6月12日,在上海交通大学医学院附属瑞金医院海南医院(海南博鳌研究型医院,简称瑞金海南医院)综合外科二病区,即将离院的Mark Batka握着瑞金海南医院普外科主任医师王艳良的手,特地用中文表达了自己的感谢之情。“谢谢。”
今年46岁的Mark Batka来自加拿大,是一名花样滑冰教练。第一次中国之行,他选择跟团飞往海南,到乐城先行区体验医疗旅游,顺便解决身体“小问题”——脂肪瘤。
脂肪瘤是一种常见软组织肿瘤,多因成熟脂肪组织过度增生引起。脂肪瘤属于良性肿瘤,体积较小,生长速度慢,不会感到疼痛,因此一般不需要治疗。王艳良介绍,该名患者有10年病史,由于近期肿瘤增大到3公分左右,影响了生活质量,于是到瑞金海南医院国际门诊部就诊。
“我的脂肪瘤长在胸部和背部,随着肿瘤越长越大,有时做类似弯曲的动作时会感到很疼,所以我计划手术切除。”Mark Batka说,由于脂肪瘤手术在卢嫩堡当地未纳入医疗保险,治疗费用高且预约排队时间较长,他决定在中国之行的旅途中安排一次手术。
On June 12, in Ward 2 of the General Surgery Department at the Hainan Hospital of Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (also known as the Hainan Boao Research-oriented Hospital, or "Ruijin Hainan Hospital" for short), Mark Batka—who was about to be discharged—clasped the hand of Wang Yanliang, Chief Physician of General Surgery at Ruijin Hainan Hospital, and made a special effort to express his gratitude in Chinese: "Thank you."
Mark Batka, 46, hails from Canada and works as a figure skating coach. For his first trip to China, he chose to join a tour group flying to Hainan to experience medical tourism in the Lecheng Pilot Zone, taking the opportunity to address a minor physical issue: a lipoma.
A lipoma is a common soft-tissue tumor, typically caused by the excessive proliferation of mature adipose tissue. Lipomas are benign tumors; they are generally small in size, grow slowly, and are painless, meaning they typically do not require medical treatment. Wang Yanliang explained that this particular patient had a 10-year history of the condition; however, as the tumor had recently grown to approximately 3 centimeters—thereby impacting his quality of life—he sought treatment at the International Outpatient Department of Ruijin Hainan Hospital.
"My lipomas were located on my chest and back. As they grew larger, I would sometimes experience significant pain when performing movements that involved bending or flexing, so I decided to have them surgically removed," said Mark Batka. He noted that because lipoma surgery is not covered by medical insurance in his hometown of Lunenburg—resulting in high treatment costs and long waiting lists for appointments—he decided to schedule the procedure during his trip to China.
“我从我妻子和朋友那里了解到医疗旅游,我相信他们,我想这会是一次非常全新的、有趣的经历。”
王艳良介绍,这是瑞金海南医院接诊的第一例门诊手术外籍患者。脂肪瘤切除手术创伤小、恢复快,患者于术前一天到院面诊,在进行体格检查、确定肿瘤的位置、数量后,医院迅速制定了门诊手术方案。手术采用局部麻醉与微创技术,精准切除5处皮下脂肪瘤。手术历时一个多小时后结束,患者术后感觉良好,顺利离院。
“每个医护人员都很友好和乐于助人,一切都很顺利。”谈起手术的感受,Mark Batka说。
据了解,加拿大医疗旅游团一行共计10人,此次到访乐城,将开启4天3晚的医疗旅游之旅。除了接受脂肪瘤手术,加拿大医疗旅游团一行还先后在博鳌一龄生命养护中心、海南梅赛尔医院体验了健康管理、康养疗愈等独具特色的医疗旅游项目。
"I learned about medical tourism from my wife and friends; I trust them, and I thought this would be a completely new and interesting experience."
