From the US to China: An Advanced Lung Cancer Patient's Journey with Immunotherapy
- Elva Chen
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
When Daniel, in his seventies, heard the doctor at MD Anderson Cancer Center in the US say, "There’s nothing more we can try here," despair washed over him. Diagnosed with both Parkinson’s disease and advanced non-small cell lung cancer, he had undergone multiple standard treatment regimens at this top US cancer center, yet failed third-line and fourth-line therapies alike, with his condition continuing to progress.
Fate often finds a way to shine a faint light in the darkest of times.
You could try China—there’s a new drug there
In November last year, Daniel’s doctor at MD Anderson gave him a glimmer of hope: a novel immunotherapeutic drug might be his last chance. Named Evotazumab, it is the world’s first approved bispecific antibody that simultaneously blocks the PD-1 immune checkpoint and inhibits VEGF-mediated angiogenesis. However, this drug was only approved for marketing in China at the time.
Daniel’s children, all medical professionals, understood his predicament better than anyone else. In their search for a treatment plan, they reached out to numerous institutions, until they found Jiahui International Cancer Center.
The center’s rapid response, professional coordination and meticulous arrangements stood out among many medical institutions during their initial communication, reigniting the family’s confidence in active treatment.
A careful choice by the doctor children
As medical professionals, Daniel’s children were extremely cautious in selecting a treatment plan. A key reason for their final choice of Jiahui was the comprehensive strength of its multidisciplinary team.
Their first consultation exceeded all expectations. Instead of a single oncologist, they were met with a tailor-made multidisciplinary team swiftly assembled by Jiahui International Cancer Center, consisting of an oncologist, a clinical pharmacist and a case manager. To their great relief, Dr. Xuan Linli, Director of the Medical Oncology Department at Jiahui International Cancer Center, had practiced medicine in the US for many years, enabling seamless communication between both parties on medical standards and treatment arrangements.
"From the first meeting, I found Dr. Xuan incredibly trustworthy, and her smile put me completely at ease," Daniel’s daughter said. At that moment, the anxiety of seeking medical care across the ocean melted away with a sincere smile.
From the ICU to a general ward: A multidisciplinary relay of care
Daniel’s treatment was not without hurdles after admission. During the treatment, he developed immune-related adverse reactions, his condition turned critical, and he required transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU).
It was at this moment that the advantages of Jiahui International Hospital as a comprehensive tertiary hospital came to the fore. Physicians from the oncology, neurology and critical care departments quickly gathered for a multidisciplinary consultation. What was even more remarkable was that the hospital invited Professor Zhou Caicun, a renowned lung cancer expert and the principal investigator (PI) of Evotazumab, to provide guidance, offering crucial support for the treatment plan.
"Communication with everyone was smooth, like an entire team fighting side by side," Daniel’s daughter said, which filled her with confidence in her father’s treatment.
During the treatment, Dr. Chen Yan, Director of the Neurology Department at Jiahui, also addressed several Parkinson’s disease-related issues for Daniel: adjusting his medications, preventing fall risks and formulating a rehabilitation plan. These problems, which had never been properly managed during his treatment in the US, received meticulous attention at Jiahui. The multidisciplinary medical team closely monitored changes in his condition, provided rapid test results and ensured seamless coordination across all aspects of his care.
After emergency treatment and meticulous care, Daniel’s condition gradually stabilized, and he was transferred from the ICU back to a general ward for continued treatment.
Daniel’s daughter expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the entire team, including doctors, nurses, dietitians, cleaning staff, the international team, the front desk and all nursing aides. "My father particularly wants to extend his sincerest thanks to Aunt Cui. She has taken meticulous care of him every day since his admission. Beyond thorough bedside nursing, she has also given him encouragement, comfort and hope."
Beyond cutting-edge drugs, there is warm care
"You turned a distant dream into reality, and made everything so simple," Daniel’s daughter said emotionally. In just over a week after the initial video consultation, the family completed visa and travel arrangements, and hospitalization and treatment were promptly initiated.
Given the long duration of the entire treatment process, Daniel’s children were unable to accompany him the whole time. The Jiahui team also regularly updated them on their father’s treatment progress across the ocean, arranged video consultations, and invited relevant specialists to participate in case discussions as needed. For family members unable to be by the patient’s side, being able to keep real-time track of his condition and participate in treatment decisions throughout the process was an immense comfort.
Considering his long disease course, the treatment goal was to control the condition rather than achieve a cure. Yet for him and his family, every stable test result was a hard-won gift. At present, Daniel’s condition is stable, and he is receiving continuous treatment and follow-up care.
The road is long and arduous, but you are not alone
Daniel’s story is not an isolated case.
In recent years, China’s independently developed anti-cancer drugs have successively released clinical data and obtained marketing approval, offering new options for patients worldwide who have exhausted all standard treatment regimens. With its growing innovation strength, China is gradually emerging as an important destination for patients with advanced cancer seeking cutting-edge treatment.
Jiahui International Cancer Center has received inquiries about cancer treatment from Europe, North America, Singapore, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. In the past year alone, the center has evaluated and treated dozens of overseas patients, and processed more than 100 cross-border consultations from countries including the US, Canada, France, Switzerland, Greece, Belgium, Qatar and Russia.
As Shanghai’s first large-scale comprehensive international hospital, Jiahui International Hospital has set up more than 35 clinical departments. Its affiliated Jiahui International Cancer Center is led by senior international oncology experts and provides all-round cancer diagnosis and treatment services aligned with international standards. Since its establishment, the center has established a strategic partnership with Massachusetts General Hospital, affiliated with Harvard University in the US.
Yet what touches people more than its hardware and international standards is the warmth found in the little details: Dr. Xuan Linli’s smile at their first meeting, Dr. Chen Yan’s patience in adjusting Daniel’s Parkinson’s medications, the focus of the multidisciplinary team as they sit together to discuss the case, and the greeting from every medical staff member as they walk into the ward.
From Houston to Shanghai, it is a journey of more than 10,000 kilometers, but the destination is the same sense of certainty: the road is long and arduous, but you are not alone. This is perhaps what medicine should be all about—professional, and with heart.
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