During the four-year journey of fighting cancer, with multiple disease progressions and repeated adjustments to treatment plans, Mr. Cai, a 73-year-old patient with small cell lung cancer, and his family felt deeply lost. Therefore, they decided to travel thousands of miles from Lanzhou to Hainan to seek the expertise of renowned oncologist Professor Yang Nong for a precise diagnosis and individualized treatment plan.
01
A four-year tug-of-war: surgery, recurrence, reoperation, and further recurrence
Mr. Cai's journey against cancer began in 2022. After being diagnosed with small cell lung cancer, he underwent preoperative chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy, surgical resection, postoperative chemotherapy, and immune maintenance therapy. The treatment path was arduous.
However, at the end of 2024, Mr. Cai underwent a follow-up examination and discovered a cerebellar lesion, indicating disease progression. He underwent another surgical procedure and received postoperative radiotherapy. In April 2025, the cranial lesion recurred. In July of the same year, a follow-up examination due to sacrococcygeal pain revealed an intraspinal lesion in the sacral canal, indicating disease progression.
Afterwards, Mr. Cai tried chemotherapy, but severe nausea and vomiting made it unbearable for him. In early 2026, the doctor adjusted the treatment plan to anti-angiogenic targeted therapy combined with gamma knife therapy, while continuing immunotherapy.
Over the past four years, the treatment plan has been adjusted multiple times, and the family's hearts have been on edge the entire time. "Every time we change the plan, we are both hopeful and afraid of disappointment," Mr. Cai's daughter recalled.
Mr. Cai's daughter had previously followed Professor Yang Nong, "He has high patient ratings online, decisive treatment plans, and is particularly experienced.".
Coincidentally, their relatives who were temporarily residing in Hainan learned that Professor Yang made regular visits there, and strongly recommended them to give it a try. After discussing, the family immediately decided to go to Hainan and seek Professor Yang in person.
02
"First, ascertain the current situation, then implement precise measures"
In April this year, Mr. Cai arrived at Professor Yang Nong's consultation room as promised. Professor Yang did not rush to draw a conclusion, but instead retrieved Mr. Cai's imaging data from the past few years one by one and carefully compared them. "Based on past imaging data, only the lesions in the brain and sacrum have progressed, and both of these areas have already been treated. There is currently no new progression in the chest and abdomen."
He immediately suggested that Mr. Cai should first undergo a reexamination of his brain, chest, and abdomen, and then determine the next strategy after a comprehensive evaluation. After the new examination results came out, Professor Yang carefully reviewed the films and provided a clear plan: "Continue with immunotherapy combined with anti-angiogenic targeted drugs. This plan is suitable for your current situation."
Seeing that Mr. Cai and his family were still somewhat worried, Professor Yang added, "As long as you adhere to the treatment according to this plan and combine it with regular monitoring, your condition will improve. Don't worry too much. With a good mood, your body can repair itself better."
Information chart of Professor Yang Nong's outpatient visits
03
"This trip was a good choice."
Outside the consultation room, Mr. Cai let out a long sigh of relief. "After listening to his analysis, I told my daughter that we had found the right person this time. Professor Yang not only laid out a plan, but also kept comforting me, giving me hope for this illness."
After experiencing repeated progression of his condition and multiple adjustments to treatment plans, Mr. Cai's journey of seeking medical care, spanning thousands of kilometers from the northwest to the south of China, has not been smooth. However, during this consultation with Professor Yang Nong, he not only gained a clear "route" for subsequent treatment but also felt a sense of reassurance that he had not experienced for a long time.
Expert reminder
Professor Yang Nong reminded that although small cell lung cancer is highly invasive, significant progress has been made in recent years through comprehensive strategies such as immunotherapy combined with anti-angiogenic targeted therapy. For patients who have undergone multiple lines of treatment, precise assessment, individualized treatment plans, and standardized follow-up are crucial.
He emphasized that for patients with advanced small cell lung cancer who have undergone multiple treatments and experienced disease relapse, it is crucial not to blindly change treatment plans or passively give up.
In clinical practice, accurately reviewing patients' past treatment history, comprehensively assessing lesion status and physical tolerance, customizing individualized comprehensive treatment plans, and combining with long-term standardized follow-up monitoring and dynamic adjustment of diagnostic and treatment strategies are the key core to achieving survival with tumor, stabilizing the condition, and improving prognosis.
Expert Introduction
Yang Nong, Chief Physician, Doctoral Supervisor
Long-term employed experts of Hainan Cancer Hospital and Hainan Chengmei Hospital
He currently serves as Vice President of the Second People's Hospital of Hunan Province, head of the oncology department, and director of the "Yang Nong Famous Doctor Clinic" / "Yang Nong Famous Doctor Expert Team Clinic". He is also a chief expert of the National Major Scientific and Technological Special Project, a member of the Lung Cancer Special Committee of the National Tumor Quality Control Center, the director of the Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Lung Cancer, and the director of the Hunan Provincial Respiratory Tumor Clinical Medicine Research Center. He has been dedicated to precision targeted therapy for lung cancer and gastrointestinal tumors, as well as to challenging, recurrent, and drug-resistant clinical cases, scientific research, and teaching for nearly 30 years.
He has been honored with the title of "National Famous Doctor - Excellent Style" in the 6th edition, and has been recommended as "Annual Good Doctor" by patients across the country for 8 consecutive years, as well as being awarded the title of "First Brain Doctor - Famous Doctor". He has authored national guidelines, boasts over 500,000 followers across the internet, and has achieved over 120 million views in cancer prevention and treatment science popularization.
Medical expertise
Specialties: Precision treatment of lung cancer, breakthrough in refractory, recurrent, and drug-resistant cases with brain metastasis; individualized and precise treatment of brain metastases from lung cancer; early diagnosis of pulmonary nodules and lung cancer; personalized and comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of solid tumors; clinical trials of the latest immunotherapy/targeted therapy drugs.
With nearly 30 years of experience in precision immunotherapy for lung cancer, he has led nearly 400 Phase I-III clinical trials of new anticancer drugs (including Class 1 national new drugs), and is particularly skilled in treating complex cases such as refractory, recurrent, and drug-resistant conditions, as well as brain metastases.
He is also proficient in the comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of multiple cancer types, individualized, and interdisciplinary, covering a wide range of solid tumors (such as stomach, intestine, brain, etc.).
[Visit Information]
1. Clinic Hours and Location
July 4th, 14:00-17:00
Sixth Consultation Area of Hainan Cancer Hospital
2. [Appointment registration]
Follow the official account of Hainan Cancer Hospital for "appointment registration"
3. Health consultation
18976324546
[Friendly Reminder]
To help the expert understand your condition quickly, please bring the following:
1. ID card, medical insurance card, and mobile phone
2. Accompanying direct relatives (with decision-making authority)
3. Relevant previous examination results, organized chronologically
4. Paper medical records from previous consultations
5. Surgical case slides, wax blocks, or 20-30 glass slides
6. Pathological diagnosis report
7. Hospitalization medical records
8. Recent relevant examination results
9. The patients current treatment plan
10. The most urgent questions to consult