A month ago, Mr. Desales Noel Ybanez - originally from the Philippines and currently working in Vietnam, was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer with symptoms such as continuous shortness of breath, coughing up blood, and high fever. Now, he is reading books every day to relax and keep his spirit up with the hope that three months later he can play football every Sunday like before. He also found it hard to believe that his life could experience such dramatic change after just a few weeks of being treated at Vinmec Hospital.
On August 18, Mr. Desales Noel Ybanez was discharged from the hospital. For nearly a month, doctors at Vinmec had stood side by side with the patient to fight his terminal lung cancer, which came along with a number of serious symptoms. Thanks to optimal treatment methods, intensive care, and appropriate medication, the patient overcame the difficult period spectacularly.
In July 2020, Mr. Noel was diagnosed with stage IV of non-small-cell lung cancer, which had developed into pleural, bone, and multiple lymph node metastases with deep vein thrombosis. Unfortunately, after being diagnosed with the disease, he went to 3 major hospitals in Hanoi, getting hospitalized for 3 weeks, but only then to receive pleural aspiration and testing. Thus, his health situation did not improve, and, if not to say, even got worse. After such unsuccessful treatments, the patient decided to visit Vinmec Times City Hospital as his last hope.
When he was taken to Vinmec Hospital, Mr. Noel was already in a very serious condition. He experienced symptoms such as respiratory failure, coughing up blood, and high fever. As these were signs that could critically affect the patient's immediate survival, doctors at Vinmec prioritized the implementation of emergency resuscitation methods to restore the patient's vital signs. The doctors performed intensive antibiotic treatment, anti-inflammatory treatment, pleural aspiration, and pain relief, among others.
Under intensive care, after 2 weeks, Mr. Santa Claus started showing positive signs of recovery.
The patient had a gene test, and the results showed that the patient had a mutation in the ALK gene, which accounts for only 2-5% of all non-small cell lung cancer cases recorded in the world today.
“Now is the right time to embark on cancer treatment. We have decided to use a targeted drug called Ceritinib. This is a new-generation drug, which has been licensed by the Ministry of Health since 2019 with indications for non-small cell lung cancer with ALK mutation. The ALK mutation rate is low, so not many patients in Vietnam have access to this drug. However, the hospital's Pharmacy Department has coordinated well with us to help our patients have access to the drug. In addition to the targeted drug, the Oncology Council of Vinmec Times City Hospital will also use adjunctive treatment with anticoagulants once the patient stops coughing up blood, and anti-osteoporosis drugs”, Dr. Quach Thanh Dung - Head of Internal Oncology Department Vinmec Times City Hospital, said.
The optimal and timely treatment regimen has brought about rapid health improvement for the patient. After 5 days of treatment, there was no longer need for mechanical ventilation. After 10 days, there was no longer need for breathing tubes with oxygen. The doctors did not even need to use morphine to relieve pain, neither did they need to perform aspirate pleural fluid as the patient stopped coughing up blood.
Being awake, pain-free, breathing on one's own, self-cleaning – such are the times when Mr. Noel is feeling the healthiest since he was diagnosed with the disease. Every day, in addition to regular exercise, he also reads books. “I am a non-smoker, so finding out that I had lung cancer was a shock to me. But when the treatment started showing good results, I became calm and happy again. I hope that after 3 months when my health is stable, I can go to play football every Sunday as usual."
After being discharged from the hospital, he was scheduled by doctors at Vinmec for a CT scan of his lungs after 1 month. The treatment process may still have a long way to go, but Mr. Noel remains optimistic because he knows he is in the hands of good doctors, who have devised suitable treatment regimens that brought him back from death. And the doctors will be by his side whenever he needs any medical intervention.
From April 6, 2022, to December 31, 2025, patients receiving treatment at Vinmec will enjoy the Buy-1-get-1 support program for Lynparza 150mg, Imfinzi 500mg/10ml, and Imfinzi 120mg/2.4ml. This is part of the "Partial drug support for cancer patients" program, which has been approved by the Ministry of Health and implemented at 2 hospitals in Vinmec Health system. Its purpose is to help patients have access to medical treatment using Lynparza and Imfinzi. Under the program, patients can complete their course of treatment at a lower cost, which helps achieve optimal treatment effectiveness and improve the quality of life of the patients and their families.
Specifically:
- When buying 1 box of Lynparza 150mg or Imfinzi 500mg/10ml (or Imfinzi 120mg/2.4ml), the patient will be given 1 additional box of the similar type.
- Eligible subjects:
+ Patients - with or without health insurance, who are diagnosis with lung cancer (including patients newly indicated with Imfinzi or those already under treatment with Imfinzi). Applicable for indications licensed and approved by the Ministry of Health.
+ Patients - with or without health insurance, who are diagnosed with cancer according to prescription information approved and licensed by the Ministry of Health (including patients newly indicated with Lynparza and those already under treatment with Lynparza).
- Applicable hospitals:
+ Vinmec Times City International General Hospital
Address: 458 Minh Khai street, Hai Ba Trung district, Hanoi
+ Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital
Address: 720A Dien Bien Phu, Ward 33, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City.
Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.