Wang Yanliang noted that this marks the first time Ruijin Hainan Hospital has treated a foreign patient requiring outpatient surgery. Lipoma removal is a minimally invasive procedure with a rapid recovery time; the patient arrived at the hospital for a consultation the day before the operation. After undergoing a physical examination and confirming the location and number of the tumors, the hospital quickly formulated an outpatient surgical plan. The procedure utilized local anesthesia and minimally invasive techniques to precisely excise five subcutaneous lipomas. The surgery concluded after just over an hour; the patient felt well post-operatively and was successfully discharged.
"Every member of the medical staff was friendly and helpful—everything went very smoothly," remarked Mark Batka when describing his experience with the surgery.
It is reported that the Canadian medical tourism group, comprising a total of ten individuals, has arrived in Lecheng to embark on a "4-day, 3-night" medical tourism journey. In addition to undergoing lipoma removal surgery, the group also visited the Boao Yiling Life Care Center and Hainan Mersel Hospital to experience unique medical tourism programs focused on health management and wellness therapies.
“由于加拿大医疗免费,如果没有什么严重的大病,医生通常不建议治疗。但作为运动员,我想确保身体健康,如果有什么问题,希望尽早发现,尽早干预。我已经做了常规的体检,还计划做核磁共振检查。我认为这里是个绝佳的医疗旅游目的地,会推荐更多亲朋好友到海南、到乐城旅游。”Mark Batka说。
作为海南吸引海外医疗消费回流的一张亮丽名片,乐城先行区近年来加快开拓国际医疗旅游业务,已吸引印度尼西亚、西班牙、俄罗斯、乌兹别克斯坦、刚果、古巴、阿拉伯等国家和地区的国际游客前来体验医疗旅游,逐步成为亚洲医疗旅游新锐。
下一步,随着海南自贸港政策红利释放,叠加制度创新优势,乐城先行区将学习借鉴世界顶尖医学中心和成熟的医疗旅游目的地发展经验,以“医”为核心加快形成国内领先的医疗健康服务供给能力,加速集聚全球优质医疗资源,不断提升促进境外医疗消费回流的竞争力和吸引力,着力打造“医疗旅游之都”招牌。
"Since healthcare in Canada is free, doctors typically do not recommend treatment unless a serious illness is involved. However, as an athlete, I want to ensure my physical well-being; if any issues arise, I hope to detect them—and intervene—as early as possible. I have already undergone a routine physical examination and plan to have an MRI scan as well. I believe this is an exceptional destination for medical tourism, and I will certainly recommend that more of my friends and family visit Hainan—specifically Lecheng—for their travel needs," said Mark Batka.
Serving as a shining showcase for Hainan's efforts to attract the return of overseas medical consumption, the Lecheng Pilot Zone has in recent years accelerated the expansion of its international medical tourism operations. It has already attracted international visitors from countries and regions such as Indonesia, Spain, Russia, Uzbekistan, the Congo, Cuba, and the Arab world to experience its medical tourism offerings, thereby gradually establishing itself as a rising star in the Asian medical tourism landscape.
Moving forward—as the policy dividends of the Hainan Free Trade Port are fully realized and bolstered by the advantages of institutional innovation—the Lecheng Pilot Zone intends to draw upon the development experiences of the world's leading medical centers and established medical tourism destinations. With "healthcare" at its core, the zone aims to rapidly cultivate a domestic-leading capacity for providing medical and health services, accelerate the aggregation of high-quality global medical resources, and continuously enhance its competitiveness and appeal in attracting the return of overseas medical consumption, ultimately striving to build its reputation as a "Capital of Medical Tourism."
从起飞到诊疗,仅用了12个小时
一切都在与时间赛跑。
得益于海南自贸港86国免签政策,刘欣无需复杂的签证手续,迅速订票启程。飞机从澳大利亚起飞,跨越重洋。
落地、通关、转运、入院。从飞机起飞到进入诊室,整个过程不到12个小时。
对于一名病情快速进展的罕见病患者而言,这样的效率,意味着真正意义上的“生命通道”。
“我没想到,能这么快见到医生。”刘欣说。
From takeoff to medical consultation—it took just 12 hours.
