Laureate of Rank Prize commented that you can entrust your life to Fuda Cancer Hospital

On March 24, 2016, Ms. Lu Mingying, a renowned scientist and Rank Prize laureate was discharged from hospital after receiving comprehensive treatment at Fuda Cancer Hospital for two months. One day before discharge, she put on her scarf and, to express her joy and appreciation, she said good-bye to doctors and nurses who had been taking care of her express “It is the doctors at FUDA that have saved me from the verge of death.” 
 

Xu Kecheng, Chief President of Fuda Cancer Hospital and Ms. Lu Mingying

 

Ms. Lu Mingying and nurses of the 4th ward

One week before her discharge, we visited her. During the interview, she worn the same red scarf. “This is a present from a friend of mine cause wearing red makes me look more radiant.” She felt much betteras she just stooped her oral chemotherapy medicine on that day. She shared with us her experience of studying in UK, her Rank Prize winning stories and her journey of fighting against cancer.

The influence of her father  

Lu Mingying was born in a scholarly family in 1954. Her father Lu Zhongzuo, the founder of vacuum electronic devices major in China, had long engaged in the research of microwave tube and wrote the first batch of textbooks and monographs on microwave electronics in China. “Being raised in such an environment, I developed a keen interest in mathematics, physics and optoelectronics since I was a little child.”she said. Unfortunately, she had to suspend her schooling as the Great Cultural Revolution broke out when she was just enrolled into middle school. Two years later, she resumed her schooling in a nearby middle school. In 1970, Lu Mingying, who just turned to 16, was assigned to a small factory and worked there for seven years.

Lu Mingqi, Lu Ming’s elder sister, noted, “Before the college entrance examination system was resumed in China, my sister had never quit learning. She worked during the day and studied at night”. It was with her persistence that she made her way into the Department of Electronic Engineering of Nanjing Institute of Technology (currently Southeast University) in 1977.  

Lu Mingying (R) and her elder sister Lu Mingqi

In university, Lu Mingying met her life partner - Wang Guoyu, her classmate. In her memory, they spent most of time doing research in the lab instead of going dating. Upon graduation from university, Lu Mingying was accepted into the postgraduate program of Southeast University while Wang Guoyu was accepted into the postgraduate program of Tsinghua University. They got married after finished their master degree. In 1984, they had their fist child. Later, Lu Mingying served as a lecturer in Southeast University while her husband also chose to work as lecturer in the same university.

Studying in England 

In the end of 1980s, digital camera was very expensive and it cost thousands of dollars to buy one. The main reason was that the imaging sensor of digital camera was very costly. Even researchers in Japan, Europe and America were not able to tackle the difficult problem.

Wang Guoyu and Lu Mingying, who were then studied in the University of Edinburgh, were enrolled into an experimental group in 1987 and 1989 respectively. They joined two professors of the University of Edinburgh with a clear purpose, that was to develop new imaging sensors. They put forward a bold proposal, which was whether common semiconductor integrated circuit can be applied to imaging sensor as it can greatly reduce the cost of imaging sensor.

After years of unremitting efforts, they successfully applied common semiconductor integrated circuit into imaging sensor. The technological innovation has brought about great changes. The cost of imaging sensor reduced by one third; imaging sensor can be mass produced; the price of digital camera fell from several thousands dollars to around 10 USD. In 2002, the technology began to be applied to Nokia mobile phones and widely has been applied to mobile phones since then. Mobile phone photographing has become an easy thing. It has turned from a luxury to popular consumable goods. “The 50million chips for mobile phone photographing produced every day are using our technology.” Lu Mingying said proudly.

A surprising award

The application of common semiconductor integrated circuit in imaging sensors is an epoch-making shift in the industry of digital camera. The four researchers including Lu Mingying were awarded the Rank Prize in 2008.

