A doctor with over 20 years of dedication to cancer patients.

A tireless journey to save the lives of cancer patients.

For over 20 years dedicated to healing and saving lives, Master of Science, Specialist Doctor II Thai Doan Cong has successfully performed surgery on thousands of cancer patients, bringing health and joy to countless people. Behind the happy smiles and grateful eyes of patients after accurate diagnosis and successful treatment lie the hardships and concerns that doctors must face.

In recent years, the number of surgeries performed by the General Surgery Department of Cua Dong General Hospital has increased rapidly. In 2024 alone, the department performed nearly 8,000 surgeries, of which about 30% were major surgeries for gastrointestinal cancer. A typical surgery lasts 2-3 hours, with some difficult cases lasting 5-7 hours. For each surgery, the doctors must maintain high concentration and be careful and meticulous at every step.

Dr. Cong shared: “When I chose to become a surgeon, I mentally prepared myself for the pressure. Because every time I hold a scalpel, I'm fighting alongside the patient for their life against death, and the patient's family also places all their faith and hope in the surgery's success. Therefore, I must always be in a state of trying my best, using all my energy to perform the surgery as best as possible. Even after the surgery is over, I'm still worried because I have to monitor for post-operative complications.”

Throughout his years of dedication to his patients, Dr. Cong will never forget the cases he successfully diagnosed and brought patients back from the brink of death. Most recently, he and his team successfully diagnosed and operated on an elderly patient, Mr. NTD (91 years old, Hung Nguyen - Nghe An), who suffered from colorectal cancer along with several underlying conditions. Despite the challenging surgery, with thorough preparation and support from the anesthesia and resuscitation team, the operation was successful, allowing Mr. D. to return to his normal life soon.

A "pillar of support" for cancer patients.

A cancer diagnosis is often a huge shock for both the patient and their family, and the success of surgery depends greatly on the patient's mental state. Besides family support, doctors and medical professionals are the ones who inspire and empower patients in their fight against the disease.

"The most difficult part is getting close to and explaining things to young patients, or those with young children who have many plans for the future. In these cases, I have to understand the patient's circumstances, encourage them to gradually accept their situation, and see it as a life event they need to overcome, not the end of the world, avoiding pessimism, giving up, or despair," shared Dr. Cong.

“At just over 30 years old, as the breadwinner of my family, when I discovered I had rectal cancer, my family and I considered it an incurable disease. But after meeting Dr. Cong and receiving his thorough advice and explanations, I gradually regained my faith and hope for treatment.” This is the story of Mr. NQT (32 years old) from Ky Son, Nghe An, and it reflects the sentiments of many patients and their families about Dr. Cong, a doctor who is both compassionate and skilled.

Five years ago, Mrs. NTT (81 years old, Cam Xuyen district, Ha Tinh province) was diagnosed with a sigmoid colon tumor during a medical examination. Despite her advanced age, after assessing the localized lesion, confirming no metastasis, and considering her overall health, Dr. Cong decided to surgically remove the tumor. Five years have passed since the surgery, and she has gradually stabilized her health and is living happily. This is thanks to the care of her family and, above all, to the correct treatment plan and the timely encouragement from a compassionate and responsible doctor.

Following the doctor around during examinations, we clearly felt the close relationship between patients and doctors. For new patients, he spent more time encouraging them and discussing surgical procedures. For more serious patients with longer treatment periods, he was always comfortable chatting and cracking jokes whenever they met.

He remembered almost everything about the patient's family circumstances, medical condition, and the encouraging handshakes and pats on the shoulder from Doctor Cong, which partly helped motivate the patient to feel at ease during treatment. And to further motivate patients and reassure them during treatment, he often shared real-life stories of people with similar cancers who had recovered and were living healthy lives.

Pioneering the application of new methods in cancer surgery.

At Cua Dong General Hospital, in addition to treating patients, Dr. Cong also participates in scientific research, pioneering the successful application of new surgical methods, notably: fully laparoscopic gastrectomy, D2 lymph node dissection for gastric cancer treatment, colectomy, D3 lymph node dissection for colon cancer treatment, transrectal resection of the rectum (TaTME) for rectal cancer treatment, treatment of inguinal hernia and abdominal wall pathologies, and resection of abdominal tumors…

Having worked with hundreds of cancer patients for over 20 years since graduating from Hanoi Medical University, Dr. Cong humorously shared when asked about the pressure of his job: “Only with passion and a deep love for patients can one pursue a specialization in gastrointestinal surgery. Constantly facing stressful surgeries lasting 6-10 hours, not to mention the need to monitor the patient until they are stable, is a real challenge. That's why many medical students today tend to choose departments with high surgical productivity such as trauma, urology, and plastic surgery… Meanwhile, fewer and fewer people are pursuing our gastroenterology specialty because the surgeries are tiring, the income is low, the work is arduous, and the risks are high.”

For Dr. Cong, his greatest "asset" is his phone directory containing the names of thousands of cancer patients, who have contributed to motivating him to research new surgical methods and have given him a dose of emotional support over the years. "There's no greater joy than seeing my patients recover and, 5-10 years after treatment, still optimistic and full of energy," Dr. Cong shared.

With his recognized professional competence, Dr. Thai Doan Cong, MD, MSc, was appointed to the position of Deputy Director of the hospital. In this role, he and the leadership team implemented many solutions to develop the hospital, helping Cua Dong General Hospital become one of the reputable medical facilities in Nghe An and the North Central region.

The Certificates of Merit from the Provincial People's Committee and the Department of Health are testament to Dr. Thai Doan Cong's significant contributions to the medical field over the years. But above all, the trust and affection from his patients is the most precious reward for his tireless efforts throughout his career of healing and saving lives.