Hong Kong liver cancer patient Mr Chan* said his tumour disappeared following a painless ultrasound treatment that felt similar to “taking a nap”.
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The 68-year-old retiree, who had been battling liver cancer since 2013, was among 26 patients who had received a histotripsy treatment conducted by the Chinese University of Hong Kong since April this year.
“There was no pain at all. It was just like taking a nap,” Chan said. “I could be discharged the next day and lead a normal life afterwards. The others may not even know I underwent treatment if I did not tell them.”
Last year, tycoon Li Ka-shing donated three histotripsy machines, each worth US$3 million, to the medical schools of Chinese University and the University of Hong Kong (HKU), and to the Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital.
Histotripsy, developed by the University of Michigan, is a non-invasive procedure that uses focused ultrasound waves to disrupt and liquefy liver tumours without the need for surgery or incisions.
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In the past, Chan had received multiple treatments, including the removal of his right lobe of liver, microwave and radiofrequency ablations – heat-based treatments that used different types of energy to destroy cancer cells.