It was a race against time every step of the way.
Thanks to the Hainan Free Trade Port’s visa-free policy for 86 countries, Liu Xin was spared the hassle of complex visa procedures, allowing her to book her flight and set off immediately. The aircraft took off from Australia, spanning the vast ocean.
Landing, customs clearance, transfer, hospital admission—from the moment the plane left the ground until she entered the consultation room, the entire process took less than 12 hours.
For a rare disease patient whose condition was deteriorating rapidly, such efficiency represented a true "lifeline."
"I never imagined I would be able to see a doctor this quickly," said Liu Xin.
在博鳌国际医院国际NUT癌诊断与治疗中心,印明柱第一时间联合重庆大学附属三峡医院临床研究中心、中医诊疗中心等负责人,开展多学科联合(MDT)会诊,并针对肺部局部病灶与全身不良反应的控制,以及全身营养的改善,为她制定了系统、科学的诊治方案。
“她并非完全没有选择。” 印明柱判断。“从目前的情况看,这位来自澳洲的患者前期确诊较早,虽然处于疾病快速进展期,但未达到非常恶性的程度。此外,前期患者在国外虽然进行了几年的治疗,也出现了放化疗耐药的情况,但其实还没有达到系统的治疗。” 印明柱表示,无论是单药治疗还是联合治疗,后续该患者可选的治疗方案并不少,有望转化为慢病化管理,改善其预后。
联合会诊持续了一个小时,从诊室里出来后,刘欣长长地舒了一口气。
“和印教授做完会诊,给我的信心非常大,对后续的治疗充满了希望。”她感慨道,“中国竟然有很多的治疗方案可以试,医学的进步非常快,这是我印象最深的地方。”
希望之城,托起生命的希望
刘欣的故事,并非个例。
At the International NUT Carcinoma Diagnosis and Treatment Center within Boao International Hospital, Yin Mingzhu immediately coordinated with the heads of the Clinical Research Center and the Traditional Chinese Medicine Diagnosis and Treatment Center—both affiliated with the Three Gorges Hospital of Chongqing University—to conduct a multidisciplinary team (MDT) consultation. Based on this collaborative assessment, he formulated a systematic and scientifically grounded treatment plan for the patient, focusing on controlling localized pulmonary lesions and systemic adverse reactions, as well as improving her overall nutritional status.
"She is not entirely without options," Yin Mingzhu assessed. "Judging by the current situation, this patient from Australia received a relatively early initial diagnosis. Although her disease is currently in a phase of rapid progression, it has not yet reached a stage of extreme malignancy. Furthermore, while she underwent several years of treatment abroad—during which she developed resistance to both radiotherapy and chemotherapy—she has not, in fact, yet received truly *systemic* treatment." Yin Mingzhu noted that, whether through monotherapy or combination therapy, the patient still has a considerable number of viable treatment options available to her in the future; there is a strong possibility that her condition can be managed as a chronic disease, thereby improving her prognosis.
The joint consultation lasted for an hour; upon stepping out of the consulting room, Liu Xin let out a long, deep sigh of relief.
"The consultation with Professor Yin has given me a tremendous boost of confidence, and I am now filled with hope regarding my future treatment," she remarked with deep emotion. "It is truly remarkable that China offers so many different treatment protocols to try; the pace of medical advancement here is incredibly fast—that is what has left the deepest impression on me."
A City of Hope, Sustaining the Hope for Life
Liu Xin’s story is by no means an isolated case.
