This Doctor Is Too Wealthy

”Wilms’ tumor?”

Du Heng sprang up from the large armchair.

If we talk about which tumor is the most despised, this Wilms’ tumor absolutely ranks high on the list.

The most important thing is that this disease frequently occurs in children, most commonly in those under three years old, but that doesn’t mean children above three can’t get it; it’s just that the risk is still high before they turn ten.

It’s not that adults don’t get it; it’s just that the probability is extremely small.

Among children’s tumors, this disease is directly ranked second in prevalence.

Ranking first are medulloblastoma, brain tumors, and brainstem gliomas.

They are ranked first entirely due to their location, all being in the brain.

Once you get this disease, survival years are calculated in single digits, and those who survive for more than ten years worldwide can likely be counted on two hands.

And Wilms’ tumor, its survival rate is as dismal as medulloblastoma.

It’s ranked second only because the human body has two kidneys.

Moreover, thanks to the development of modern medicine, this disease can be treated with a combination of surgery and chemotherapy. The treatment is much simpler than for medulloblastoma, and the success rate is relatively higher.

But this disease is very annoying.

Although it seems like humans have two kidneys, just having a tumor in one kidney means the other kidney also has a high chance of developing the disease.

What’s most annoying is that even if you completely remove the affected kidney, it can still recur and spread.

So, this high success rate and survival rate are only relative.

After these thoughts flashed through Du Heng’s mind, he immediately felt uneasy.

After fiercely rubbing his face, Du Heng stood up, dressed, and left, ”Since the Director is not here this afternoon, you have to pay more attention. I’m going to see what’s happening; call me if there’s any situation.”

Cao Binghe nodded and walked out of the office with Du Heng.

Director Niu greeted Du Heng warmly upon seeing him and invited him into his office, ”Sorry for the trouble, Director Du, to come all this way again.”

Du Heng was very courteous as well, ”Director Niu, you’re too polite. This is our job, after all. Please start by explaining the child’s situation, let’s try to resolve it as soon as possible.”

Director Niu did not stand on ceremony and promptly began, ”The pediatric patient is eight years old this year. Two days ago, after exhibiting symptoms such as fever and vomiting, the local hospital transferred him overnight to our hospital.

One year ago, he was found to have Wilms’ tumor in the left kidney. Finally, the left kidney was removed in our hospital, considering the child’s family situation, chemotherapy was done locally.

After the patient was admitted last night, we conducted the corresponding examinations and have confirmed that the right kidney is now showing signs of a tumor.”

Upon hearing that the child had already had the left kidney removed, Du Heng’s heart sank.

Regardless of whether the right kidney has a tumor, just the removal of the left kidney is difficult to accept, whether for a child or an adult.

The kidney is the foundation of Yin and Yang in the human body. With two kidneys working, a person is constantly plagued by various diseases. Now only one remains, the consequences are imaginable.

First, the kidney governs development and reproduction. For a child, losing one kidney means development issues are inevitable; it may lead to underdeveloped organs, short lifespan, even growth issues, or developmental abnormalities.

As for adults, the results are obvious.

Secondly, the kidney is considered the lubriant house of the waist, where the body’s strength and energy connect. Missing one essentially makes a person useless for any power-requiring actions or jobs.

Moreover, the kidney governs water functions, referring to the metabolism of the five viscera and six bowels. With only one kidney left, metabolic issues with the viscera are likely.

This signifies that in future life, various diseases will continually appear. A life of quality is virtually impossible.

The kidney’s functions are many, such as its vitality displayed, opens the ears, governs defecation and urination, manages bone growth, and nourishes the brain.

With one kidney missing, it’s akin to one person’s job suddenly doubling, resulting in workload doubling.

This implies that for someone missing a kidney, everything is half of what a typical person experiences. The sustained work pressure undoubtedly poses a massive burden on the remaining kidney, significantly shortening its effective years.

Hence, a single-kidney adult might only live well until age thirty-five before burning their incense.

The matter baffles Du Heng, how someone can ’donate’ a kidney just for a mere few thousand to 10,000-20,000 yuan?

Even if money’s tight, isn’t 10,000-20,000 yuan possible by working in an electronics factory or construction site, or collecting scraps? Wouldn’t a year of effort earn this amount?

Seeking short-term convenience, trading away decades of health and comfort, it is unknown if these people possess brains.

