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After one course of intravenous chemotherapy and 10 sessions of radiotherapy to tumors on both sides of the neck, the left cervical lymph nodes showed some reduction, but the right cervical tumor showed no obvious change and had worsened compared to before, with moderate pain at the tumor site and mild difficulty swallowing. Mr. Liu's spirits immediately sank into a cold abyss: "Why are the symptoms worsening after treatment? What should I do?"
Feeling at a loss, Mr. Liu learned about the precise radiotherapy technology at our Tumor Radiotherapy Center and came to the second radiotherapy ward of our hospital. After a detailed inquiry into his medical history and a careful examination, combined with imaging studies, he was diagnosed with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma with bilateral cervical lymph node metastases, staged T3N3M0 (stage IVA).
Considering that Mr. Liu had previously undergone chemoradiotherapy without a definitive diagnosis, the overall effect was poor, local symptoms had worsened, and he experienced significant side effects from intravenous chemotherapy. Simple radiotherapy alone was unlikely to achieve adequate tumor control. Deputy Chief Physician Wu of the Second Radiotherapy Ward immediately organized a multidisciplinary team (MDT) discussion involving oncology, interventional, and radiotherapy departments to carefully analyze Mr. Liu's condition. The diagnosis of hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma with bilateral cervical lymph node metastases was confirmed, and a comprehensive recommendation was made: first, administer two cycles of arterial infusion chemotherapy; once the tumor is reduced, proceed with individualized non-invasive precise radiotherapy (TrueBeam) targeting the hypopharynx and bilateral cervical regions.
The entire medical and nursing team worked in close collaboration, tailoring the treatment to Mr. Liu's specific condition. From minimally invasive, low-side-effect, targeted arterial infusion chemotherapy that allows faster recovery, to the development of the radiotherapy plan, CT localization, target delineation, plan design, and each treatment session, as well as meticulous daily nursing and nutritional support interventions, the team spared no effort to provide Mr. Liu with the best possible treatment.
During hospitalization, Mr. Liu initially had doubts and occasional mistrust, worrying whether his condition would improve after treatment and whether the reactions would be severe. The medical team patiently explained and guided him at every step. Their sense of responsibility, attentiveness, patience, and compassion quickly eased Mr. Liu's concerns, greatly increased his confidence, and encouraged him to actively cooperate with the treatment.
After a month and a half of treatment, the tumor in the patient's neck, which had been nearly half the size of a basketball upon admission, had significantly reduced to nearly normal, and his discomfort symptoms were also relieved. At the same time, the other patients in Mr. Liu's ward were all from his hometown, and they had also achieved good treatment outcomes. Overwhelmed with gratitude, Mr. Liu repeatedly praised the medical team; he said that the attentive care, thoughtful service, and excellent medical skills of the staff had deeply moved him.
One year later, Mr. Liu personally presented three banners to the medical team of our Hospital's Radiotherapy Ward 2 to express his sincere gratitude to our staff, thanking them for the precise treatment and attentive care he received during his hospitalization.
After receiving the banners, the medical team of Radiotherapy Ward 2 stated: "While providing patients with personalized and precise treatment, we also strive to be compassionate caregivers---allowing medical care to heal the body and warmth to heal the heart. Each bright red banner is not only a token of the patient's gratitude but also a recognition of our efforts. At the same time, it urges us to continue practicing medicine with dedication, never forgetting our original mission, and to provide patients with higher-quality, more efficient, and more compassionate medical care."
The banners have been received, but the story is not over. Our team will continue to ensure follow-up evaluations and symptom management, accompanying Mr. Liu every step of the way to help him progress steadily and safely. We will turn this trust into ongoing motivation for improvement: continuously optimizing workflows and details in MDT decision-making, precise radiotherapy implementation, nursing and nutritional support, and follow-up management, striving to enable more patients to achieve stable symptom control and improved quality of life within standardized and executable treatment pathways.
