ACCESSING MWA
THROUGH CANCERFAX: PATIENT NAVIGATION GUIDE
CancerFax removes the complexity of accessing microwave ablation at world-class centres in China and India โ clinical review, centre matching, pre-screening, travel logistics, treatment coordination, and follow-up, all managed as a single patient navigation service.
analyticsAt a Glance
- check_circleInitial case review provided without commitment โ know your options before deciding
- check_circleEnd-to-end coordination: clinical review, centre matching, travel, interpreter, follow-up
- check_circleCancerFax only recommends MWA when it is genuinely appropriate for your case
- check_circleTransparent cost estimates before any deposit or travel commitment
What CancerFax Does โ and What It Doesn't Do
Being clear about CancerFax's role prevents misunderstandings and ensures patients approach the service with the right expectations.
What CancerFax Does
CancerFax reviews medical records and assesses whether MWA is appropriate for the patient's specific case. Identifies and recommends the most appropriate centre based on tumour type, complexity, and patient logistics. Coordinates pre-screening with the treating interventional oncology team. Manages travel, accommodation, visa, and interpreter logistics. Supports communication between the treating centre and the patient's home oncology team during and after treatment.
What CancerFax Doesn't Do
CancerFax is not a hospital, clinic, or treating physician. We do not provide medical opinions or diagnoses. We do not perform procedures. The treating physicians at the recommended centre are responsible for all clinical decisions. We do not take commissions that influence our centre recommendations โ our goal is to match the right patient to the right centre, not to fill beds. We say no when MWA is not appropriate.
The Full CancerFax Navigation Pathway
Every patient journey through CancerFax follows this structured process โ designed to eliminate uncertainty at every stage.
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Step 1: Upload Medical Records
Upload imaging (CT, MRI, PET), pathology reports, blood tests, and treatment history through our secure portal or via email. Organ-specific records: liver (LFTs, AFP, Child-Pugh assessment); lung (PFTs); kidney (eGFR, creatinine). Your records are reviewed only by our clinical team โ not shared without your permission.
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Step 2: Clinical Case Review (3โ7 Days)
Our oncology team reviews your records to assess whether MWA is appropriate, which indication it fits, what size and complexity the procedure represents, and which countries and centres are most relevant. We also identify whether alternatives (surgery, TACE, SBRT, systemic therapy) should be considered alongside MWA.
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Step 3: Case Review Report and Options
You receive a written case review summarising our assessment โ whether MWA is appropriate, which centres we recommend and why, estimated cost ranges, realistic outcomes expectations based on published data, and what the treatment would involve. No commitment is required at this stage.
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Step 4: Centre Pre-Screening
If you wish to proceed, CancerFax submits your case to the recommended centre's interventional oncology team for preliminary eligibility review. We facilitate direct communication between you and the centre if needed. Pre-screening confirms eligibility before you commit to travel.
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Step 5: Detailed Cost Estimate and Logistics Planning
Once eligibility is confirmed, you receive an itemised cost estimate covering the procedure, what's included, what's billed separately, and a realistic total travel budget. Travel, accommodation, and interpreter bookings are coordinated by CancerFax or the centre's international patient services.
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Step 6: Travel and On-Site Arrival
CancerFax provides a visa invitation letter if needed, accommodation recommendations near the treating hospital, airport transfer logistics, and local interpreter arrangements for China-based treatment. A local CancerFax coordinator or centre international patient team receives you on arrival.
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Step 7: Treatment Delivery
On-site evaluation and MWA procedure at the treating centre. CancerFax remains available throughout โ for questions, concerns, or if any unexpected situation arises. Communication between you and the treating team is supported by CancerFax if language or logistical issues arise.
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Step 8: Discharge, Follow-Up, and Home Team Coordination
Discharge summary and imaging reports provided in English. CancerFax coordinates with your home oncology team, sharing treatment records and follow-up requirements. First follow-up imaging (4โ6 weeks) can be done locally; results are reviewed by the treating centre remotely. Ongoing communication supported for repeat sessions or new developments.
When CancerFax Says No โ and Why That Matters
CancerFax's credibility with treating centres and with patients depends on honest assessment. We decline to facilitate treatment when it is not in the patient's interest.
โIf we said yes to everyone, we would be a travel agent for unregulated procedures. We say no when the evidence doesn't support treatment, when the patient has better options, and when the risk-benefit balance is wrong.โ
We Decline When Standard Options Remain Available
If a patient has established, evidence-based treatment options that have not been tried yet โ standard chemotherapy, approved targeted therapy, surgical options that have not been properly assessed โ we recommend pursuing those first. CancerFax exists to help patients access advanced options when standard care has been exhausted or is not appropriate, not to bypass proven treatments.
