This patient experience describes lung nodule surgery at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center in Guangzhou. The patient had multiple lung nodules and underwent a short hospitalization pathway involving consultation, admission, preoperative testing, surgery, ICU observation, and discharge.
The case is shared for informational reference only. It should not be treated as medical advice or a guarantee of cost, bed availability, timing, or treatment outcome.
The patient's father was diagnosed with multiple lung nodules in 2022. Traditional Chinese medicine did not shrink the nodules, and several larger new nodules appeared in both lungs. The family decided to pursue surgery at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center in May 2024.
The family booked a Monday morning appointment with Professor Ma. The professor recommended surgical resection. A bed happened to be available on Tuesday, surgery was scheduled for Wednesday, and discharge was planned for Friday.
The article noted that many patients may wait one to two weeks for a bed because demand is high. In this case, the family was able to move quickly because of bed availability.
Appointments could be made through the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center mini program. Appointment slots were released seven days in advance, with different release times for the Yuexiu and Huangpu districts.
Admission procedures started at 8 am on Tuesday, while formal processing by medical staff began after 9 am. The patient was instructed to fast after 10 pm the previous night for preoperative blood tests, pulmonary function testing, and electrocardiogram in the morning.
The patient completed contrast-enhanced CT in the afternoon after waiting in line for more than one hour. Cardiac color Doppler ultrasound was scheduled later in the day, with a long queue forming before self-service check-in opened. The ultrasound was completed around 8 pm.
The patient fasted again after 10 pm the previous night. Surgery was the last case of the day and started after 6 pm. Family members signed anesthesia consent and waited in the general ward. The surgery took about one hour.
Two nodules in the left upper lobe and one nodule in the middle lobe were removed. The patient stayed one night in the ICU. The family prepared daily necessities, a urinal for use if there was no urinary catheter, anti-embolism stockings, and alcohol wipes as advised by the medical team.
The patient was transferred from ICU to the general ward at 9:30 am on Thursday. Regular diet was allowed, and high-protein intake was recommended. Active coughing was encouraged for lung rehabilitation, and frequent limb movement was recommended to help prevent thrombosis.
The patient had a low-grade fever that did not exceed 38.5 degrees Celsius. The doctor confirmed that this was within the expected postoperative range. The chest tube was removed that night, and discharge was planned for Friday morning.
The patient was discharged directly on Friday morning after anti-inflammatory infusions and catheter removal. Personal items were collected, and discharge payment was completed through the mini program.
The ward was on the 11th floor of the Yuexiu district campus. The article noted that quick discharge helped release beds for other patients. Because multiple nodules were removed and the patient was older, the case also involved ICU stay and about one week of low-grade fever after surgery.
Total hospitalization and examination costs were approximately 41,000 RMB. After Shenzhen social insurance reimbursement, the out-of-pocket payment was approximately 6,000 RMB.
An additional approximately 4,000 RMB was paid after discharge for pathological examination. This amount was self-funded and unreimbursed at the time of the article. Future reimbursement in Shenzhen was uncertain. Invoices could be printed at self-service machines in the second-floor corridor.
This case shows how a thoracic oncology surgery pathway may move quickly when a specialist consultation, bed availability, preoperative tests, surgery, ICU observation, and discharge are coordinated within a few days. Patients should prepare previous CT images, reports, medication history, insurance details, and post-discharge pathology and follow-up questions before arranging care.
