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  • The following is a thank you letter from a patient who received chemotherapy from Prof. Sun-jin Sym.

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    The following is a thank you letter from a patient who received chemotherapy from Prof. Sun-jin Sym.

    We express our deep gratitude to all personnel of Gachon University Gill Medical Center and particularly professor Sun-Jin Sym. We came back after 5 years for the oncology treatment correction. Despite the inoperable cancer of pancreas and multiple metastases, all these years my husband has been working and living with a high quality of life.

    This has become possible due to the precise diagnostics (biopsy of the tumour site and metastases, PET-CT, etc.) done in 2018 in this clinic as well as the properly prescribed treatment. Professor Sun-Jin Sym is one of the unique and exceptional specialists in the world with a successful experience of treating such extremely rare type of tumour (which Steve Jobs was diagnosed with).

    My acquaintance doctors in Israel didn’t find any oncologist with an experience of treating this type of cancer in their country. That is why we decided to visit this particular doctor again for the treatment correction consultation.

    We hope to visit unique professor Sun-Jin Sym in this clinic again in 5 more years. He prolongs years of life for patients with this kind of “hopeless” diagnoses.

    We also express deep gratitude to the medical coordinator Inna and the whole international department of Gachon University Gill Medical Center. This team of the professionals organises a perfect assistance for the foreign patients with an opportunity to receive the most complete diagnostics, consultation, and treatment in the shortest possible time. Everything works as fast and precisely as a clockwork while providing the most comfortable and friendly conditions for patients.

    As a doctor with 25 years of experience, I would like to note the great organisational, professional, logistical levels of the clinic. The whole personnel of Gil clinic deserves great admiration and respect. Thank you to everyone for the life, health, and hope.

     

    Sincerely,

    Botagoz I. doctor MD, PhD.

     

    I will be recommending this clinic to my relatives, friends, colleagues, and patients.

    07/03/2023
  • Considerations for surgery on "ultra-aged cancer patients" aged 95 or older in the age of aging

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    Considerations for surgery on "ultra-aged cancer patients" aged 95 or older in the age of aging

    Considerations for surgery on ultra-aged cancer patients aged 95 or older in the age of aging

    Professor Won-Suk Lee of Gachon University Gil Medical Center’s Colorectal Anal Clinic recently succeeded in operating on colon cancer in a 95-year-old patient. Colon cancer is the second most common cancer in Koreans after stomach cancer. However, in terms of the incidence of colorectal cancer alone, 44.5 people per 100,000 people in Korea (2016), the highest incidence of colorectal cancer in the world.

    The large intestine has higher elasticity than other organs, so there are no special symptoms in the beginning. However, if you feel pain and visit a hospital, it is already quite advanced, so it is often difficult to use. In particular, in the case of ultra-aged cancer patients, cancer has already progressed to some extent, and the prognosis after treatment is not good due to side effects caused by reduced physical strength and immunity, so it is classified as a very high-level surgery group.

    Professor Won-Suk Lee of surgery at Gachon University Gil Medical Center, said, "It is important to minimize outpatient visits and shorten the time from discovery to surgery as much as possible," and stressed, "After surgery, complications should not occur and careful management should be accompanied for quick recovery."

    A 95-year-old colon cancer patient, K, visited the surgery department of Gil Hospital with a swollen groin above the thigh. CT scans diagnosed about 6cm of colon cancer. In addition, there was a finding of hernia in the groin, so a hernia removal surgery was required along with colon cancer surgery. However, patient K was an ultra-high-risk patient with a history of various diseases.

    Thrombosis was also found during CT scans for diagnosis. Blood clots accumulated in blood vessels in the leg area, resulting in vascular surgery. In addition, at the age of 95, he had to suspect a chronic disease that had not been detected. In this situation, cooperation from various related medical departments was essential to minimize the number of hospital visits and meet the surgery schedule that was not far away.

    In addition to cardiology, respiratory medicine, gastrointestinal medicine, vascular surgery for the treatment of deep vein thrombosis, and kidney medicine were collaborated due to acute kidney damage. In addition, all the treatment of anesthesiology and pain medicine was conducted in cooperation to finally confirm the possibility of surgery.

    Patient K's schedule proceeded so quickly that it took less than 10 days from the first diagnosis to hospitalization. Under the guidance of Professor Won-Suk Lee, the surgery was successfully completed, and he was discharged safely after a sufficient recovery.

