Standing on Life's Precipice, She Refused to Cede Bodily Autonomy

Faced with a life-altering choice, she declared: "I will neither sacrifice my breast nor abandon hope for survival."

47-year-old LAZZAT, a renowned female lawyer from Kazakhstan, exudes confidence and composure in the courtroom, tirelessly fighting for her clients' rights. For years, she maintained an intense work rhythm, habitually ignoring her body's signals.

Over the past two years, she frequently felt fatigued and weak, with fluctuating blood pressure. Attributing it to work stress, she didn't seek timely medical attention. In January 2025, during a kidney ultrasound at a local hospital, lesions were unexpectedly discovered in her liver. While bathing one day, she incidentally felt a lump in her breast. Following her doctor's advice, she underwent a full-body checkup, which revealed she had Stage IV breast cancer with multiple liver metastases.

[LAZZAT]

This news left her feeling as if she were teetering on the edge of life's precipice, just one step away from falling. The local doctors' recommendation for 8-9 months of chemotherapy followed by a full mastectomy, warning that the disease would be hard to control otherwise, plunged her heart into despair. "My breast is part of me, not just an organ but a symbol of my femininity. I absolutely refuse to have it removed; I must find a better solution." After the initial shock, LAZZAT heard a powerful voice within her.

Determined to preserve her breast, she decided against local treatment. She consulted cancer hospitals in Turkey, India, South Korea, and other countries, seeking a treatment plan that offered both "cancer fighting + breast preservation," but no hospital could promise her this dual outcome.

In her moment of despair, a friend from Aktau recommended Guangzhou Modern Cancer Hospital and its minimally invasive anti-cancer techniques capable of preserving the breast, suggesting she come to China for treatment. After a remote consultation, LAZZAT received an integrated minimally invasive treatment plan from our hospital's breast cancer specialists, further boosting her confidence in the future.

"Honestly, I chose this hospital without hesitation. After learning about the minimally invasive treatment plan for breast cancer, I was sure they would save my breast!" So, LAZZAT decisively booked her flight, arranged her itinerary, and chose to come to China for treatment.

Remarkable Results in Two Courses: Breast Preserved, Tumors Vanished

In April 2025, accompanied by her sister, LAZZAT arrived at our hospital and underwent a full-body examination. CT results showed a left breast mass approximately 2×1cm in size, multiple liver metastases with the largest nodule over 4cm in diameter, and liver function already impaired by the tumors.

After a comprehensive assessment, the breast cancer specialist team devised a personalized treatment plan centered on "breast-preserving minimally invasive therapy." They employed a combined strategy of interventional chemoembolization and microwave ablation to precisely eliminate the tumors while preserving the breast.

Interventional Therapy: A very thin catheter delivers high-concentration anti-cancer drugs directly into the tumor's feeding artery. This not only blocks the tumor's blood supply, "starving" it, but also injects drugs directly into the tumor. The local drug concentration is 2 to 92 times higher than that achieved through intravenous chemotherapy. This concentrates the drug's effect and significantly reduces the systemic toxic side effects of traditional chemotherapy, making it suitable for patients with liver metastases.

Microwave Ablation: Requires only a percutaneous puncture with precise targeting. It can destroy breast tumors smaller than 3cm in situ in one session, leaving no scars and preserving the breast's appearance. The combination of interventional therapy and microwave ablation provides a strategy of "localized precision strike + systemic control," achieving the multiple goals of breast preservation, tumor reduction, and symptom relief.

[Breast Tumor: Before Treatment vs. After Treatment]

[Liver Metastases: Before Treatment vs. After Treatment - Tumors Mostly Gone]

"The procedure went very smoothly. I like this treatment method because it only kills the tumor; I didn't have to remove my breast, my immunity wasn't lowered, I had minimal pain, and it achieved good results in a short time," LAZZAT expressed happily.

After two courses of treatment, LAZZAT's breast tumor was completely inactivated and had disappeared upon re-examination. The liver metastases had shrunk by more than half, her liver function indicators returned to normal, and tumor markers CEA and CA153 levels dropped significantly. Thanks to the meticulous care of the medical staff, her liver function improved, her feelings of fatigue and weakness markedly decreased, and she felt a long-lost sense of vitality.

By her third visit to the hospital, she came alone for a check-up. Her physical strength and mental state were sufficient for the long flight, and she had even resumed her normal life. This outcome thrilled LAZZAT and her family. She felt she had made the right choice; this overseas medical journey was absolutely worthwhile!

Life is Given Once, Health Must Not Be Taken Lightly

Looking back on her six-month anti-cancer journey, LAZZAT's strongest feeling is gratitude. "I never imagined that far from home, I could meet such a warm group of people in China."

She believes the medical staff at our hospital gave her the best possible treatment. Through their daily encouragement and support, they also helped her restore her psychological energy. "Everything in the hospital is well-organized, the service is very warm. When I arrived, staff came to pick me up at the airport. Everything they do is for the patient," she said sincerely.

[LAZZAT with Our Hospital's Russian Translator]

To meet the challenges of cancer more proactively, she shared her exclusive method. "I learned the breathing technique created by Dutch athlete Wim Hof online. This method has been very helpful for me; it relieves stress and enhances my resilience. I also practice mind-body therapy and meditation, etc." During her hospitalization, she actively participated in hospital-organized Mother's Day and Nurses' Day activities. Amidst the festive atmosphere, she felt her spirits lifted even further.

Today, LAZZAT fully understands the meaning of health. She wants to tell other patients: "Life is a gift from God. Life is given only once; we need to cherish it. Getting cancer was a profound lesson for me. We shouldn't overwork ourselves, be angry, or worry excessively – all of these affect health. Living in the present and enjoying life, that is the meaning of life!"