From the street looking through the nondescript gates, one would never know that the Can Tho Oncology Hospital is a very special place. The building looks like all the others on the street except for the constant flow of people around the entrance. Once inside the gates, indoors and out merge into one space buzzing with activity. Doctor’s and nurses rushing about trying to accommodate the throngs of patients waiting to be cared for. This small oncology hospital serves about 20 million people in the Mekong delta region. There are 120 beds, one cobalt radiation machine (donated by India), one ultrasound machine (again donated), one microscope for pathology (yep, donated) and at any given time 200-300 patients in house. This means at times there are 2-3 patients sharing 1 bed. Make shift beds of lawn furniture are set up outside to accommodate the overflow. Not to mention the 300 or so patients that are seen daily on an out patient basis by the 45 doctors and nurses on staff. It is this incredibly dedicated, talented and compassionate staff that make the Can Tho Oncology Hospital such a truly inspiring place.
The hospital is open 7 days a week, from 7:00am to 5:00pm to see patients, but it is humming around the clock to try to handle their ever increasing patient load. The radio therapy unit treats over 50 patients a day, one of the doctors Dr. Trung told us that by 9:45am he had already seen 48 patients. You would think that it would be total chaos, but it isn’t. The patients define the word patience, they are calm, polite, helpful to each other and grateful for the quality care that they are receiving. The doctors and staff are immensely capable and caring. Their level of commitment and dedication to their patients and the hospital are a direct reflection of Dr. Thang Quyet Huynh, the director of the hospital. Dr. Thang is a rare and special person. He is a pioneer in the field of oncology in Vietnam. He is both and MD and a PhD. He and 4 other doctors started the oncology department in Can Tho in 1999 as part of the general hospital. In 2007 a new general hospital was built and the oncology division remained on that site to become it’s own facility. It is also a teaching hospital, training new doctors. Dr. Thang has established an English language club so the doctors can have better access to new techniques, procedures and technologies to give the highest quality care they can to their patients and in order to publish their own articles. The hospital evaluates and implements new procedures for the country. They are working on a cancer prevention campaign to educate the population and other doctor’s. All of this on a shoe string budget, with very limited equipment and supplies, in cramped, overcrowded conditions.
To me what makes this hospital so special is that under these taxing conditions, the patients are receiving wonderful care in every aspect from the family of doctors led by Dr. Thang. And they truly are like a family, they are kind and respectful to each other and the patients, they are nurturing yet stern with the young doctors and students. There is a great feeling of love and compassion here that is unique and palpable. Even though in Vietnam 70-80% of cancer patients are diagnosed in late stages, 3 or 4, everyone at the hospital remains positive, they look to the bright spots, the successes, and provide quality care and dignity for each patient. It is no wonder that Dr. Thang was just named president of the Vietnam Cancer Society.
I am in awe and completely humbled by our experience in Can Tho and I am deeply grateful to Dr. Thang and his staff for their generosity, kindness and openness. My next post will will go into more details about our very full 2 days spent there.



















































More Can Tho
We only spent 2 days in Can Tho, but by the time we left we felt as though we too were now a part of the family here. In that short time we were given complete access to the hospital, staff and patients. We had a team of 3 young doctors at our sides constantly. Dr. Trung, Dr. Van and Dr. Kim were our interpreters, guides, teachers, motor bikes chauffeurs, and chop stick instructors. They are only 24 years old, but wise beyond their years. They are Dr. Thang’s young protoges, he treats them (and the patients) as if they were his own children. He is their teacher, mentor, guide and friend. It was great to get a glimpse into the training of these young doctors. I am sure they will become wonderful physicians and will have a great impact on the face of cancer in Vietnam.
Dr. Van, Dr. Kim and Dr. Trung
One evening one of the surgeons, Dr. Luar invited us, our “guides” and some of the other staff to the home of one of his patients Mrs. Tran Thi Su for a family dinner. Mrs Tran is a survivor of breast cancer. She was diagnosed on September 11, 2001. She was terrified, afraid to treat it, but she believed in Dr. Luar and underwent a mastectomy, 6 rounds of chemo and hormone replacement. She is quite well today. Her advice is to get treatment early, trust your doctors and listen to the advice of other patients. Don’t be afraid of death, you can be cured and survive. Having dinner in her home was a great glimpse into the doctor-patient relationships that are established at the hospital in Can Tho. Dr. Luar was truly a part of the Tran family. This is the norm in Can Tho, they treat their patients as if they were their own flesh and blood. It is a beautiful thing to see and an experience I will always treasure.
Tran Thi Su
Dr. Luar