Pancreatic Cancer, King of All Cancers

Jian Guohua made his way into VIP Ward 102 with practiced ease.

This was Academician Qi Zhengyang's ward. Academician Qi was an internationally renowned physicist. He had studied in Eagle Country in his early years, achieved tremendous success in theoretical physics, and won the Nobel Prize in Physics. Twenty years ago, he returned home laden with honors and settled in his hometown of Sea City.

Several years ago, an early sign of pancreatic cancer had been discovered during a medical examination. Normally, early-stage cancer could be cured through surgery, but Academician Qi was already eighty and not in particularly good health. At his family's insistence, he had been receiving conservative treatment combining radiation therapy and medication.

At first, the results had been fairly good. The disease was brought under control, and his health gradually improved.

But half a year ago, the tumor had suddenly been found to have grown larger, with signs that the cancer cells were metastasizing. He was immediately moved into a VIP ward at Ruiji Hospital, where Jian Guohua, director of the Oncology Department, took charge of his treatment.

By then, the patient's condition had deteriorated considerably, and the risks of surgery had risen sharply.

His family was even less willing to operate lightly.

As everyone knew, pancreatic cancer was a common malignant tumor, known as the king of cancers. Its malignancy was exceptionally high, and it was extremely difficult to treat. Without surgery, the average survival time for pancreatic cancer was around three to six months. Even with surgery, the five-year survival rate was not high.

For early-stage pancreatic cancer, curative surgery primarily meant a pancreaticoduodenectomy. It was also one of the largest operations in General Surgery, causing major trauma and making postoperative recovery very difficult. Many pancreatic cancers were already in the middle or late stages when discovered, leaving no opportunity for surgery. Treatment outcomes were generally poor, deterioration was rapid, and survival times were short.

Therefore, ever since taking over Academician Qi's case, Jian Guohua had been working hard to find a miracle drug specifically for pancreatic cancer. Unfortunately, no medication had yet been found clinically to have exceptional efficacy against malignant pancreatic tumors.

Now, he had finally found something, and he hurried over to deliver the good news.

Jian Guohua entered with brisk steps and greeted him with a smile. "Hello, Academician Qi. How are you feeling today? Any better?"

The ward was neat and clean. A white hospital bed stood in the center, while sofas, cabinets, and other furniture surrounded it, making it look more like a hotel room than an ordinary hospital ward.

A white-haired elderly man lay half-reclined on the bed, looking listless. His complexion was sallow, and his frame was gaunt, making the wrinkles on his face seem even deeper. He looked utterly drained.

His eyes were half-open as he seemed to stare blankly at the news playing on the television.

A middle-aged man and woman in their fifties sat on the sofa beside him. They were clearly family members looking after him, their faces clouded with worry as they spoke in low voices.

Seeing Jian Guohua enter, Qi Yetting and his wife both forced out strained smiles, rose to their feet, and greeted him.

"Hello, Director Jian. You're doing rounds again today? Sigh, my father's been feeling worse and worse lately. Even the medicine doesn't seem to be helping."

"Any changes compared with yesterday?"

Mrs. Qi thought carefully, then shook her head. "The old man had abdominal pain last night. It kept hurting until the latter half of the night before he finally fell asleep. His urine and stool were both very yellow, and when he got up this morning, he was still nauseated and vomiting. He can't eat anything. From this morning until now, he hasn't even finished half a bowl of porridge."

Qi Yetting asked anxiously, "Why isn't the medicine working at all? Director Jian, is there anything we can do?"

Jian Guohua picked up the medical chart and examination reports, studying them carefully for quite some time before stepping forward to examine the patient himself.

After pondering for a moment, he said gravely, "Let's talk outside."

The two exchanged glances, nodded, and walked together into the corridor, where they spoke in low voices.

"Judging from the patient's current condition, the disease is progressing rather quickly. The CT scan shows that the tumor has grown significantly and may be spreading."

"Previously, considering the patient's advanced age, the severe trauma surgery would cause, and the uncertain prognosis, we had been using chemotherapy combined with supportive medication. But it now appears that the results have not been obvious. Without further treatment, his condition may worsen."

The Qis froze, then asked anxiously, "Then how should we proceed with treatment?"

Jian Guohua said seriously, "The main option is surgical removal. But Academician Qi has pancreatic cancer. This organ is in a relatively deep location, with many blood vessels and nerves around it, as well as important organs such as the liver and kidneys nearby. The operation is quite difficult."

"And to be honest, Academician Qi is already eighty and not in good physical condition. Truly, even if I performed this operation myself, I would not have much confidence. But if we don't operate, the tumor will only keep growing. If it begins metastasizing later on, then it will be truly difficult to handle."

The two looked at each other, their faces full of worry. "Does he really have to have surgery? At his age, what if... what if he doesn't make it off the operating table?"