近年来,随着外国人来华医疗旅游持续升温,作为中国唯一“医疗特区”的乐城先行区,正依托海南自贸港的86国免签政策和优质医疗资源汇聚优势,成为越来越多外国人来华诊疗的“第一站”。
数据印证了这股热潮:2025年,乐城全年接待入境医疗旅游9344人次,其中下半年8203人次,环比增长618.9%,客源来自印度尼西亚、马来西亚、老挝、加拿大等14个国家。
而重庆大学附属三峡医院国际NUT癌诊断与治疗中心落户博鳌乐城,正是看中了乐城先行区的政策与平台优势对于推动NUT癌诊疗国际化的作用。
In recent years, as medical tourism to China among foreigners continues to gain momentum, the Lecheng Pilot Zone—China’s sole "medical special zone"—has leveraged the Hainan Free Trade Port’s visa-free policy for 86 countries and its concentration of high-quality medical resources to become the "first stop" for an increasing number of foreigners seeking medical diagnosis and treatment in China.
Statistical data corroborates this trend: in 2025, Lecheng received a total of 9,344 inbound medical tourists throughout the year. Notably, the second half of the year alone saw 8,203 visits—a staggering 618.9% increase compared to the first half—with patients hailing from 14 countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, and Canada.
The establishment of the International NUT Carcinoma Diagnosis and Treatment Center—affiliated with the Three Gorges Hospital of Chongqing University—within the Boao Lecheng Pilot Zone reflects a strategic recognition of the Pilot Zone’s distinct policy and platform advantages, and the pivotal role they play in advancing the internationalization of NUT carcinoma diagnosis and treatment.
2026年2月10日下午,在上海交通大学医学院附属瑞金医院海南医院(海南博鳌研究型医院,简称“瑞金海南医院”)诊间,一张处方单从打印机中缓缓吐出。
这是上海交通大学医学院附属瑞金医院感染科主任谢青教授在海南乐城国际医疗旅游先行区开出的第一张Seladelpar处方。对于60岁的李阿姨(化名)来说,这张处方意味着两年多辗转四处求医的困境终于迎来了破局希望。
李阿姨患的是原发性胆汁性胆管炎(PBC),一种多见于中老年女性的自身免疫病。免疫系统错误攻击肝内小胆管,导致胆汁流动受阻,胆汁酸在肝脏淤积,进而引发肝细胞损伤、纤维化甚至肝硬化。国内唯一的一线药物是熊去氧胆酸(UDCA),但30%~40%的患者吃了不管用,李阿姨就是其中之一。她规律服药2年多,碱性磷酸酶(ALP)始终维持在高限,还经常感到全身没力气。最近的检查更让她心凉,影像学提示已出现肝硬化、脾大和少量腹水。在过去,摆在她面前的似乎只有“无奈地等待病情恶化”这条路。
On the afternoon of February 10, 2026, inside a consultation room at Ruijin Hospital Hainan Branch (also known as the Hainan Boao Research-oriented Hospital, hereafter referred to as "Ruijin Hainan Hospital"—an affiliate of the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine), a prescription slowly emerged from a printer.
This marked the very first prescription for Seladelpar issued within the Hainan Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone—penned by Professor Xie Qing, Director of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. For 60-year-old "Auntie Li" (a pseudonym), this prescription signaled a glimmer of hope—a potential breakthrough to end the predicament she had endured for over two years while traveling far and wide in search of medical treatment.
Auntie Li suffers from Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC), an autoimmune disease predominantly seen in middle-aged and elderly women. In this condition, the immune system mistakenly attacks the small bile ducts within the liver, obstructing bile flow and causing bile acids to accumulate in the liver. This accumulation subsequently triggers hepatocyte damage, fibrosis, and eventually, cirrhosis. The only first-line medication available in China is Ursodeoxycholic Acid (UDCA); however, it proves ineffective for 30% to 40% of patients—a group to which Auntie Li belongs. Despite taking the medication regularly for over two years, her Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) levels consistently remained at the upper limit of the normal range, and she frequently experienced profound physical fatigue. Her most recent medical examinations left her utterly disheartened, as imaging scans revealed the onset of cirrhosis, an enlarged spleen, and a small amount of ascites. In the past, the only path that seemed to lie before her was one of "helplessly waiting for her condition to deteriorate."
