Chapter 6032

The doctor operating the machine quickly retrieved Hank's previous full-body scan data. At the doctor's request, he zoomed in on the pancreas. Using the contrast agent, the image clearly showed a significant lesion in Hank's pancreas, which nearly filled the entire head of the organ. Johnson examined the location of the lesion and muttered, "That's it! So obvious and large—how could it disappear after today's scan?" He then urged, "Quickly switch back to the previous images!" The doctor promptly changed the display to the earlier scans. This set appeared pristine, showing no tissue that reacted to the contrast agent. Johnson was taken aback, asking the doctors nearby, "Do you think this is scientifically possible?" "Not possible at all." Hank's personal doctor shook his head, stating, "This is puzzling. Even if it were ink, it wouldn’t wash off cleanly in just a day or two." He then turned to the technician, inquiring, "Is this machine malfunctioning? Is there something wrong with it?" The doctor quickly assured him, "That can't be; we conducted a thorough examination after receiving the alert." "It's strange," Johnson remarked as he amplified the new CT of the pancreas, murmuring, "This shouldn't be the case. The pancreas looks perfectly healthy. How can there be no issues at all?" "I feel like I'm seeing a ghost." Another doctor rested his chin on his hand, perplexed. "No matter how effective treatments are, they wouldn't yield such immediate results. There’s nothing to suggest it’s related to pancreatic cancer." Johnson replied, "Let's wait for the CA199 results. If they also show a decrease, then we'll know for sure it's a cure." He quickly ordered, "Have the nurse bring Hank back to his room, and I will speak with him later about what treatments he received in China." Hank was swiftly returned to his room by the nurses. His personal doctor entered first and asked in surprise, "Mr. Hank, what kind of treatment did you undergo in China? Which hospital did you visit?" Hank did not respond but inquired, "What did my CT results show?" The doctor replied, "The CT results are quite unusual. Your pancreas no longer shows any signs of lesions." Hank felt both surprised and relieved, exclaiming, "Really? I knew it! Unbelievable—I'm healed!" His private doctor quickly interjected, "Mr. Hank, it's a bit premature to declare you cured. We still need to wait for the CA199 results to confirm that." Hank pressed, "When will the results be available? We need to expedite the process." His doctor replied, "This is the fastest turnaround; blood tests and reactions take time. You can rest a little, and everything will be ready shortly after dawn." At that moment, Johnson knocked on the door, smiling as he said, "Mr. Hank, I want to congratulate you! The CT scan suggests that your pancreas has returned to health!" Hank questioned, "Aren't you waiting for the CA199 results?" Johnson answered with a smile, "It’s true that I’m waiting, but I’m about 80% sure of the outcome." He then approached Hank, full of anticipation, and asked, "Could you explain what treatment you received? I have never encountered such an impressive treatment plan in all my years. Did China achieve new breakthroughs in medicine?" Hank waved his hand dismissively, saying, "You don’t need to investigate; it’s futile. They charged a billion dollars for a single treatment. How many people could afford that?"

"A billion dollars?!" Johnson exclaimed, clearly astonished. "You spent 1 billion dollars on pancreatic cancer treatment in China?!" "Yes," Hank replied, feeling a pang of discomfort. When it comes to treating cancer versus impotence, it seems cancer is the more cost-effective option. Johnson stood dumbfounded and murmured, "A billion dollars could buy an entire hospital..." He quickly redirected his question toward Hank, "Mr. Hank, what kind of treatment plan did they provide that cost so much? Was it some new device or a special targeted medication?" Hank countered, "If you want to know, ask the doctors in China, not me." Johnson insisted, "But think about it—can you recall any specifics about the treatment? For example, was the treatment environment well-equipped? Did they take you to an area with advanced technology like our CT or radiation therapy rooms?" Hank shook his head, saying, "No, their treatment took place in a private room of a hotel." "A hotel room?!" Johnson exclaimed in disbelief. "How could that be possible? Treatment environments have strict standards; it’s inconceivable to do it in a hotel room!" Hank shrugged, "Believe me if you want; it was in a private room at the hotel." Johnson persisted, "If it was indeed a hotel room, they wouldn’t have been able to use any professional equipment. Did they prescribe you any special medications?" "No," Hank replied casually. "I didn’t take any oral medicine or use any medical equipment. They just spoke with me and said I could go home after that." Johnson was stunned: "This... this is absurd. You returned without any treatment?" Hank countered, "But my cancer cells vanished, didn’t they? My lesions are gone. Whatever treatment I received, it was effective—even if the method is beyond my comprehension, it worked." Johnson mused, "But that contradicts the basic logic. If they truly made your cancer cells disappear, there must have been some direct intervention. As you said, it seems they did nothing at all." Hank replied, "Perhaps this is Eastern metaphysics. Don't we have similar beliefs in the West? Like holy water or exorcisms from a cross thrown into water? We may think of these as mere folklore, but what if one day we encounter something supernatural? Maybe it would hold some truth." Johnson awkwardly stated, "Those are all myths, stories from films and literature. When it comes to medicine, we should trust in science..." Hank waved his hand, saying, "Feel free to stick with your science. I’m exhausted from the past couple of days. I just want to rest. Remember to inform me about the CA199 results as soon as they are available." Johnson realized that he had overstayed his welcome, but he was reluctant to leave without clarity, so he quickly added, "Mr. Hank, please allow me to recommend the doctor who treated you. If I have the chance, I’d like to visit him and see how they did it." Hank sneered internally, thinking: "If I introduce Charlie to you, he likely won't appreciate it. Besides, approaching Charlie like that won’t yield any benefits for you." With that thought, he waved his hand dismissively and said, "Don’t bother trying to ask too much. He’s a recluse and won’t meet with you.” He then signaled to his personal doctor. The private doctor stepped forward and said to Johnson, "Dr. Johnson, Mr. Hank needs to rest. You can step out now."