Oncology Physician Life

Chapter 1 Wedges
In the late autumn of 2021, at the decisive moment of the global continuous fight against the new crown epidemic, as far away as Houston, Texas, ushered in the world-renowned oncology conference forum.

Tumor researchers and doctors from 28 countries and regions gathered at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center for a three-day academic exchange.

In the past 12 years, MD Anderson Cancer Center has been reported by US News and World for more than 10 years, saying that it ranks first in the United States in the field of cancer treatment and scientific research, and treats more than 12 patients from all over the world every year, including the United Arab Emirates. The president of the emirate, and Apple founder Steve Jobs.

Every year, MD Anderson Cancer Center also provides learning opportunities for Chinese doctors to receive professional training in cancer research and treatment.

In the tumor research exhibition area of ​​MD Anderson Cancer Center, Li Zhongfu, the dean of the First Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Fudan University in Shanghai, stood in front of the diamond-white wall and watched the murals hanging above.

The old black and white portrait is engraved with the name of the character in ancient Greek: πποκρτη.

——Hippocrates, the legendary Greek doctor known as the father of Western medicine, he also named malignant tumor, an endogenous disease, cancer.

Interestingly, when Hippocrates discovered malignant tumors in 400 BC and named the disease with crab in Greek, which established the origin of Western medicine, China, which was in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, also had an important founder of Chinese medicine. ——Bian Que.

It can be said that Chinese and Western medicine originated at the same time, but in the course of thousands of years of development since then, they have gradually drifted away. One branch has spread, and the other has even been criticized as pseudoscience, which is like a stranger.In recent years, Li Zhongfu has been committed to the unification of the theory and practice of Chinese and Western medicine, and has paid great attention to the academic research on the treatment of cancer with the combination of Chinese and Western medicine.

Bathed in the sunlight coming in through the window, Li Zhongfu's gray silver glowed, his eyes under thick eyebrows rarely blinked, his posture was calm but majestic, and he didn't look like he was 60 years old at all.

He came to Anderson this time not to exchange and study, but to visit the thatched cottage.The new Pediatric Oncology Department of Shanghai First Cancer Hospital, where he works, is in urgent need of a young doctor who is well-versed in pediatric oncology.It is a pity that the research on children's oncology in China started later than that in Europe and the United States. It is a marginal discipline, lacks funds, and is very scarce in both technology and talents.

Only Tianjin Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University have set up children's tumor departments nationwide.In recent years, in addition to childhood leukemia, the number of rare childhood tumors such as childhood pleuropulmonary blastoma and childhood lung tumoroid has also increased year after year. Even children suffering from rhabdomyosarcoma are no longer a minority. However, due to the small number of patients, scientific research is relatively backward , the treatment of this disease has not changed in almost 30 years.

There were footsteps from the meeting in the distance, the door of the meeting room was pushed open, and doctors and scholars from all over the world poured out from the door. Li Zhongfu saw Jiang Li surrounded by the crowd like stars holding the moon at the same place. .

Li Zhongfu was her mentor when she was studying oncology at the Fudan University School of Medicine. Later, she rejected Li Zhongfu's invitation to study for a master's degree in cancer biology at Duke University in the United States. After receiving the MD (Medicinae Doctor) professional degree, it took only two years. , and at the same time took the Ph.D (Doctor of Philosophy Degree) from Harvard Medical School.

Three years ago, Li Zhongfu participated in the academic exchange meeting of Anderson Cancer Center. She had just passed the USMLE (United States Medical Practitioner Examination). When we met this time, she was already a professional professor of pediatric oncology at Anderson Cancer Center, specializing in childhood cancer and pleuropulmonary blastocytosis. Tumors and childhood lung carcinoids.

There are even her medical columns in the authoritative medical journals "The New Yorker" and "The Lancet".

Jiang Li left contact information with Professor De Leijie from Ethiopia, and then walked in the direction of the teacher.

After not seeing each other for several years, she found that the teacher was much older than when he was teaching at the university, but he was still as talkative.