2300公里外的一线生机
2026年2月初,在上海瑞金医院感染科门诊,科主任谢青教授和科副主任赖荣陶共同查阅李阿姨的就诊记录,完善了必要的检查和检验后,谢青主任对李阿姨说:“有个新药,可能适合你。”这个药叫Seladelpar,全球首个PPARδ激动剂,专门针对UDCA治疗效果不佳的PBC患者。它不仅能显著降低ALP指标,还能明显改善临床症状,目前尚未在国内上市。“不过……”谢青主任话锋一转,“我们可以去海南乐城。那里有先行先试的特殊政策,允许使用国外上市的新药。”谢主任的这句话,让李阿姨看到了治疗新方案的曙光。
李阿姨决定用药后,上海瑞金医院与瑞金海南医院迅速联动,在瑞金海南医院各级部门的高效、通力合作下,特许药于2月9日傍晚顺利入库医院药房。2月10日下午,李阿姨和谢青主任、赖荣陶副主任几乎同时从不同城市抵达海南乐城。在瑞金海南医院诊室里,谢青主任调出李阿姨在上海本部的全部检查数据,完成二次评估后,开具了患者的住院单及Seladelpar处方。当天傍晚,李阿姨服下了第一粒特许药。晚上,谢青主任带领赖荣陶副主任、孟子强副主任医师到李阿姨所在病房查房,详问用药反应,并为她制定了长期随访计划。经过24小时观察,李阿姨无不良用药反应,次日顺利出院。
谢青教授说:“过去我们只能眼睁睁看着这部分难治型PBC患者快速进展到肝硬化,甚至出现腹水、消化道出血、肝性脑病,现在有了新的治疗武器。”
A Lifeline 2,300 Kilometers Away
In early February 2026, at the Department of Infectious Diseases Outpatient Clinic of Ruijin Hospital in Shanghai, Department Director Professor Xie Qing and Deputy Director Lai Rongtao jointly reviewed Auntie Li’s medical records. After completing the necessary examinations and laboratory tests, Director Xie Qing turned to Auntie Li and said, "There is a new medication that might be suitable for you." This drug, named Seladelpar—the world's first PPARδ agonist—is specifically designed for patients with PBC (Primary Biliary Cholangitis) who have responded poorly to UDCA treatment. It not only significantly lowers ALP levels but also markedly alleviates clinical symptoms; however, it has not yet been officially launched in the domestic market. "However..." Director Xie Qing’s tone shifted, "we can go to Lecheng in Hainan. That region benefits from a special 'pilot-and-trial' policy that permits the use of new medications already approved and marketed abroad." With these words, Director Xie offered Auntie Li a glimmer of hope for a new treatment regimen.After Aunt Li decided to proceed with the medication, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital and Ruijin Hainan Hospital swiftly coordinated their efforts. Thanks to the efficient and collaborative teamwork of various departments at Ruijin Hainan Hospital, the special-access medication was successfully received into the hospital pharmacy’s inventory on the evening of February 9. On the afternoon of February 10, Aunt Li, along with Director Xie Qing and Deputy Director Lai Rongtao, arrived in Lecheng, Hainan, almost simultaneously from different cities. In the consultation room at Ruijin Hainan Hospital, Director Xie Qing retrieved all of Aunt Li’s diagnostic data from the Shanghai main campus; following a secondary assessment, he issued her admission orders and a prescription for Seladelpar. That same evening, Aunt Li took her first dose of the special-access medication. Later that night, Director Xie Qing—accompanied by Deputy Director Lai Rongtao and Associate Chief Physician Meng Ziqiang—conducted rounds in Aunt Li’s ward to inquire in detail about her response to the medication and to formulate a long-term follow-up plan for her. After 24 hours of observation, Aunt Li exhibited no adverse reactions to the medication and was successfully discharged the following day.