Established in 1972, the Rank Prize is one of the top science awards in England in recognition of researchers who have made tremendous contribution to the fields of optoelectronic science and nutriology. It is reputed as the Nobel Prize in the fields of optoelectronic science and nutriology. As of now, only a few Chinese, including Charles Kao, the Father of Fiber Optic Communications and Yuan Longping, the Father of Hybrid Rice, have won the Rank Prize.

“It’s really surprising”, Lu Mingying said when she delivered her acceptance speech. It turned out that in March 2007, Lu Mingying received a letter, asking if she would like to participate in the selection of the Rank Prize. “The scientific research achievement was made over 10 years ago. We almost forget about it.” The couple felt that it must be someone who was playing tricks with them so they did not pay any attention to it. Shortly after that, Lu Mingying received a letter from her previous supervisor, asking if she had received an invitation letter for the selection of the Rank Prize. It was until then did the couple realized that it was not a trick.

“I was so surprised and excited”, said Lu Mingying. They had invested so much time and efforts in order to overcome the technical difficulty. It was really a surprise for them to finally get the recognition after over 10 years. 

Facing up to the devil of cancer

In December, 2015, Lu Mingying started to feeling unwell and often had lower abdomen pain. She had thought it was just urinary system infection and took a lot of antibiotics but the symptoms showed no remission. In December, she come to China for an academic conference. Her husband insisted that she should do a  physical examination. Ultrasound result showed that there was a tumor sizing 7x8cm in liver. The doctor said that she was at advanced stage and an immediate CT scan was suggested. Further examinations proved that she was suffering from cholangiocarcinoma with metastases in bones, lymph nodes and abdominal cavity.

“It was the first time I’ve heard of this term and I had no idea what it is exactly. I searched on the Internet and learned that cholangiocarcinoma cannot be easily treated.” In the face of the unexpected disease, Lu Mingying did nor show extreme sadness and despair as other cancer patients. She did not She was so emotionally peaceful when she was telling us her story.

Some doctors suggested her to do radiotherapy and chemotherapy first but she declined. She kept on looking for new and mini-invasive treatments on the internet. One day, she accidentally read a piece of news, saying that cholangiocarcinoma can be treated with NanoKnife. “I saw a light of hope after I read the news”. At first, she chose to go back to England for treatment. She consulted a renowned Nanoknife specialist from the Medical School of Imperial College London. However, it would take long time waiting for NanoKnife in England. She chose to go back to China for NanoKnife for fear that her condition would progress. 

Getting to know FUDA by virtue of NanoKnife  
  
Lu Mingying set her mind on the new technology of NanoKnife. She searched about NanoKnife on the Internet and finally traced down to Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital. After learned that FUDA had completed over 70 cases of NanoKnife, she decided to come to Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital for treatment. 

Her sister said, “Before we come to FUDA, I went all the way to a major hospital in Xi’an cause I read from a newspaper that the hospital has completed successful cases of NanoKnife. I even consulted a specialist about my sister’s case but the specialist said the tumor was too big to be ablated. ”

In January 13, 2016, Lu Mingying was admitted into Fuda Cancer Hospital. Due to rapid disease progression, she was too weak to walk upon admission and she had ascites and fever. “From the first day that I was admitted into the hospital, I have had the feeling that it was right for me to choose FUDA. All medical staffs, from the president to doctors and nurses have been very nice to me. On the second day of my admission, Xu Kecheng, the Chief President of FUDA, Niu Lizhi, the Executive President of FUDA and other experts made rounds and they gave me a lot of encouragement. I felt assured. I’mconvinced that I could entrust my life to FUDA. If FUDA cannot do any treatment for me, I won’t be treated in anywhere else.”

In the following days, Lu Mingying received comprehensive treatments, including photodynamic therapy, NanoKnife, iodine seeds implantation therapy, etc. “It is the doctors at FUDA that have saved me from the verge of death.” Lu Mingying said. 

