Furthermore, removing one tumor can trigger the simultaneous growth of cancerous tumors in multiple other locations. It’s as though one has opened the terrifying Pandora’s Box. The more one cuts, the more they appear; cancer cells spread even faster, leading to the patient’s rapid death.
This is also why, upon discovering the potential spread of cancer cells, doctors regretfully indicate that surgery is no longer an option.
The only choices left are interventional treatments, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy.
Whichever treatment method, the goal is to kill or inhibit cancer cells through medication. By this stage, one can merely extend the patient’s life, a cure is no longer possible.
For stage II, even stage III gastric cancer, as long as treatment is actively pursued, the five-year survival rate can generally reach around 60%.
Many people don’t understand why, knowing full well that the cancer cells have spread, patients still endure the immense pain and spend a fortune on treatment. Does this struggle at death’s door make any sense?
The answer is, it does.
Not only can it provide more clinical data for doctors, but there’s also the possibility of new medications emerging, leading to the complete cure of cancer.
In this age of rapid technological development and flourishing advancements, everything is possible.
Every year, a significant number of new cancer treatment drugs are released, each targeting a specific type of cancer. Some lucky patients who use these new drugs indeed succeed in defeating the disease and make a full recovery.
After successfully performing a gastric cancer surgery, Zhou Can earned a reward of 100 Experience Points for the Incision Skill and 100 Experience Points for the Separation Skill.
This made him very satisfied.
Endoscopic surgery has always been his favorite.
Because performing endoscopic surgery tends to yield higher Experience Points rewards from the system.
Currently, his Incision Skill and Separation Skill are both progressing towards Level 5, while his Anastomosis is quite behind, only at the lower tier of Chief Level.
"Director Shang, do you see any area in need of improvement? If not, I will remove the endoscope."
After finishing the surgery, Zhou Can sought guidance from Director Shang.
"Hmm, the surgery was done very well. Remove the endoscope and prepare to send the patient to the recovery room. Can you handle the postoperative medical orders independently?"
Director Shang asked Zhou Can.
"I can try, but I’ll definitely need you to oversee my work."
Zhou Can had never independently completed postoperative medical orders for a gastric cancer patient before.
Since Director Shang offered him this opportunity to practice, he did not hesitate. He attempted to issue a series of medical orders for the patient.
Director Shang oversaw his work, correcting some mistakes and omissions.
Eventually, a complete and correct set of medical orders was issued.
[Pharmacological differentiation Experience Points +1.]
[For completing the postoperative medical orders for gastric cancer for the first time, you are rewarded with an additional 100 Pharmacological differentiation Experience Points.]
Unexpectedly, after completing the surgery, he also earned an extra 100 Experience Points.
And these were for the challenging-to-level-up skill of Pharmacological differentiation.
This made Zhou Can feel as if he were on a grand avenue to rapidly level up his Pharmacological differentiation.
His current Pharmacological differentiation was at a moderate level among Resident Doctors, with current Experience Points: Level 3 705/1000. With the addition of these 101 points, he was promoted to an excellent level among Resident Doctors. Just a couple more such generous rewards, and he would be able to rise to Chief Level.
"Getting medical skill Experience Points in Internal Medicine is just too thrilling."
Zhou Can was grinning from ear to ear.
With this operation complete, Director Shang still had two more surgeries to perform.
The next patient brought in was a 42-year-old male with an intestinal tumor.
This made Zhou Can envious.
He rarely performed endoscopic surgeries on the intestines, so this was a great opportunity to practice.
However, cautious as he always was, he did not rush to seize this surgical opportunity.
Instead, he carefully reviewed the patient’s medical examination data and, feeling confident, he tentatively said to Director Shang with a bashful face, "Director Shang, I would like to compete for this surgery too. Would you scold me for being insatiable?"
"Hmph, you do have a sense of your limits."
Director Shang humphed with barely a change in facial expression, yet his eyes held a trace of a smile when looking at Zhou Can.
What kind of person was Zhou Can? Seeking surgery opportunities, his skin was thicker than city walls.
Even Dr. Xu, who was so strict, had no way to deal with him.
Director Shang was probably even more helpless against him.
"I carefully examined the patient’s tumor size and location. I have performed colorectal cancer surgeries in Digestive Surgery and General Surgery. I’m confident I can do this surgery well; may I assist you with it?"
Zhou Can asked eagerly.
"You’re confident, you say?"
Director Shang stared at him, his expression serious.
Huang Xinggui silently cursed this trainee doctor for being shameless, grabbing one surgery opportunity after another.
And it frustrated him that his own surgical skills as a Chief Doctor were not even on par with this trainee.
Huang Xinggui did not feel confident in carrying out either of the two surgeries.
Thus, he could only watch as Zhou Can seized the opportunities, utterly powerless.
If you don’t have the skill, the smartest move is to stay put and watch. Attempting to fight over a surgical chance without the skill means risking everything, not just the hard-earned trust from senior doctors but also your own reputation.
Seeking more surgical opportunities in the future would be fraught with difficulties.
Therefore, Dr. Huang Xinggui could only stand aside, watching with envy.
As for the three graduate students under Director Shang’s tutelage, expecting to perform endoscopic surgeries on patients was just wishful thinking.
They should earnestly learn the four basic puncture techniques and hone their fundamental surgical skills before aspiring for more.
"No diamond, no work with porcelain. I wouldn’t say I’m percent confident, but I have great assurance to volunteer for the challenge," Zhou Can said.