    Professor Won-Suk Lee said, "In order to operate on a super-aged patient, the number of days of hospital visits should be minimized and various chronic diseases or complications should be considered," adding, " Therefore, customized treatment considering the patient's individual health status as well as schedule and environment must be accompanied." He also added, "I hope that more super-aged patients will be able to improve their quality of life through appropriate treatment rather than giving up their health due to age in the future."

    Professor Won-Suk Lee's profle

    https://www.gilhospital.com/en_US/web/foreigner/doctor?p_p_id=searchDoctor_WAR_bookingHomepageportlet&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_col_id=column-1&p_p_col_count=1&_searchDoctor_WAR_bookingHomepageportlet_action=view_message&_searchDoctor_WAR_bookingHomepageportlet_doctorId=53492

    11/15/2022
  • The story of overcoming all three cancers, from stomach cancer and colon cancer to terminal biliary

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    The story of overcoming all three cancers, from stomach cancer and colon cancer to terminal biliary

    The story of overcoming all three cancers, from stomach cancer and colon cancer to terminal biliary

    Ms. Jeong-ja Joo was diagnosed with colorectal cancer and stomach cancer at the same time in 2007. Fortunately, colon cancer and gastric cancer were detected early, but inevitably, she underwent right colon resection and gastric resection, which removed part of the stomach and large intestine.

    In June 2017, 10 years after the surgery, Joo felt something was not right with her body as she was having fatigue, arm pain, and abdominal pain.

    As a result of a thorough examination at Gachon University Gil Medical Center, it was diagnosed as stage 4 of biliary tract cancer in the liver.

    A wide range of metastasis were also confirmed, including a large 13cm-sized cancer mass in the right liver, multiple metastasis in the liver, longitudinal sinus (between both lungs), abdomen, and lymph nodes.

    The 5-year survival rate of patients who received standard chemotherapy with stage 4 biliary tract cancer is very low, with less than 5%.

    The primary chemotherapy showed no effect at all, but rather increased in size. The second round of chemotherapy did not kill cancer cells, but she endured the time without further deterioration of her condition.

    Since March 2018, Ms. Joo's condition has worsened as cancer has grown again due to anti-cancer drug resistance. In the absence of further standard treatment, the expected survival duration of her was only 3 to 4 months, which was heartbreaking.

    Professor Sun-Jin Sym finally chose to do cancer immunotherapy based on genetic test results and active communication with Ms.Joo's two sons played a hige role in decision to proceed.

    Ms. Joo began cancer immunotherapy in July 2018, and it turned out that cancer cells were significantly reduced in October, four months after the treatment.

    In October 2019, she faced the last crisis. Joo was taken to the emergency room due to bleeding from small intestine varicose veins caused by hepatic portal obstruction.

    Professor Doo-jin Kim quickly discovered the cause and performed portal stent and varicose vein embolization to treat bleeding.

    Professor Doo-jin Kim said, "The anemia was completely cured thanks to the rapid surgery after diagnosing that the cause of the patient's anemia was not a medical factor, but a complication after cancer surgery."

    As going through several life-and-death crises, five years have passed since her surgery in June 2017. Ms. Joo recently confirmed that all cancer cells have disappeared from recent medical check-up, and she is enjoying her daily routine in good health.

     

    * Professor Sun-Jin Sym's profle : https://www.gilhospital.com/en_US/web/foreigner/doctor?p_p_id=searchDoctor_WAR_bookingHomepageportlet&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_col_id=column-1&p_p_col_count=1&_searchDoctor_WAR_bookingHomepageportlet_action=view_message&_searchDoctor_WAR_bookingHomepageportlet_doctorId=53370

     

    * Professor Doo-Jin Kim's profle : https://www.gilhospital.com/en_US/web/foreigner/doctor?p_p_id=searchDoctor_WAR_bookingHomepageportlet&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_col_id=column-1&p_p_col_count=1&_searchDoctor_WAR_bookingHomepageportlet_action=view_message&_searchDoctor_WAR_bookingHomepageportlet_doctorId=56477

     

     http://news.heraldcorp.com/view.php?ud=20220530000556

    11/14/2022
  • Cerebral aneurysm surgery with a family history, satisfaction with Korean medical services

