HEALTH-TECH: Thừa Thiên-Huế, Viet Nam – When cancer becomes stepping stone to scientific achievement

Staring cancer in the face

Born in 1977, Hoài chose to follow the scientific path after graduating from the Ha Noi University of Pharmacy instead of becoming a pharmaceutical sales representative with high salary.

She successfully defended her PhD thesis with the highest marks and became the youngest associate professor of Huế University at 35.

Up to now, Hoài has been in charge of six ministerial research projects and 84 researches that have been published in scientific magazines, 21 of which have been published in international magazines and conferences.

Surprisingly, the young scientist used to be a cancer patient herself. She was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, but her disease could not dampen her passion for scientific research.

“I almost collapsed when doctors told me I had cancer. I was overwhelmed with sadness, but at the same time I thought I needed to be stronger and make full use of my time to get treatment and conduct research,” Hoài says.

She underwent three operations and then radiotherapy, which made her understand that diseases can take away many things from a person, notably health and time.

Even though she seriously followed her treatment regimen, she never took a break from her studies.

“Once when I was pursuing a ministerial research topic, I spent the whole night writing until dawn. I want to fulfil all my intentions. I see myself having too many things to do. I arrive at the lab everyday, and most of the time I work until the very last day of the year before Tết (Lunar New Year). After Tết, I wish the lab’s doorkeeper opens it early so that I can get to work,” Hoài says.

Her passion for science and spirit to overcome fate has inspired her students and colleagues.

“Hoài has always accomplished her duties during her 18 years at the Huế University of Medicine and Pharmacy,” says Võ Tam, vice dean of the university and Hoài’s colleague and teacher. “Admiringly, she was inspiring her students, ceaselessly conducting researches and helping patients with better ways of treatment even as she was struggling against a fatal disease. She has set a good example for many students and colleagues.”

Luckily for her, Hoài’s condition became stable. She was told that the cancer cells inside her body had been tamed.

But the young scientist had no time to rejoice. She is busy conducting further studies on medicinal herbs.

“It takes a great deal of time to study medicinal herbs. For example, it takes nearly 20 years to study the Crinum latifolium plant before extracting its ingredients for medicines,” she says.

“The plants that I have studied have just been experimented in the lab. At the moment, I am looking for other ways to further my study. If I receive financial support, I will go back to live with the ethnic Pa Ko and Vân Kiều to collect more samples, study them more thoroughly and conduct clinical experiments before having them produced into medicines.

“Until then, these medicinal herbs can be grown on a large scale,” she says, adding that she hopes to improve the lives of the local people with their traditional medicines while patients can benefit from good-quality and reasonably-priced medicines.

“I think being able to live and work every day is a great source of happiness,” Hoài says. VNS