Professor Xie Qing remarked: "In the past, we could only watch helplessly as this subset of patients with refractory PBC rapidly progressed toward liver cirrhosis—even developing complications such as ascites, gastrointestinal bleeding, and hepatic encephalopathy. Now, however, we have a new therapeutic weapon at our disposal."
对于久居中国的亚历山大(化名)来说,过去的一年是五味杂陈的。在某种程度上,他是不幸的,同时又是幸运的。
2024年8月27日,亚历山大被确诊脑胶质瘤。这种被称作“大脑杀手”的罕见病,在中国的5年病死率仅次于胰腺癌和肺癌。
近日,亚历山大在妻子的陪同下来到海南博鳌乐城国际医疗旅游先行区(以下简称乐城先行区)。在四川大学华西乐城医院(以下简称华西乐城医院),他用上了一款国际创新药,有望将生的希望延续下去。
短短十几秒,是一次癫痫发作的时长,也是亚历山大的生活被完全颠覆的时长。
For Alexander (a pseudonym), a long-time resident of China, the past year has been a bittersweet experience. In a sense, he has been both unfortunate and, at the same time, fortunate.
On August 27, 2024, Alexander was diagnosed with a glioma. This rare disease—often dubbed the "brain killer"—has a five-year mortality rate in China that is surpassed only by pancreatic cancer and lung cancer.
Recently, accompanied by his wife, Alexander traveled to the Hainan Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone (hereinafter referred to as the "Lecheng Pilot Zone"). At Sichuan University Huaxi Lecheng Hospital (hereinafter referred to as "Huaxi Lecheng Hospital"), he began receiving treatment with an innovative international medication that holds the promise of extending his hope for survival.
A mere dozen or so seconds—that is the duration of a single epileptic seizure, and also the span of time in which Alexander’s life was completely upended.
他是一名希腊籍硅谷工程师,也是一名中国女婿。考虑到家庭原因,他选择成为一名数字游民,和妻子携女儿定居海口。去年8月,他坐在家中的沙发上,毫无征兆地突发癫痫,“持续二三十秒,能看到妻子女儿慌张的样子,但完全失去了对身体的控制”。在去海南省人民医院就诊后,他被确诊为脑胶质瘤。
脑胶质瘤是由中枢神经系统内的胶质细胞或前体细胞生成的肿瘤,是颅内最常见的原发性恶性肿瘤,也是中枢神经系统最常见的肿瘤。过去,患者可选的治疗手段只有手术、放化疗,由于手术很难彻底切除肿瘤,放化疗则会导致神经认知功能损伤等副作用,患者往往面临致死率高、致残率高、复发率高的困境。
亚历山大从未听说过脑胶质瘤,当医生向他通俗地解释是脑瘤时,他下意识的反应是害怕。后来,他从网络、书籍等渠道越了解这种疾病,就越感到恐惧。“当了解到这种病最差的情形下的平均生存时间只有不到2年时,是我最痛苦的时候。”在此之后,亚历山大踏上了求医问药的路。一开始,亚历山大的家人坚持让他在美国、欧洲接受治疗,他先后去了欧美知名的医疗机构就诊,但再三衡量之下,最终决定另寻其他治疗选择。“通过手术切除肿瘤是脑胶质瘤治疗的基石,而由于手术经验不足,且担心引起并发症,欧美医生更愿意保守治疗,不太愿意动全切除手术,最多只能切除80%左右,所以我们决定再多看看。”亚历山大解释道。
亚历山大的幸运,始于手术治疗。由于胶质瘤位于脑部功能区域,其切除手术难度大、风险高,稍有不慎就会造成神经功能损伤。海外一项研究显示,脑胶质瘤患者实现手术全切除的和次全切除的比例仅为11.9%和38.9%。
确诊4个月后,亚历山大接受了手术治疗。手术历时10个小时,最终切除了96%的肿瘤——这在他看来,几乎就是“奇迹”。
He is a Greek-born Silicon Valley engineer—and a Chinese son-in-law. Citing family reasons, he chose to become a digital nomad and settled in Haikou with his wife and daughter. Last August, while sitting on his living room sofa, he suffered a sudden, unprovoked epileptic seizure. "It lasted twenty or thirty seconds," he recalls. "I could see the panic on my wife and daughter's faces, but I had completely lost control of my body." After seeking medical attention at the Hainan Provincial People's Hospital, he was diagnosed with a glioma.