Now, some people, particularly those in the healthcare sector, urgently and loudly promote that a kidney’s function is only to urinate, insisting one kidney suffices, encouraging everyone to donate with assurances no harm will befall the body.

How bold and care-free is their talk, yet why do we never see them themselves undergoing matching tests to donate a kidney?

Such people act in stark contrast to the first group.

The first type is the mindless fools, the latter is the heartless rogue, who has malignancy leaking from the heel, a curse to all generations.

All adults are like this, and for a child, the result of losing a kidney is evident.

So, when Du Heng heard that the child had already undergone surgery and chemotherapy, he had little hope left in his heart.

After sighing, Du Heng looked at Director Niu and said, ”Director Niu, could you let me see the child first?”

”Of course.”

Director Niu took Du Heng to see the pediatric patient, and with just one glance, Du Heng was completely certain of his thoughts.

The child is somewhat overweight, but not the kind of obesity from eating, but edema. Because the child is young, with delicate skin, and covered in all sorts of instruments and equipment, it significantly alleviates this edema, making the child appear fat.

But those tubes and equipment on the child already indicate that the child’s kidneys aren’t functioning.

Alas!

Since you’re here, let’s take a look. What if there’s still a glimmer of hope?

Just as Du Heng’s hand touched the child’s pulse, he couldn’t help but sigh again in his heart.

It’s hopeless.

Kidney function completely ceased, no stomach qi, they are still alive, and the monitor shows a heartbeat, purely due to these tubes in the child’s body.

To put it bluntly, at this stage, for the child, it’s purely clinging to life, and each breath is agony.

However, the child no longer has the strength to express pain, and their mental state is beginning to be confused, unable to express emotions through limb movement or voice.

Director Niu looked at Du Heng’s calm face, unwillingly sighed in his heart.

After Du Heng finished his examination, the two returned to Director Niu’s office without a word.

And Director Niu asked with desperation, ”Director Du, is there any chance left?”

Du Heng gently shook his head, ”The child’s stomach qi is completely gone, even if medicine is given, he can’t absorb it.

Moreover, now his kidney function is completely ceased, even if medicine is given, he can’t metabolize it.

Most importantly, his other visceral organs have also reached their limit and can’t withstand the medication’s efficacy.”

Director Niu also became silent, sat on the chair without speaking.

Du Heng hesitated and asked, ”Director Niu, do you have any other ideas?”

Director Niu gave a bitter smile, ”What other ideas could I have? Can’t possibly cut out the only kidney as well.

Moreover, after two years of chemotherapy, as you said, the child’s body is weakened beyond recognition, even if we could remove the diseased tissue now, the child wouldn’t endure it.

Even if he endured, what about the chemotherapy afterward?

This is far off, the current issue is, the tumor has completely invaded the kidney, if surgery is to be performed, the entire kidney must be removed.”

But he only has one kidney now!

Du Heng sighed along.

If discovered earlier, he might have thought of some way to try as much as possible. But now, he truly does not have the ability.

”Should we inform his parents now, Director Niu?”

”Inform them, there’s nothing more we can do.” Director Niu gently shook his head.

Upon hearing this, Du Heng was preparing to leave, but Director Niu called out to him again, ”Doctor Du, don’t rush off. I have another case I’d like to discuss with you.”

Du Heng stopped, ”Director Niu, please go ahead.”

”It’s like this, I have a patient with stage four chronic kidney failure who sought me last month,” Director Niu said slowly, ”Initially, I thought of inviting Director Du to take a look when they came.

But this person hasn’t come during this period, so I haven’t invited Director Du.

However, you’ve been busy lately, I know, waiting specifically for this patient might not fit into your schedule.

Just as you’re here today, help me contemplate and see if traditional Chinese medicine may have any good solutions.”

Stage four chronic kidney failure, isn’t that uremia.

Du Heng frowned.

Stage four or five kidney failure is the advanced stage. At this level, the patient’s kidneys can’t perform normal functions, unable to meet the body’s basic metabolism needs.

And this is called uremia.

Uremia has many causes, such as chronic nephritis, diabetic kidney disease, hypertensive kidney disease, polycystic kidney, chronic pyelonephritis, etc.

But overall, this disease isn’t sudden, it results from long-term overuse of the kidneys.