Jian Guohua sighed. "That is precisely what worries me. No one can guarantee that. And it isn't simply a question of whether the doctor is skilled enough. Even if Academician Qi safely makes it through the operation, we still cannot guarantee the prognosis."

Qi Yetting stamped his feet in anxiety. "Director Jian, you're the director of Ruiji Hospital's Oncology Department. Even you aren't confident?"

Mrs. Qi said with a face full of anxiety, "Exactly. If something goes wrong during surgery, none of us can bear that responsibility."

Jian Guohua fell silent for a moment. "Academician Qi's status is important. As doctors, we can only offer possible treatment options. Ultimately, whether to proceed with surgery must be decided by the family."

Mrs. Qi grabbed his hand and pleaded, "Director Jian, isn't there any imported medicine that would work for his condition? I heard there's an anti-cancer drug now that costs one million per injection, and one shot cures you. Can it treat the old man's illness?"

Jian Guohua shook his head. "You mean New Beauty's Anti-Cancer Injection, right? Our Oncology Department did indeed cure one case with it some time ago, but that patient had lymphoma, not pancreatic cancer, so it isn't suitable. At present, there is no miracle drug for pancreatic cancer either domestically or abroad."

Mrs. Qi could no longer contain her grief. Covering her face, she began to sob.

Qi Yetting looked equally desperate. "Director Jian, then what do we do? Are we just supposed to watch the old man die?"

Jian Guohua hesitated. "It's not that there's absolutely no way, but given Academician Qi's status, I'm afraid if I say it..."

The two immediately asked anxiously, "What way? Hurry and tell us!"

With the expression of someone throwing caution to the wind, Jian Guohua said, "There's a domestic pharmaceutical company in Kun City that developed a Broad-Spectrum Anti-Cancer Drug. It has shown very good results against all types of cancer, and many late-stage cancer patients have been completely cured after taking it. So I believe it should be effective for Academician Qi's condition as well."

Qi Yetting urged him, "Then what are you waiting for? Why haven't you prescribed it for my father?"

Jian Guohua hesitated. "It's just that this drug is still in Phase Three clinical trials and hasn't officially launched yet, so I must first seek your consent."

Disappointment immediately appeared on Qi Yetting's face. He waved his hands repeatedly. "It hasn't launched yet? Then forget it. Who knows whether a new drug like that actually works? And what if it has side effects? What if something happens after he takes it?"

Mrs. Qi's expression also turned cold. "You said it was from a domestic pharmaceutical company? Then no. Who knows where it came from? It's not that I discriminate against domestic drugs, but my father's status is too important. Imported cancer drugs are more reliable."

Jian Guohua sighed inwardly but still tried to make one last effort. "The drug's effectiveness should not be a problem. It has already reached a licensing partnership with Pfizer and will soon launch both domestically and overseas."

Mrs. Qi immediately shot back, "Oh? Has it launched in Eagle Country, then? Has it passed the FDA?"

Jian Guohua was left speechless. He shook his head. "Not yet. It may still take a few months."

Mrs. Qi sneered. "Director Jian, we know you're trying every possible way to treat the old man, but you can't just grab at any straw in desperation. Recommending some random new domestic drug to us... You can't use a dignified academician as a guinea pig for experimental medicine, can you?"

Qi Yetting nodded repeatedly. "Exactly, Director Jian. We're definitely going to take legitimate medicine. Money is not an issue, but we can't listen to whatever nonsense those outside scammers tell us."

Jian Guohua had nothing more to say. He nodded. "I was being presumptuous. I'm truly sorry. Then it seems surgery is the only option. I already explained the specific plan to you before, but you insisted on conservative treatment. Now that things have reached this point, I don't have any better solution either."

"How about this? You family members should think it over carefully first. Let me know once you've made a decision, and we'll make preparations in advance on our end as well. What do you think?"

The two exchanged a glance. Qi Yetting said in a low voice, "Director Jian, the thing is, the old man was awarded the Medal of the Republic some time ago. In two weeks, he has to attend the presentation ceremony. This is the greatest honor of his life. We can't let anything happen to him before he attends that ceremony. You understand, right?"

Jian Guohua's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately understood why they had found it so difficult to decide on surgery.

He slowly nodded. "I understand. Thank you for being honest with me."

Qi Yetting hesitated before speaking. "Actually, my father understands that his condition will be difficult to improve. But he doesn't want to miss the presentation ceremony. Could you prescribe some painkillers or something else to help him hold on for these two weeks? He can have the surgery after he comes back. That way, even if he doesn't make it off the operating table, at least his wish will have been fulfilled, and he can go in peace."

Jian Guohua agreed solemnly. "No problem. We will certainly meet Academician Qi's request."