"Maybe I should just go back... I don't think I can make it."
When Mr. Khatuev first arrived at Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital, severe physical distress almost crushed his will to seek medical help. He struggled to breathe, could barely walk, and every cough felt as though fate had seized his throat. Overwhelmed by unfamiliarity in a foreign country and excruciating illness, he wanted to give up and return to Russia.
Yet, a heartfelt conversation with his attending physician, Dr. Li Chunli from the First Department of Medical Oncology, gave him the strength to stay.
In May 2026, Khatuev’s body began sounding alarms: chest tightness, shortness of breath, persistent coughing with phlegm, and difficulty swallowing. Initially thinking it was just a regular infection, examinations at a local hospital revealed abnormalities. Following repeated evaluations, he was diagnosed with a tumor in his right lung.
Local doctors advised chemotherapy, which Khatuev accepted, hoping it would cure him. Around that time, visiting relatives and friends learned about his condition and recommended the minimally invasive cancer treatments at Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital. They shared a firsthand experience: four years earlier, a friend with prostate cancer and bone metastasis had achieved remarkable recovery after treatment at Fuda and had long since returned to work. "His condition was even more severe than mine back then, yet he achieved such positive results. I wanted to give it a shot, too."
In mid-June 2026, Khatuev flew to Guangzhou and was admitted smoothly. At the time, his condition was extremely poor: he could not walk independently, was left gasping for air after a fit of coughing, and endured unbearable pain during severe episodes—once even collapsing to the ground from violent coughing. A near-death sensation filled him with despair. He asked his doctor whether there was truly no hope and if he should just return home.
"There are many ways to treat cancer. We have the capability and will do everything we can to prolong your life and improve your quality of life," Dr. Li Chunli assured him, restoring his confidence. Comprehensive examinations revealed that Khatuev not only had concurrent pneumonia and massive pleural effusion, but was also diagnosed with advanced right lung small cell carcinoma accompanied by multiple lymph node and pancreatic metastases. Tailoring a plan to his complex condition, Dr. Li and the multidisciplinary team designed a personalized approach:
First, administer anti-infection therapy and drain the pleural effusion via thoracentesis; once his condition stabilized, perform intra-arterial chemotherapy infusion combined with immunotherapy.
Intra-arterial chemotherapy delivers chemotherapeutic drugs via catheter directly into the arteries feeding the tumor. This increases local drug concentrations, precisely destroys cancer cells, reduces damage to healthy tissues, and significantly minimizes systemic side effects. Coupled with immunotherapy, it achieves both targeted local control and systemic immune modulation.
After 21 days—completing one treatment cycle—Khatuev witnessed the "miracle" he had hoped for: he could sit up, walk on his own, eat normally, and was freed from chest tightness and shortness of breath, feeling immensely relieved. With continued treatment, some of his lesions shrank and his illness was brought under control.
(Caption: Medical team of the First Department of Medical Oncology celebrating Khatuev's birthday)
"All the doctors and nurses here are wonderful." In Khatuev's eyes, the doctors possess superb medical skills, and the nurses are gentle as angels. When battling critical illness, a person's emotions can become fragile and volatile, much like a child’s; Khatuev had also felt restless, anxious, and upset at times. Yet each time, the medical staff patiently absorbed all his distress, remaining attentive and caring for him with wholehearted dedication.
During every ward round, doctors asked detailed questions about how he felt, carefully assessed changes in his condition, and patiently answered his concerns. Nurses offered gentle companionship, keeping close track of subtle shifts in his physical health and mood. It was this tireless patience and constant care that gradually dispelled his fears. Today, he hardly feels like a sick patient anymore, confident that he is never fighting this battle alone.