Gliomas are tumors that originate from glial cells or precursor cells within the central nervous system; they are the most common type of primary malignant intracranial tumor, as well as the most common tumor affecting the central nervous system as a whole. Historically, the only treatment options available to patients were surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. However, because surgery rarely achieves complete tumor resection—and radiation and chemotherapy often result in side effects such as neurocognitive impairment—patients frequently face a grim prognosis characterized by high rates of mortality, disability, and recurrence.
Alexander had never heard of glioma; when doctors explained in layman's terms that it was a brain tumor, his instinctive reaction was fear. Later, the more he learned about the disease through the internet, books, and other sources, the more terrified he became. "The moment I learned that the average survival time for the worst-case scenario of this disease was less than two years—that was my darkest hour." Following this realization, Alexander embarked on a quest for medical treatment. Initially, Alexander's family insisted that he receive treatment in the United States or Europe; he visited renowned medical institutions across both continents, but after careful deliberation, he ultimately decided to seek alternative treatment options. "Surgical removal of the tumor is the cornerstone of glioma treatment. However, due to a lack of surgical experience—and a fear of triggering complications—doctors in the U.S. and Europe tend to favor conservative approaches. They are often reluctant to attempt a gross total resection, managing to remove at most around 80% of the tumor. That is why we decided to keep looking," Alexander explained.
Alexander's stroke of luck began with his surgical treatment. Because the glioma was situated within a functionally critical region of the brain, its surgical removal was both technically demanding and high-risk; even a minor misstep could result in neurological impairment. A study conducted abroad revealed that among patients with glioma, the rates of achieving gross total resection and subtotal resection were merely 11.9% and 38.9%, respectively.
Four months after his diagnosis, Alexander underwent surgery. The operation lasted ten hours and ultimately resulted in the removal of 96% of the tumor—a feat that, in his eyes, was nothing short of a "miracle."
手术后的病理报告显示,亚历山大的病理分级为2级少突胶质细胞瘤,这也令他大松了一口气。据世界卫生组织(WHO)的分类,在脑胶质瘤中,成人型弥漫性胶质瘤占比约70%,其中IDH1/2突变型胶质瘤占比约50%。后者被划分为2级、3级和4级,危险程度随着级别依次升高,包括星型细胞瘤和少突胶质细胞瘤两种类型。亚历山大所确诊的2级少突胶质细胞瘤,是其中预后最好的类型。
“我在ICU里待了一两天,很快就能在搀扶下走路,最后不到两周时间就出院了,非常非常幸运。”亚历山大说。“看着同病房的病友恢复得很好,也给了我很大的安慰和信心。”
The post-operative pathology report revealed that Alexander’s tumor was a Grade 2 oligodendroglioma—news that brought him a huge sense of relief. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification system, adult-type diffuse gliomas account for approximately 70% of all brain gliomas; among these, IDH1/2-mutant gliomas make up about 50%. The latter category is further subdivided into Grades 2, 3, and 4—with the degree of risk increasing progressively with each grade—and comprises two specific types: astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas. The Grade 2 oligodendroglioma with which Alexander was diagnosed is the type associated with the most favorable prognosis.
"I spent just a day or two in the ICU, and I was soon able to walk with assistance; ultimately, I was discharged in less than two weeks. I feel incredibly, incredibly lucky," Alexander remarked. "Seeing the fellow patients in my ward making such good recoveries also gave me a great deal of comfort and confidence."