Ms Kim Xuyen, aged 52 from Ho Chi Minh City, was diagnosed with stage 2B lung cancer. Although her family initially planned for her to receive treatment in Singapore, she chose to stay in Vietnam and undergo treatment at FV Hospital following a consultation with Dr Basma M’Barek, Head of Hy Vong Cancer Care Centre.

Unexpected Discovery: Silent Lung Nodule Revealed as Cancer During Routine Check-up

A long-time advocate for personal health, Ms L.T. Kim Xuyen had been closely monitoring a benign lung nodule measuring 10 to 13 mm since 2019. Following medical advice, she underwent CT scans every three months at a specialist hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. The results consistently indicated that the nodule’s size remained stable.

However, during a routine health check-up at FV Hospital following the COVID-19 lockdown, she was surprised to learn that her chest CT scan had revealed an abnormality.

Her scan was reviewed by Dr Basma M’Barek, Head of Hy Vong Cancer Care Centre. Dr Basma compared the new images with scans from two years prior and noticed something concerning: while the nodule hadn’t grown significantly in size, its density had increased — becoming more solid, which can be an early warning sign of cancer.

Dr Basma immediately ordered a PET-CT scan, which confirmed that the lesion had increased in size, measuring 17 mm in diameter.

Initially, Ms Xuyen’s family planned to take her to receive cancer treatment in Singapore. However, after a thoughtful consultation with Dr Basma M’Barek, Head of Hy Vong Cancer Care Centre at FV Hospital, Ms Xuyen felt a strong sense of trust in the French doctor’s professional yet compassionate approach.

“Everything Dr Basma explained was incredibly clear and reassuring. I immediately felt at ease. When I learned that she had worked for many years in France and chose to come to Vietnam to bring advanced cancer care here. I thought: in that case, why go anywhere else?” Ms Xuyen shared

Hy Vong Cancer Care Centre is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and advanced treatment techniques, comparable to those found in leading oncology centres in Europe or the United States. The availability of the latest cancer medications further reinforced Ms Xuyen’s confidence in her decision to remain in Vietnam for treatment at FV.

Overcoming Lung Cancer After a Three-Year Journey of Determination

Ms Xuyen’s lung nodule was located near a major blood vessel, making it inaccessible for biopsy through conventional bronchoscopy or needle aspiration. Recognising the urgency and complexity of the case, the multidisciplinary team at Hy Vong Cancer Care Centre swiftly coordinated with the Imaging & Interventional Radiology Department and the Thoracic, Vascular & Endovascular Surgery Department to develop a personalised treatment plan.

Based on PET-CT imaging and clinical evaluation, the team recommended a frozen section biopsy using minimally invasive surgery to guide the appropriate course of action. However, because the nodule was located in the middle lobe near the lung hilum, complete removal of the lobe was required.

After receiving detailed counselling from her doctors, Ms Xuyen agreed to undergo a lobectomy to remove the tumour – marking the first crucial step in her journey toward recovery.

The surgery was performed by Specialist Level II, Luong Ngoc Trung, MD, MSc – Head of the Thoracic, Vascular & Endovascular Surgery Department at FV Hospital. Dr Trung conducted a right lobectomy along with a lymph node dissection. Frozen section pathology confirmed that Ms Xuyen had stage 2B non-small cell lung adenocarcinoma, with metastasis to lymph node station 10. A subsequent biopsy of the lung nodule revealed an EGFR-positive mutation – a subtype of lung cancer that typically responds well to targeted therapy.

Ms Xuyen subsequently underwent four cycles of chemotherapy, administered once every three weeks, followed by three years of treatment with the targeted therapy drug Tagrisso (Osimertinib). Through FV Hospital’s financial support programme for lung cancer patients receiving Osimertinib, she was granted 18 free cycles of the medication, saving her over 1.6 billion VND, which covered more than 50% of the total cost of the targeted therapy.

Currently, Ms Xuyen’s health is stable with no signs of cancer recurrence. Nearly four years after beginning her cancer journey, she remains cheerful and optimistic, placing her full trust in the medical team at the Hy Vong Cancer Care Centre.

“Being treated at FV didn’t feel like going to the hospital at all,” she shared. “The doctors always listened to me and explained every symptom I experienced in detail, which helped me feel at ease and more positive. Every time I came home from the hospital, I forgot I was even a patient!”

Commenting on Ms Xuyen’s case, Dr Basma M’Barek highlighted the importance of choosing a capable medical facility for health check-ups. If the medical centre lacks the capacity to identify subtle abnormalities, patients may be given false reassurance – believing they are being properly monitored, while the disease continues to progress unnoticed.

The French doctor also added that while modern cancer treatment regimens can be administered in many locations, successfully completing a long-term treatment plan requires more than just access to effective medication – it demands close, continuous care. “Three years is a long time for patients to live with side effects. Without a dedicated medical team providing consistent monitoring and support, it would be very difficult for patients to make it through the entire course of treatment,” Dr Basma explained.

Ms Kim Xuyen is one of many patients who have successfully completed treatment at the Hy Vong Cancer Care Centre thanks to a personalised treatment regimen. Dr Basma M’Barek, Head of the Centre, develops optimal treatment plans for each patient by combining a range of cancer therapies—surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy—to eliminate cancer cells while preserving patients’ quality of life during and after treatment.

Notably, FV has recently become a pioneer in adopting the CyberKnife S7 system – one of the world’s most advanced robotic radiosurgery technologies. The system can treat tumours anywhere in the body without the need for surgery, representing a major breakthrough in non-invasive cancer treatment.

For more information about cancer treatment at FV Hospital, please contact us at (028) 35 11 33 33.