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    Cerebral aneurysm surgery with a family history, satisfaction with Korean medical services

    Cerebral aneurysm surgery with a family history, satisfaction with Korean medical services

    Scott Robert Craig(45), a British citizen, works for a UN-affiliated organization located at the Songdo Free Economic Zone Authority in Incheon. It has been a year since he was dispatched to Korea, and he visited the neurology department at Gachon University Gil Hospital and found a 7mm-sized cerebral aneurysm in an MRI diagnostic test to find the cause.
    The blood vessels of the cerebral artery are weakened, causing some of the blood vessels to swell like balloons, which can cause cerebral hemorrhage.
    The causes of cerebral aneurysm are congenital abnormalities, family history, smoking, and high blood pressure. In particular, if your family members have cerebral aneurysm or cerebral hemorrhage, it is important to have regular medical checkups.
    Scott was embarrassed to be diagnosed with cerebral aneurysm because he had a family history of cerebral aneurysm, so he usually quit smoking and exercised hard.
    Professor Myeong-Jin Kim of Neurosurgery said, "Not all cerebral aneurysm have to be operated, but Scott needed surgery considering his parents' family history, size and location of cerebral aneurysm."
    Ahead of the tricky operation, Scott had no choice but to think about whether he should return to the UK for treatment. However, with the trust of Professor Kim Myung-jin and Matthew Park, coordinator of the International Medical Center, who is helping him with treatment, and the recommendation of colleagues around him, he was able to decide on surgery.
    The operation was a great success. Scott was discharged from the hospital on June 17 and returned to a healthy routine, fulfilling his role as a UN agency employee.
    Scott said, "Not only Professor Myeong-Jin Kim, but also nurses, Matthew Park, Corgiator of the International Medical Center, and other medical staff have allowed patients to have faith as experts," adding, "I am endlessly grateful for everyone who worked hard for treatment."

     

    Professor Myeong-Jin Kim's profle Doctor - Gachon University Gil Hospital

    11/02/2022
  • All three "cancer" treatments were successful in one person over three years

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    All three "cancer" treatments were successful in one person over three years

    All three cancer treatments were successful in one person over three years
    Lee Seok-hyun (68. Gyeonggi-do) has had a total of three cancers in the past three years, including stomach cancer, liver cancer, and colon cancer once a year.

    However, he is a "miracle man" who overcame cancer after three surgeries to remove part of his organ.

    Lee Seok-hyun's successful treatment of three "multiple primary malignant tumors" is rare.

     

    <Characteristics of Multiple Primary Malignant Tum>

     1) Two or more primary malignancies in one patient simultaneously or at different times

     2) The incidence varies from 0.5 to 11%

     3) Attention needs to be paid to the aging population, cancer survivors, and increased cancer prevalence

     

    2018 'Stomach Cancer': Surgery by Professor Jun-Young Yang of Surgery

               Doctor - Gachon University Gil Hospital

    2019  'Liver cancer' : Surgery by Professor Yeon-Ho Park of surgery

               Doctor - Gachon University Gil Hospital

    2020 'Colorectal Cancer': Surgery by Professor Won-Suk Lee of Surgery

                Doctor - Gachon University Gil Hospital

    The trust of the medical staff and the patient worked wonders

    Lee Seok-hyun said, "We will thank the medical staff at Gil Hospital and keep our health."

     

    11/01/2022
  • Medical Journey from Costa Rica to S.Korea, for Heart Treatment

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    Medical Journey from Costa Rica to S.Korea, for Heart Treatment

    Medical Journey from Costa Rica to S.Korea, for Heart Treatment

     

    In the midst of a pandemic, there was a patient came from Costa Rica to S.Korea for treatment of heart condition 'aortic stenosis'.

    With the support of international healthcare center, the patient was able to get medical visa quickly and received succesful treatment "TAVR (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement)" from doctor Kang, Woong Chol (cardiology).

    We truly appreciate to the patient who went through many huddles with patience and good spirit, such as 2 weeks self quarantine, series of tests and treatment, etc.

    Below are the links for original press releases regarding the above story.

     

    http://www.dailymedi.com/detail.php?number=866854&thread=22r02

    http://www.joongboo.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=363475334

    http://www.kyeongin.com/main/view.php?key=20210303010000710

    03/04/2021