken before her minimally invasive treatment on May 15, 2018 was later compared with a follow-up scan from August 16, 2018, illustrating the extent of the tumor’s reduction over roughly three months.

Continued Progress at Follow-Up

By August 2018, Thi Hue Nguyen had returned to the hospital twice for check-ups. CT imaging during these visits showed that the tumor in her right lung had almost completely disappeared. Her overall health continued to improve to the point that, watching her, it was difficult to tell she had ever been a cancer patient.

Strength Through Family Support

Thi Hue Nguyen has described how frightened and devastated she felt upon learning of her diagnosis, but credits her family’s encouragement with helping her find the strength to fight. She has spoken about how her husband’s steady support gave her confidence, and how witnessing her own progress after starting advanced minimally invasive treatment in Guangzhou only strengthened her resolve. She has also expressed appreciation for the attentiveness of the medical staff and the thoughtfulness of the interpreters who supported her throughout the process.

Looking Toward the Future

Today, Thi Hue Nguyen is already a grandmother. Her son is married with children of his own, and her daughter’s wedding was approaching at the time this story was shared. Her journey stands as a reminder of what determination, family support, and access to advanced minimally invasive cancer care can accomplish.