Jiang Li's office is on the fifth floor, which has the latest ward facilities and medical equipment.The spacious and bright office is facing a row of huge floor-to-ceiling windows, and the display cabinet behind it lists the posters and brochures of the "Anti-cancer Moonshot Plan" announced by US President Obama at the end of 2015, announcing that the US government once again, on behalf of all mankind, Cancer declares war.

The "Anti-Cancer Moonshot Project" is composed of 28 top cancer researchers in the United States to form a "Blue Ribbon Advisory Committee". They will assist the US government to formulate a new anti-cancer combat plan. A new approach to treating childhood cancer.

However, it is worth mentioning that one of the 28 top cancer researchers is a Chinese scientist.

Jiang Li remembered that her teacher used to like Fenghuang Dancong the most, but unfortunately she only had instant coffee here.He poured a cup of hot water for Li Zhongfu, and the two sat opposite each other, chatting about family matters.

In the middle of the conversation, Jiang Li got up and took out a file from the filing cabinet, and handed it to Li Zhongfu, "The last time I sent an email to my teacher to ask about rhabdomyosarcoma, I found some in Anderson's database."

Li Zhongfu took the document, read it impatiently, and continued: "Two years ago, I went to Nagashima, Japan to attend the academic conference on children's rhabdomyosarcoma held by Tokyo Medical University. There's no good way."

Jiang Li extracted another survey data: "Even in the United States, the scientific research on rhabdomyosarcoma is relatively backward. The number of children suffering from this disease in the United States is maintained at about 400 cases every year. Even for patients with wealthy families, the most used in hospitals The most expensive medicine, there is still no cure for this disease."

"A few years ago, a couple from Texas came to Anderson with their child. Unfortunately, their child suffered from rhabdomyosarcoma. However, they were still deeply hopeless during the treatment process, so after the death of their son, the husband and wife set up a children's cancer fund, hoping to arouse the society's attention to this kind of 'rare disease'. "

Li Zhongfu sighed when he heard the words, "I have been engaged in the research of children's rhabdomyosarcoma in China for the past two years. Compared with the United States, China pays less attention to children's cancer. There are few reliable sources of information on the Internet, and many doctors rarely see it. Children's cancer, lack of experience, led to many patients being misdiagnosed at the beginning and delaying treatment. In China, there is no relatively reliable statistics for rhabdomyosarcoma. Due to the small number of patients and the backwardness of scientific research, the survival rate of this disease has decreased in the past 30 years. Little has changed over the year."

"Xiao Li," Li Zhongfu said kindly, "You are the most outstanding student among my many students. Teacher, I am getting old. Even if I want to, it will be difficult for me to be on the front line of fighting cancer again."

Li Zhongfu smiled self-deprecatingly, and stared at her with piercing eyes: "I know, it is selfish to ask you to give up all your efforts at Anderson and go back to Shanghai for development. Monthly plan', the childhood cancer you study is the top priority, but in China, childhood cancer is still a marginal science, the support from the government and society is a drop in the bucket, research funding is lacking, and the treatment and training opportunities for pediatricians are far inferior to other departments ..."

"Compared with developed countries in Europe and the United States, there is still a big gap in basic and clinical research," Li Zhongfu said with a serious expression on his thin face, "But us experts who have devoted their lives to childhood cancer research can't just sit still! Can't we Do you want to wait for Lei Yifeng from the United States to come and save our Chinese children?"

"You know, the number of childhood cancer patients in our country is the largest in the world! Children are the future and hope of this country at any time. Although there is a long way to go, someone must be the first icebreaker!"

Jiang Li was shocked by the teacher's words. Looking at the old suit jacket on his body, the elbows were slightly worn out. She knew that the teacher had been diligent and thrifty all his life, and most of the money he earned was donated to the Children's Cancer Charity Foundation.

She still remembers that when she was in college, her family was in poor condition. Every time she paid the tuition fee, she had to go to a small stall in the street alley outside the school to solve the problem. After the teacher found out, he gave her meal card to Jiang Li, let her go to the faculty cafeteria of the university to solve the problem of three meals.

The teacher is more like her father, and she went to a foreign country to study and work, not for a bright future.Just asking her to give up all the efforts she had made in the past seven or eight years and return to Shanghai, Jiang Li felt a little hesitant in his heart.

…………

(End of this chapter)