“I found a local doctor for you. You can go to him for checkups and email me the report regularly. If you have any questions, please come at any time.”
He handed a note with the mailbox and name on it, and when we saw that it was a hematologist at Zhejiang First Hospital, we immediately felt relieved.
9. Radiotherapy
Back to DR.Gottschalk’s place.
What my husband is about to receive is Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy.
It uses CT and MRI to create three-dimensional images of the tumor and surrounding tissues. Based on these images, it controls the direction, shape and intensity of the radiation beam to ensure that high doses of radiation are delivered to the tumor while minimizing potential damage to healthy tissues.
UCSF Medical Center has been conducting intensity-modulated radiotherapy since 1997. It has two types of intensity-modulated radiotherapy: linear radiotherapy, which can have up to 25 fixed beams. Serial tomotherapy-This type of radiotherapy machine can rotate around the patient and perform radiotherapy from multiple angles. IMRT can treat brain tumors, breast cancer, gynecological tumors, head and neck tumors, lung cancer and prostate cancer. Which domestic hospitals have it, I’m not sure.
To prepare for radiotherapy, my husband was lying on the radiotherapy table, taking the positioning data from various places, and specially made a green hard plastic cover covering the head, neck and shoulders for him. Every time you go in the future, just cover this cover to ensure that it will not move and ensure the accuracy of the radiotherapy position.
My husband’s radiotherapy is 20 times, once a day, 5 days a week, and rest on weekends.
The first time I got radiotherapy, I came out in less than fifteen minutes after I went in. I was taken aback and thought there was an accident. The doctor said it was done. In fact, the actual exposure time is only 2 or 3 minutes each time, and it takes more time to lie down and put on a cover.
As a result, we spent more time traveling back and forth between Silicon Valley and San Francisco, like commuting to and from get off work every day, spending 2-3 hours in the hospital for only a few minutes of radiotherapy, getting acquainted with the various means of transportation in the Bay Area, and seeing all along the caltrain. Of various scenery.
In 20 days, a doctor will come to see you and ask you “How do you feel? Is there any discomfort?” Your husband’s answer is all “very good”.
In fact, except for the tenth time or so, he felt a little itchy in his throat and a piece of skin on his neck became a little dark, nothing felt. At one time I even suspected that if I really lie down for a few minutes every day, the cervical spine tumor will be cured?
10. Rehabilitation
After 20 radiotherapy sessions, the cost is about 50,000 US dollars.
Robert helped us to make an appointment for an MRI examination one month later. At that time, it was time to really check the effect of radiotherapy.
Time flies, at the end of August, we once again returned to UCSF, and once again returned to DR.Chou’s clinic. Well, everything starts with him and ends with him. In the United States, the attending doctor is responsible for the system. The first attending doctor takes full responsibility, and he determines the treatment effect.
DR.Chou turned out two MRI films, one was just made and the other was made in China 3 months ago. He pointed to the corresponding position and signaled us: “The tumor has shrunk significantly, indicating that the effect of radiotherapy is very good. This process It will continue until the tumor cells completely lose their activity and form a scab-like existence.”
“The tumor erodes the bones of the cervical spine, so there are cavities in the second, third, and fourth cervical vertebrae. Fortunately, human bones have a self-healing function and can recover in about two years. During this period, you need to take calcium tablets to reduce collisions. , Such as rugby, skiing, etc.”
“Which kind of calcium tablet is better?” “Calcium tablet is a very common nutrient. Just pay attention to the 800mg a day you supplement, and it must contain vitamin D. The brand doesn’t matter, you can buy it directly at the pharmacy. The quality is about the same.”
After taking care of these, DR.Chou took out DR.Martin’s doctor’s order again. I don’t know if it’s because the consultation fee is so expensive. Those who don’t need to see the appointments, reports, etc., can be handled at the same time by phone, email, and going to other doctors.
Uncle Martin’s doctor’s order made us stunned. Not only did he write a letter to Chinese doctors detailing the symptoms and treatment, but he also listed a table to inform us of the examinations to be done every three months, every six months, every two years, and every five years, concisely It’s clear.
At the end of the letter, he left his email address and phone number, saying: “Any questions, you can contact me at any time. I will continue to track the progress of the patient’s condition.” Such services and such care finally understand where a harmonious doctor-patient relationship comes from. Come.
More touching us is: For three months, Robert and we have been like family and friends. In a Chinese hospital, no matter how good a relationship is, you can’t be like Robert. When you go to a new department and see a new doctor, he will accompany him. For all examinations, he will make an appointment in advance to ensure that you do not have to wait when you arrive. He will help you collect all the expenses. You can see the doctor first and pay the fee.
When we were ready to return to China, Robert copied all the inspection reports, treatment records, doctor’s orders, and medication reports for us to keep on file. The most surprising thing is that all of Robert’s services are free. He is an employee of the International Department of UCSF Medical Center. This is an additional service provided by the hospital for international patients.
The entire medical cure in U.S. is 3 months, never stayed in a hospital for a day, never took a bottle of water, even only took a few pills, and hardly felt any pain. The cost is more than 70,000 U.S. dollars, which is about RMB 450,000.
11. Follow-up
Two full years have passed, we have returned to China, and we are back on the track of normal life. According to Uncle Martin’s instructions, he was regularly checked at Zhejiang First Hospital step by step. Everything is fine now, and her husband is completely normal.
The experience of seeing a doctor in the United States is a precious experience in my life and my husband’s life. In retrospect, I often feel in a daze. I was prepared to accept the test of life and death, and I was prepared to experience the long-term pain in the future. During my trip to the United States, I was resolved without any painful struggle. This was the result of my prayers every day, but I dared not ask for it.
Of course, I don’t know what is waiting for us when I stay in China and continue to watch. Until I saw the post of “Living-Six Months of Life and Death”, I seemed to see the other side of the coin. I have no way to judge whether Mr. Shenjiangan and my husband are the same disease, nor do I know the medical gap between China and the United States. I just want to tell everyone through my own experience that there is hope in desperate situations.
Of course, it is impossible to expect that every patient with intractable diseases can go to the United States for treatment. However, it is helpful for each of us to understand other people’s treatment methods, learn from other people’s cross-division diagnosis and treatment process, and understand the origin of other people’s harmonious doctor-patient relationship.
Before posting this post, I hesitated again and again. Fear of being considered too high-profile by others, fear of being considered by others that money is omnipotent. Going to the United States to see a doctor is just a little hope that we can grasp in despair. In fact, in the face of major diseases, money is not the most important, your judgment and choice are the most important. Each of us should start from ourselves and make the best choice within our ability.
For example, if you go to the United States, you may have spent a lot of money but still can’t get medical treatment. If you face such a result, I will accept it calmly, because I have done all my hard work. Maybe in the United States, medical expenses are too huge, and we may have to borrow money. I will not hesitate because people are much more important than money. This has nothing to do with right or wrong, it is just my choice, and I will be responsible for it.
I share my experience with you. If I can give people in need a little bit of enlightenment and a little bit of help, I will be extremely satisfied!
English 
Arabic 
German 
Spanish 
French 
Portuguese