After two months’ treatments, she has built up more and more confidence in FUDA. Where does the confidence come from? First of all, it comes from the excellent skills of the doctors. They have been very patient in explaining to me the upcoming treatment and I’m very clear about the possible side effects; secondly, it comes from the “green therapy” offered by FUDA. The green therapy, or minimally invasive treatment, has inflicted no pain, which accords with my concept of treatment; thirdly, the confidence comes from the humanitarian service provided by FUDA. Doctors, nurses and cleaners always greet patients with smile. I have been feeling very comfortable for the last two months.

“One of my supervisors died of brain cancer. I thought how nice it would be if he had been treated at FUDA. That’s why I want to share my treatment experience and feelings with other patients so that more patients can get to know FUDA and gain survival benefits here. ”

The Rank Prize Winner Lu Mingying’s Story of Seeking Treatment at Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital

On March 16, a special patient attended at Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital Press Conference. It’s Chinese British Scientist Dr. Lu Mingying, the Rank Prize winner.

Last month, she accepted nanoknife therapy at Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital, and she was able to walk in the next day.

Dr. Niu Lizhi and Ms. Lu

In the end of 1980s, digital camera was very expensive, which cost several thousand dollars on the international market. Because the imaging sensor used in digital camera was costly at that time. In 1987 and 1989, Wang Guoyu and his wife Lu Mingying joined in experimental group of Edinburgh University in UK. With two professors of Edinburgh University tried to find a new imaging senor. After research, they succeeded in applying common CMOS in imaging sensor. It’s obvious that the innovation brought out so much benefit. The cost of imaging sensor fell by a third, which could put into mass production. Therefore, taking photo with mobile phone also turned to be easy. The cost of camera chip in mobile phone reduced to four dollars dramatically. Phone equipped with camera was not longer luxury but ordinary consumer item. Therefore, they were awarded top prize in the field of science—the Rank Prize. The technique was firstly applied in Nokia mobile phone. “It produces four million camera chips of mobile phones everyday in the world, which is connected with our technique.” Lu Mingying said.

The Rank Prize is one of the top awards in the field of British science, which is regarded as the Nobel Prize in the field of photoelectron and nutrition. The award goes to those who make innovation and contribution to human society in photoelectron and nutrition in the world. Just a few Chinese won this prize, like the Father of Hybrid Rice Yuan Longping and the Father of Optical Fibre Gao Kun.

Lu Mingying felt uncomfortable when she gave lecture at Kunming not long ago, and she was diagnosed as cholangiocarcinoma in local hospital. Her life encountered disaster.

At first, she chose to back Britain for treatment. She once asked help form Prof. Leen of Imperial College Medical School, a world-renowned oncologist specialized at nanoknife ablation therapy.

She could enjoy free treatment in Britain, but she had to wait. And there was no comprehensive therapy at local hospital. Her condition turned worse quickly, so she decided to go to China for treatment.

After transferring to several hospitals, she went to a cancer hospital which just offered chemotherapy and radiation. She didn’t accept chemotherapy. And she went to hospital at Beijing for consultation. They suggested to have chemotherapy firstly, then to have nanoknife therapy. She still didn’t want to have chemotherapy.

She decided to have the new technique -- nanoknife therapy. “I followed the word ‘nanoknife’ and searched in the internet. Finally, I found Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital. I learnt that FUDA have done more than 70 case of nanoknife surgery by several phone consultations. I thought their technique was mature and determined to Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital to have nanoknife ablation therapy.”

President Dr. Niu Lizhi said, “She suffered from abdominal pain and couldn’t walk when she first came to FUDA.”

She first had photodynamic therapy. On February 2, Lu Mingying had nanoknife therapy at Fuda Cancer Hospital. After four day, on February 6, she became better obviously. She could walk and get up to have a photo with President Niu Lizhi in the ward.

Then, she had comprehensive intervention therapy.

A few days ago, in the ward, Lu Mingying’s husband Wang Guoyu told the author that what they appreciated was the advanced technique for cancer treatment around the world, so they chose FUDA. And he disclosed that they were developing more advanced technique of multi-media digital broadcast which would be used in Beijing Road Walking Street.