Xili urged Su Yufan to hurry up and eat.
When Su Yufan went out, Zhao Wulan had already warmed up breakfast, and had even nimbly stir-fried two dishes.
“Susu, it’s getting late. Eat more. I heard from Xili that you’re going to Kunming later, and I’m afraid you’ll get hungry on the road.”
The two exchanged a smile. Su Yufan stopped being polite; it was obvious that the dishes on the table were all her favorites.
Su Yufan hurried through breakfast. Xili had already driven the car to the entrance and was waiting.
He had also brought along some carved artworks to supply to merchants in Kunming.
The He family could no longer do without Xili now. He could do anything, never complained, and was very hardworking.
He Wenkang had taken in six apprentices on and off, and only Xili had agreed to work for free for a year.
So, in the eyes of the He family, he was practically half a family member.
The He family rarely opposed anything he decided.
The two drove all the way to Kunming. Su Yufan roughly browsed through some of the hottest posts and comments. It would be a lie to say there were no ripples in her heart.
Only, it still wasn’t the best time for her to strike back. She could let this fire burn a little hotter.
By the time they met Duan Heng, it was already seven in the evening. He had been waiting at a Simao restaurant the entire time.
When the three met, Duan Heng was burning with anxiety, and even Xili grew uneasy along with him.
“Aiya, how can you two stay so calm? Public opinion online has been raging for two days. Su Yufan, why haven’t you responded?”
Su Yufan unhurriedly poured tea for them, and even applied the hand cream she carried with her.
“What am I supposed to respond to? Aren’t you my fan? Why aren’t you going to fight the haters?”
Xili was somewhat surprised. Doctor Duan was actually Su Yufan’s fan too?
“Doctor Duan, as for the matter online, we can observe it for the time being. Let’s talk about Su Yufan’s treatment plan first, all right?”
The only reason they had come to Kunming was to hear Duan Heng discuss this matter.
“My graduate school classmate from Xiehe said that there’s a latest targeted drug overseas that is currently recruiting subjects for Phase III trials.
“He discussed Su Yufan’s special genetic test results with some big names in the industry. Most of them suggest that Su Yufan join this trial group and make a trip to Hainan.
“After doing another necessary examination, she can first take the drug over there for a period of time and see how things go.
“The targets of this drug match many of Su Yufan’s. My own suggestion is still a more conservative one: go straight to immunotherapy.
“One cycle every twenty-one days. The reaction isn’t severe, the side effects are very minor, and it won’t be painful.
“It’s just that for three days after the medication, she’ll feel a bit unwell, but she’ll need to persist for two years. I can apply for a year of free donated medication for you. Altogether, it’ll be around seventy thousand.
“Because the Phase III trial drug has only completed Phase I, although the conclusions are good, there aren’t enough cases.
“Everyone’s bodily rejection is different, so the risk is relatively high. Su Yufan is an early-stage patient. I don’t think there’s any need to take such a big risk.”
Su Yufan had been listening carefully to Duan Heng’s words, weighing in her heart exactly how she should choose.
“Is there no third option?” Su Yufan helped rinse the two men’s bowls and chopsticks with tea.
This was her way of thanking the two of them for their recent help through action. Though it was extremely insignificant, it also showed her attitude.
Xili was afraid she would scald herself with the hot tea, and pressed down on the back of her hand. “Don’t move. I’ll do it.”
Duan Heng’s gaze silently fell on their hands pressed together.
He lightly picked up a stir-fried pea and tossed it into his mouth, chewing it to pieces before speaking. “The third option is chemotherapy. We chose two plans for you. One is paclitaxel plus carboplatin.
“This is the most classic chemotherapy regimen. In most cases, the effectiveness can reach over fifty percent.
“But it’s the harshest on blood cells and white blood cells, and it will cause hair loss, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, discomfort, and you’ll also have to have a chemotherapy catheter implanted near your heart.”
Su Yufan fell into serious thought, weighing the pros and cons.
“What if I don’t undergo any treatment? I’ve read the latest international guidelines. The earliest stage can go untreated.”
“If you were an ordinary type, without so many genetic mutations, I could recommend that you get checked once a month and observe it on schedule.
“But yours is the rarest of all types. There aren’t many cases in the entire world. Those classmates of mine hope you can enter the trial group, at least to provide a sample case.
“Of course, I’ll consider things from your standpoint. You haven’t reached the end of the road where you must enter the group.
“I suggest you undergo immunotherapy, mainly for prevention. Although it’s early-stage, with something like cancer, who knows when it might make a comeback?”
The more Xili listened, the more engaged he became, and he picked up the topic. “The immunotherapy you’re talking about is more or less like getting an IV infusion?
“It only takes one day to complete, then after resting two or three days, she can recover her strength and be about the same as a normal person? There aren’t any other side effects?”
“Yes. In the past two years, many people with genetic mutations have chosen immunotherapy, and the results have been very good.
“My classmate and I also seriously discussed Su Yufan’s mutated targets. There are currently two immunotherapy drugs suitable for her, and they aren’t considered expensive. After discussing it with them, I actually became quite optimistic.
“This is how I’m considering it. Su Yufan can undergo two years of immunotherapy. If the Phase III trial drug successfully gets approved and enters the market during this time,
“then in the unlikely event that Su Yufan relapses, she can just continue with that medication for treatment. Internationally, many cancers are now treated like chronic diseases. If resistance develops, you switch drugs. There are many options, though of course the newer the drug, the more expensive it is.
“One of my classmate’s patients has a rare type. They’ve persisted from 2008 until now, seventeen years, and spent nearly ten million in total, extending their life by many years.
“Of course, Su Yufan’s situation is comparatively simple. I don’t recommend choosing chemotherapy or entering the trial group.”
“Doctor Duan, if I enter the trial group and the disease progresses, and the treatment proves ineffective, what will happen?” After thinking it over repeatedly, Su Yufan asked the question.
“They’ll immediately have you withdraw from the group and arrange another treatment plan for you. After entering the group, you’ll be examined roughly once every three to seven days.
“There will be specialized doctors following your treatment situation. When the time comes, based on the progression of your condition, they’ll formulate a corresponding treatment plan anew.
“The biggest risk is that you won’t be able to withstand the side effects of the new drug, and an acute condition suddenly erupts, leading to death. There wouldn’t be time for rescue or follow-up treatment.”
Xili’s palm suddenly filled with sweat.
That sounded so terrifying.
“Doctor Duan, if it were you, what would you choose?” Su Yufan had already made a choice in her heart.
“I’m a doctor. If it were me, of course I’d choose the experimental drug first. Based on the current materials and data, the new drug is indeed very effective. As a doctor, I’m willing to provide some help for the progress of medicine.
“Their external sample results are still in the confidential stage. As far as I know, there have been late-stage patients who suddenly died.”
“Then I’ll choose the trial group. Doctor Duan, please help me contact that side. At the earliest, I can fly over the day after tomorrow to join the group.”
Xili was so startled by these words that he turned his head to look at her, beginning to stammer.
“You want to… join the group? Why? Your situation isn’t suited to joining the group. You’re early-stage, and you have better choices. I think you should listen to Doctor Duan’s suggestion and undergo immunotherapy.”