Doctor: Picking Up Attributes in the Hospital-Chapter 530 - 414: Sun Xinxin’s Junior Apprentice Sister — The Desperate Cancer Girl_2

Chapter 530: Chapter 414: Sun Xinxin’s Junior Apprentice Sister — The Desperate Cancer Girl_2

Could it be that Sun Xinxin is asking because she has a friend who has an orthopedic disease?

"Dr. Zhao, I’ll just say it directly. I’ve been thinking about this, and I don’t know whom to turn to."

Sun Xinxin said with some frustration.

Clearly, what she was about to say was not something easy for her.

"Okay, go ahead."

Zhao Heng nodded. He was familiar with Sun Xinxin’s personality, which was common among top athletes—energetic, tenacious, and straightforward.

Such a personality might initially seem slightly offensive, but over time, it becomes reassuring.

Zhao Heng was a very professional doctor who generally did not keep in touch with patients after they had recovered, nor left contact details. Sun Xinxin was one of the few who still had Zhao Heng’s contact information after being discharged.

"Dr. Zhao, one of my younger fellow trainees in the national skiing team was diagnosed with osteosarcoma just last week."

Sun Xinxin sighed and said with a low spirit.

"Originally, she just had swelling and pain in her calf. At first, she didn’t pay much attention to it, thinking it was a training injury. Even the team doctor treated it as a common sports injury, but last week, after one training session, she couldn’t stand up, and after an examination, it was diagnosed as osteosarcoma."

Sun Xinxin paused and then elaborated on the condition of her "younger fellow trainee."

"Has it been confirmed?"

Asked Zhao Heng, somewhat surprised. Logically, the national team should invest heavily in the medical care of its athletes, and such malignant tumors should have been detected.

Unless it’s a rapidly progressing, highly malignant Ewing’s sarcoma.

Although very rare, such a possibility does exist.

Ewing’s sarcoma (ES) is a poorly differentiated small round cell malignant tumor, accounting for 6%-8% of all primary bone tumors, and is the most common malignant primary bone tumor in children and adolescents.

Pain and swelling are the most common early symptoms of this malignant tumor, which usually occurs in children and adolescents, matching the symptoms Sun Xinxin described earlier.

In addition to pain and swelling, as tumor cells infiltrate, patients may also have nerve root and spinal cord nerve function damage, low-grade fever, significantly elevated serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, sometimes accompanied by increased white blood cell count and anemia.

"A biopsy has been done; it’s confirmed."

Sun Xinxin said sadly, looking completely different from the cheerful expression she had when she first saw Zhao Heng, as though her mood had dropped significantly upon mentioning this younger fellow trainee.

"If it’s Ewing’s sarcoma, the malignancy is very high, the course of the disease is extremely short, and metastasis occurs quickly. Simple surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy are not very effective."

Hearing Sun Xinxin mention that her younger fellow trainee had been bioptically confirmed for Ewing’s sarcoma, Zhao Heng’s mood turned heavy.

What he didn’t say was that the vast majority of patients with Ewing’s sarcoma die within two years, and the five-year survival rate does not exceed 10%.

The cruelest thing is that, to date, surgical amputation remains the most effective treatment method for Ewing’s sarcoma.

Just think, Sun Xinxin’s younger fellow trainee is undoubtedly a top athlete, younger than her, with the talent to join the national team at such a young age, something many athletes dream of.

Yet, in the prime of life, with a bright future ahead, she is faced with a deadly disease that necessitates amputation. It’s as if fate has given this girl an extraordinary gift, only to hit her with an unimaginable blow, sinking her into an abyss.

"Yes, that’s what the attending doctor at Friendship Hospital said too."

Sun Xinxin nodded, speaking with a heavy heart.

"What treatment is being administered currently?"

Zhao Heng asked.

"They said they wouldn’t amputate first, but would start with radiotherapy and chemotherapy together to see how it works."

Sun Xinxin said.

Clearly, she was very concerned about this younger fellow trainee and had even been staying at the hospital with her, so she was very well-informed about her condition.

"Dr. Zhao, with radiotherapy and chemotherapy being used together, can her leg be saved?"

After a pause, Sun Xinxin asked again.

Actually, the attending doctor at Friendship Hospital had already explained her younger fellow trainee’s condition very clearly.

Sun Xinxin came to Zhao Heng with just a sliver of hope, wondering if he might have an alternative approach.

After all, back when her own situation seemed dire, spending three months at the world’s most renowned Mayo Clinic did not cure her illness.

But upon returning, Zhao Heng cured her, so in Sun Xinxin’s eyes, Zhao Heng was one of those rare individuals capable of creating miracles.

In everyone’s eyes, her recovery and the prospect of resuming training were already a miraculous achievement.

"It’s hard to say. For Ewing’s sarcoma, chemotherapy and radiotherapy only have short-term effects, with poor long-term outcomes."

Zhao Heng shook his head slightly, giving his professional opinion.

In his view, to have Ewing’s sarcoma at such a young age isn’t just about whether her leg can be saved, but whether she can continue to live!

"Sigh..."

Sun Xinxin let out a long sigh. This matter weighed heavily on her mind. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Having experienced a life-and-death ordeal herself, she felt especially empathetic towards her younger fellow trainee, who was like a sister to her, facing such a situation.

"Dr. Zhao, is there really no other way? You cured me, and didn’t you also cure Ma Xiaochen, who had terminal cancer?"

After a pause, Sun Xinxin asked again, unwilling to give up hope.

If anyone in this world could make Sun Xinxin believe in miracles, it had to be Zhao Heng.

Facing Sun Xinxin’s hopeful eyes, Zhao Heng was silent. He was skilled but not omnipotent.

"Dr. Zhao, how about this? Since my younger fellow trainee is only undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy, can’t she do it here? Could she be transferred so you could devise the treatment plan?"

Sun Xinxin looked at Zhao Heng with hope.

Actually, Sun Xinxin knew that modern medicine was not omnipotent, and Friendship Hospital was already the top oncology hospital in the country. If they said her chances weren’t great, the situation at Eastern Hospital likely wouldn’t be much different.

But handing her younger fellow trainee over to Zhao Heng’s care, Sun Xinxin felt there was still a glimmer of hope.

"Okay."

Seeing the hopeful look in Sun Xinxin’s eyes, Zhao Heng couldn’t bear it. He understood deeply that having faced life and death, Sun Xinxin had a stronger appreciation of life than anyone else.

She felt an even deeper empathy for her younger fellow trainee’s terminal illness.

"Thank you, Dr. Zhao. I know it’s a lot to ask, but I was thinking, even if her younger fellow trainee can’t be cured, maybe she can live more comfortably."

"Dr. Zhao, you’re honestly the only person I can think of who might be able to do this."

Sun Xinxin’s tone was sincerely grateful, making her words particularly moving.

There’s a saying that once you’ve been through the rain, you’re more inclined to hold an umbrella for someone else.

"It’s not really a burden; honestly, just don’t have too much hope."

Zhao Heng thought for a moment and said.

Treating a terminal cancer patient to provide better and more complete care, at least to extend life and relieve pain, was simple and not burdensome for Zhao Heng.

But the word "hope" was the most critical and potentially deadly word for terminal cancer patients, never to be uttered lightly.

Because if hope is mentioned but not realized, it can cause a terminal cancer patient to rapidly deteriorate and even lead to a quicker death.

Therefore, it’s a very cautious and serious matter. Zhao Heng could not easily promise anything to a terminal cancer patient.

"I understand. Thank you, Dr. Zhao."

Sun Xinxin nodded, expressing her sincere gratitude to Zhao Heng.