Author: Hematological Malignancies Multidisciplinary Team, Dr. Jeff Lun-Wei Chou
Dr. Jeff Chou currently serves as the Deputy Director of Clinical Trials Management Center at KFSYSCC. He is a Senior Attending Physician in Hematology and Oncology, and the Convener of the Hematologic Oncology Multidisciplinary Team. His expertise lies in Hematologic Oncology, Medical Oncology, and General Internal Medicine. A graduate of Chang Gung University's Medical program, Dr. Chou has been serving this institution since 2000. In 2009, he furthered his training as a research physician at Duke University Medical Center in the United States. He is also a part of the hospital's multidisciplinary teams for lung and esophageal cancers, hematologic oncology, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
We Try Our Best at All Times
“Illness is the doctor to whom we pay most heed; to kindness, to knowledge, we make promise only; pain we obey.” - Marcel Proust
Over a decade ago, a middle-aged fruit wholesaler, Mr. H, who was then 46 years old and lived in Miaoli, was pushed into my clinic in a wheelchair. Lying on the examination table, he told me that a doctor from a medical center informed him that due to hepatitis B virus infection, he had two large liver tumors and was expected to live only three to six months. He was advised to make preparations and arrangements for his family. Feeling desperate, he and his wife came to seek another opinion on possible treatments. Their youngest child was still young and needed parental care, so he pleaded for help, saying that he'd be willing to try anything, even if the odds were slim.
After reviewing his medical records, we felt that the diagnosis of liver cancer was not impossible, but it also didn't look very typical. Therefore, we arranged a second biopsy for the patient. At the same time, we requested the medical center to lend us the patient's liver tumor biopsy for review. In principle, before starting treatment, our pathology department needed to confirm the diagnosis to tailor the treatment accordingly. As it turned out, he had lymphoma, not liver cancer. With this diagnosis, the treatment approach was entirely different, and there was a chance for Mr. H to survive.
Following the diagnosis, we promptly arranged targeted drug therapy combined with chemotherapy. Unexpectedly, the results after the first round of treatment were excellent. From the time Mr. H came into my clinic in pain and a wheelchair, to the confirmation of lymphoma, to the start of inpatient treatment, to happily walking out of the hospital, it was just a week. His mood shifted from despair to hope. Subsequently, we went through a six-month lymphoma treatment process, and the tumor in Mr. H's liver disappeared completely. After the treatment, we conducted follow-up checks every three months, which later extended to every six months, and then annually.
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After his rebirth, Mr. H still worked in fruit wholesale but stopped staying up late and made time to learn folk dance with his wife. He told me that if life were gone, everything would end. It doesn't matter how much money you make; a simple life is enough. Moreover, his eldest son was married and had a child, so he was already a grandfather. He was content and happy with his life. He pledged to take good care of his health and continue his work n fruit wholesale until he couldn't anymore.
Since its establishment in 1990 and relocation to Guandu in 1997, the Koo Foundation Sun Yat-Sen Cancer Center has been dedicated to cancer research and treatment for 30 years. Currently, it hosts 19 multidisciplinary treatment teams, with the Hematologic Oncology Multidisciplinary Team being one of them.
This team treats patients with blood malignancies such as acute and chronic leukemias, malignant lymphomas, multiple myelomas, and other benign or malignant hematological diseases.
Complex cases requiring hematopoietic stem cell transplantation are managed by a specialized team.
Hematologic lymphatic tumor diseases vary widely and often present with complex symptoms. Thus, a comprehensive medical team from various specialties collaboratively manages the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions.
Our team comprises hematologists, oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, nuclear medicine specialists, pharmacists, nurses, case managers, nutritionists, social workers, biostatisticians, and more.
Upon registering at our hospital, the patient is directed to the most suitable physician based on their symptoms. If the patient is suspected of having a hematologic lymphatic tumor, our specialized team steps in for further diagnosis and treatment. The primary physician conducts thorough evaluations, including physical examinations, blood tests, imaging, and biopsy pathology reviews. The findings are then discussed in team meetings to finalize the diagnosis and treatment strategy.
The multidisciplinary team's role is to combine the expertise of various specialists to ensure optimal patient care. We routinely hold weekly meetings to discuss individual cases, review the latest research publications, and assess the treatment outcomes of our patients. This enables us to update and refine the treatment guidelines for various diseases annually.
Cancer often serves as a pause in one's life journey. The hustle and bustle of modern life often make us forget the value of health, and it's only when our body starts showing signs of distress that we pause and evaluate our health.
Battling cancer is a long journey, an ongoing struggle filled with ups and downs, disappointments, and hope. It's also an opportunity for personal growth and transformation. Our Hematologic Oncology Multidisciplinary Treatment Team is dedicated to our patients’ recovery. We do our best, always.
