Giglia’s story Stomach Cancer- Australia

On June 10, 2010, when Professor Xu Kecheng was on a visit to the United States, he received an email forwarded from his secretary. It was from an Australian patient’s grandson Ciccotosto from Ward 7, said, "Dear Professor Xu, you are very friendly to my family and me...... I think this time you must be very happy in America. ...... I would like to ask you whether I could work as a doctor in your hospital and learn from your good hospital from now on. I will work hard and study hard in your hospital.......“This was an email from a 9-year-old laddish boy, President Xu became excited after reading this letter, said “what we have done surprisingly touched a child!”

Laddish boy from Australia

The child’s grandfather is Giglia who lives in Perth, one city of the west coast of Australia, from which there are two Nobel Prize winners in gastroenterology, that is, Marshall and Warren. Helicobacter pylori they find brings a revolutionary change in gastric illness treatment and a new concept of the incidence of gastric cancer as well. Mr. Giglia suffered from gastric cancer, upon diagnosis, he had lost the chance to receive surgical resection and chemotherapy failed to control the disease. At that time, he was already 81 years old. He is a restaurant owner, who has three daughters and one son. In September 2009, accompanied by his two daughters and grandson, he came to China for the first time and presented to Fuda Cancer Hospital. At that time, his condition was quite severe. He experienced repeated haematemesis. After receiving treatments, his disease was been controlled. After discharging from hospital, he did ​​several follow-up reexaminations in Australia, which demonstrated that most of primary tumor and lymph node metastases had disappeared. The whole family was thrilled, so the grandfather came back to hospital for consolidation treatment. During the treatment break, they visited scenic spots and historic sites in Guangzhou, and enjoyed Guangzhou cuisine. The old gentleman said, “My grandson is quite smart, when learning that I am getting better day by day, he conceives an idea of “studying medicine” in China. “ In June 26 of 2010, the old gentleman discharged from hospital, President Xu encountered them in the lobby. The little boy took Prof. Xu by the hand and asked Prof. Xu to promise him to study medicine in Fuda Hospital when he grew up.

In recent years, the little boy Ciccotosto have kept contacted with Prof. Xu, updating his grandfather’s condition. In November 2013, he asked one patient to bring Prof. Xu a letter, saying that his grandpa missed Prof. Xu and doctors and nurses.

Giglia G - Gastric Cancer 

Giglia G is an 81-year-old male gastric cancer patient. In September 2009, he presented to Fuda Cancer Hospital because of repeated hematemesis. Endoscopic examination showed diffuse hemorrhage and erosion below gastric cardia, uneven surface and irregular nodules. Biopsy showed that it was poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. CT and endoscopic ultrasonography demonstrated perigastric multiple lymph node enlargement. After he received vascular interventional therapy, photodynamic therapy under endoscope, and combined immunotherapy, hematemesis stopped. Follow-up endoscopy displayed the condition of diffuse hemorrhage and erosion had been significantly improved. Progression-free survival of the patient has been four and a half years.

Treatment Experience of Giglia

For unresectable gastric cancer, especially elderly patients, those treatments with small trauma and fewer side effects should be taken not to "cure" cancer but "stabilize" cancer, seeking for "living with cancer" and long-term survival. Cancer is a kind of chronic disease, if patient can maintain a good immune function, cancer can stop progression. Under the premise of eliminating tumor or reducing "tumor load" (reduction in tumor volume), combined immunotherapy can help patients "peacefully co-exist" with cancer to achieve long-term survival.