Our Family’s Five Years of Cancer Care in America

1. The year our lives changed

In December 2015, my wife, Yuanyuan Wang, was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was only in her thirties. Our children were still young.

We sought care at a well-known major hospital in China and consulted a senior breast cancer specialist at Jiangsu Province Hospital. She went through chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery and hormone therapy. Treatment proceeded as planned. We thought we would get through this and life would return to normal.

Three years later, we faced another devastating turn. In December 2018, we learned that her cancer had returned. She had already been feeling unwell that summer. I remember being reassured when the doctor said, “It’s nothing. I get short of breath too.” Looking back, we could never quite put that period of waiting behind us.

That experience brought home how much patients and families had to manage for themselves: navigating hospital procedures, following up on tests and collecting reports. So much depended on our own persistence. That was what seeking care felt like to us at the time.

My wife would often say afterward, “Once you’re ill, what frightens you most isn’t the illness itself. It’s missing the chance to do something about it.”

2. The night I decided to take her to America

We did not go home that night. We could not bring ourselves to face our children or our parents. I asked her doctor, “Is there still hope if we continue treatment here in China?”

I remember him pausing before mentioning another drug, along with an average survival figure of about 22 months. He suggested that, if we could, we might consider treatment in the United States. That number, mentioned in a conversation, became something I could not stop thinking about.

I decided then that I would take her to America, whatever it took. I stayed awake all night. First thing the next morning, I booked our flights.

I told her, “Let’s go to America. There is still hope for us there.” She nodded. We both knew we were beginning again.

That flight changed our family’s life. I will always remember the flight attendant arranging an entire row of seats for her. She leaned against my shoulder while I watched the clouds outside. I kept thinking: if this gave her more time than those 22 months, it would all be worth it.

3. Finding kindness and respect in American healthcare

Once we arrived, we encountered kindness throughout her care—from outpatient visits to hospital stays, and from doctors and nurses to interpreters and volunteers. Small gestures like those may seem unremarkable, but they can give a patient and family the strength to keep going.

The hospital was clean, quiet and well organized. Knowing what to expect at each stage helped us feel more secure.

I remember her treating physician, Dr. Patel, most vividly. He greeted us with a smile and a hug. There was a sincerity in his warmth that gave us strength.

For us, medical care came to mean more than treatment. It also meant trust and knowing someone was there for us. I began to understand how much human warmth medicine could offer.

4. Five years of living with dignity and purpose

We went on to spend five years together as she received treatment in America. Looking back, what mattered most was not simply having more time. It was the life we were still able to share during those years.

She continued looking after our children, learning English and taking part in rehabilitation programs. We celebrated birthdays, traveled and cooked together. We found a rhythm to family life again—not because the cancer had gone away, but because we still had hope.

There were emergency room visits and difficult turns in her treatment. There was anxiety, and there were tears. But our doctors, nurses and interpreters were there with us. Their skill and kindness helped us feel that we were not facing it alone.

I often think about how fortunate we were. For our family, this was a way of continuing to live fully, even as we faced cancer.

5. The doctors we met and the hope they gave us

We sought care at cancer centers in Los Angeles, MD Anderson in Texas, Dana-Farber in Boston and UCLA’s breast cancer specialist team.

My wife received 13 different chemotherapy drugs and underwent radiation therapy four times. She also took part in a new clinical trial. Her doctors tailored her treatment to her needs, considering both its effectiveness and her quality of life.

I felt that her doctors saw her as a person, not just a medical case. Their concern was not only how to treat the cancer, but how to help her live with dignity.

Our experience with health insurance also left a lasting impression on me. People often assume that seeking care in America will be unaffordable. We bought private health insurance that we were eligible for at the time. The premiums were not low, but under our policy, insurance paid for most of her treatment costs.

We paid our premiums and the out-of-pocket costs required by the plan. Coverage for medications and treatments was subject to the insurer’s review. I learned just how important it is for a family to understand eligibility, provider networks, policy terms and what they will need to pay themselves.

That was our experience with the particular policy we held at the time. Eligibility, available plans, covered services and actual expenses vary. Our experience cannot guarantee the same coverage or costs for another family.

6. Helping other families find their way

I know the questions that weigh on families considering treatment abroad: How do we arrange care in America? Where do we start? Can we get a visa? How do we arrange insurance? Who will help us when we arrive?

I have asked all of those questions myself. Visas, medical appointments, records, insurance, airport transfers, interpreting and a place to stay all matter when a family is preparing to take that first step.

We want to use what we learned to help other families. You can begin by telling us about your situation and the questions on your mind. Together, we can work out which services may be suitable and what needs to happen next.

During a consultation, we explain which services we can provide or coordinate, what they require, what they cost and who handles each step. The relevant authorities decide visa applications, and hospitals confirm whether they can accept a patient. Insurance eligibility must be established, while coverage and claims are governed by the policy terms and the insurer’s confirmation.

I cannot promise every family the same outcome. What I can do is listen carefully, explain things as clearly as possible and help you take each step with a better understanding of what lies ahead.

• Visa guidance and document preparation
  Guidance and coordination for medical invitation letters, visa documents and the application process.
• Doctor and hospital appointments
  Help contacting hospitals, understanding their appointment requirements and confirming arrangements.
• Health insurance guidance and application support
  Confirm eligibility first, then review available plans, premiums and coverage terms.
• Understanding the costs
  Review medical cost estimates, insurance out-of-pocket expenses and service fees separately.
• Practical support during your stay
  Coordinate airport transfers, interpreting, support at medical appointments and accommodation according to your needs.