We Decline When the Procedure Is Too Risky for the Patient
Very poor performance status (ECOG 3โ4), severe organ failure, end-stage disease where treatment would cause harm without meaningful benefit, or cases where the patient's comorbidities make the procedure genuinely dangerous โ we will say so honestly rather than facilitating a harmful procedure.
We Decline Unregulated or Unverified Programmes
CancerFax only works with centres whose credentials, regulatory standing, and published outcomes we have verified. We do not facilitate access to unregistered clinics, unverified cell therapy programmes, or procedures offered without evidence-based protocols. If we cannot verify a centre, we do not recommend it.
What to Upload to Start Your Case Review
Complete records enable the fastest and most accurate case review. This checklist covers what CancerFax needs for MWA-specific case assessment.
Essential Documents for All Cases
Most recent CT or MRI in digital format (DICOM files or CD/USB; not just printed films). Pathology / biopsy report confirming cancer type. Full blood count and organ function tests from the past 4 weeks. List of current medications. Summary of prior treatments (surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, other ablation) with dates and responses.
Additional Records by Organ
Liver cases: liver function tests (AST, ALT, bilirubin, albumin, INR), AFP, hepatitis B/C status. Lung cases: pulmonary function tests (FEV1, DLCO), PET scan if available. Kidney cases: eGFR, creatinine, renal ultrasound. Thyroid cases: TSH, T4, thyroid ultrasound with measurements, biopsy (FNAC) result.
Related Treatments & Resources
Explore the full microwave ablation knowledge base.
- China MWA Innovation: Advanced Antenna Systems and Outcomes
- Microwave Ablation in India: Centres and Access
- Microwave Ablation Cost: China vs India vs Western Countries
- Questions to Ask Before Microwave Ablation
- What Is Microwave Ablation? A Patient Introduction
- Microwave Ablation โ Full Treatment Page
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about working with CancerFax for MWA access.
About the Process
How much does CancerFax's service cost?
CancerFax provides initial case review at no charge โ you receive a written assessment of your options before any payment is required. Navigation and coordination services are funded through service fees charged after the patient commits to treatment, not upfront. The specific fee structure is disclosed transparently in the case review report. CancerFax does not charge referral commissions from centres that would influence our recommendations.
How quickly can I start treatment after contacting CancerFax?
Realistic timeline from first contact: Case review: 3โ7 days. Centre pre-screening: 1โ2 weeks. Travel planning and logistics: 1โ2 weeks. Treatment start: approximately 4โ6 weeks from initial contact for most patients. Urgent cases can sometimes be accelerated. Time-sensitive situations are flagged in the case review and expedited logistics coordinated accordingly.
Can CancerFax help if I've already contacted a Chinese or Indian hospital directly?
Yes. Patients who have initiated contact directly with a centre can still engage CancerFax for coordination, logistics, and quality assurance. We can review the proposed treatment plan, ensure the recommended procedure matches your clinical needs, and provide ongoing support during and after treatment even if the initial referral was direct.
Trust and Safety
How does CancerFax verify the quality of recommended centres?
CancerFax verifies: regulatory registration with national health authorities (NMPA in China, NMC/state medical councils in India), annual procedure volume, published outcome data, infection control accreditation, equipment quality (MRI and CT specifications), and the treating team's training and credentials. We do not recommend centres that cannot demonstrate these standards. Our recommendations are reviewed periodically and updated when centres' status changes.
What if something goes wrong during treatment?
CancerFax maintains relationships with treating centres and can facilitate emergency communication if complications arise. We help coordinate with the treating team, the patient's family, and the home oncology team if urgent decisions need to be made. We provide documentation of insurance coverage requirements and can help with medical evacuation coordination in rare situations where this becomes necessary.
How CancerFax Helps
CancerFax is a specialist cancer access and patient-navigation platform. We help patients and families understand their options, organise medical records, coordinate hospital communication, and support cross-border treatment planning where appropriate.
We help collect and organise reports, scans, pathology, biomarker results, and treatment history for structured case review.
We communicate with hospitals or trial teams to assess whether a case may be suitable for further screening.
We support appointment coordination, document submission, translation, and direct communication with international departments.
For international patients, we help with practical coordination โ travel planning, hospital admission guidance, and local support.
If this option is not suitable, we help explore other relevant treatments, clinical trials, or advanced care pathways.
From inquiry through to follow-up, our coordinators provide a single point of contact for the family.
CancerFax does not guarantee treatment access, eligibility, or clinical outcome. Our role is to help patients access accurate information, structured review, and appropriate specialist pathways.
Ready to Start Your MWA Case Review?
Upload your medical records today. Our clinical team will review your case and provide a written assessment โ including whether MWA is appropriate, which centres we recommend, and realistic cost estimates โ within 7 days. No commitment required.
CancerFax is a patient navigation service, not a medical provider. All clinical decisions are made by qualified physicians at the treating centre.