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Dr. Wan Desen

Chinese name: 万德森
Chief Physician, Professor, Doctoral Supervisor, Senior Chief Expert in Colorectal Cancer . Colorectal Surgery
Dr. Wan Desen is a senior chief expert in colorectal cancer at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center and one of the founding figures of colorectal cancer prevention in China. He has devoted decades to surgery-based multidisciplinary treatment, standardized colorectal cancer surgery and cancer epidemiology, and founded China's first school of stoma therapists.

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50 years
Clinical experience
150+ papers
Academic output
6 books
Authored books

  • The Physician

About Dr. Wan Desen

Dr. Wan Desen is a senior chief expert in colorectal cancer at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, a professor, chief physician and doctoral supervisor. Over nearly 50 years he has devoted himself to the surgery-based multidisciplinary treatment of colorectal cancer and to cancer epidemiology. He led groundbreaking work on standardized colorectal cancer surgery and early screening, published more than 200 papers, and edited six books. He introduced the concept of community oncology in China and founded the country's first school of stoma therapists. He has won numerous honors, including the China Physicians Award and the National Medical Ethics Model, and his work on individualized colorectal cancer treatment received the Chinese Medical Science and Technology First Prize.
1、Senior chief expert in colorectal cancer and Director-Mentor of the Colorectal Department at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center
2、Professor, chief physician and doctoral supervisor with nearly 50 years of experience in surgical oncology
3、Former Director of the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center and President of its affiliated hospital
4、Published more than 200 papers and 6 books, and introduced the concept of community oncology in China
5、Founded China’s first school of stoma therapists
6、Won the China Physicians Award, the National Medical Ethics Model title and the Chinese Medical Science and Technology First Prize

Dr. Wan Desen ’s Three Key Areas of Expertise

Three areas of focused expertise, each supported by a deep subspecialty team, high case volumes and an English-speaking care pathway coordinated by Orisene.

Colorectal cancer

Surgery-based multidisciplinary treatment; his work on standardized radical resection and individualized therapy established treatment principles widely used across China and received a top national medical science and technology award, helping patients achieve better tumor control and long-term outcomes after surgery.

Rectal cancer

Neoadjuvant therapy and sphincter-preserving surgery; his research on neoadjuvant chemotherapy helps patients with locally advanced rectal cancer achieve better outcomes while preserving organ function, continence and quality of life and avoid permanent stoma whenever possible through careful multidisciplinary treatment planning.

Colorectal cancer screening and prevention

Community-based early screening and epidemiological research; he pioneered the concept of community oncology in China and led population screening programs that improve early detection, so that colorectal cancer can be found and treated at an earlier, more curable stage in high-risk communities.

More: colostomy care and stoma therapy, colorectal liver metastasis, and comprehensive management of colorectal tumors

  • Clinical Practice & Publications

Selected cases, research & publications

Representative work drawn from documented clinical treatments, publicly indexed literature, and hospital project records, reflecting the depth of this physician's hands-on expertise and academic rigor.
1、Total Mesorectal Excision With or Without Preoperative Chemoradiotherapy for Mid/Low Rectal Cancer
This single-center, randomized trial led by Professor Wan Desen compared total mesorectal excision alone versus surgery preceded by preoperative chemoradiotherapy in patients with resectable mid and low rectal cancer. Long-term results showed comparable disease-free and overall survival, supporting tailored, sphincter-preserving treatment decisions for rectal cancer patients seeking the best surgical outcome.
2、Prolonged Surveillance After Curative Colorectal Cancer Surgery Beyond Five Years
Based on 1,054 colorectal cancer patients treated with curative resection, this long-term follow-up study led by Professor Wan Desen tracked recurrence patterns for up to two decades. Findings showed that nearly all local recurrences and metastases appeared within fifteen years, guiding personalized postoperative surveillance schedules and improving colon cancer follow-up care for patients after surgery.
3、Community-Based Colorectal Cancer Screening Program in Guangzhou, China
Professor Wan Desen’s team launched a community colorectal cancer screening program in Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, offering questionnaires plus fecal immunochemical tests to residents aged fifty to seventy-four. Among 6,971 screened participants, colonoscopy detected mostly early, treatable colorectal neoplasms, demonstrating that organized screening improves early detection and outcomes for colon cancer patients.
4、Intraoperative Blood Loss Predicts Outcome After Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastasis Resection
Reviewing 139 patients who underwent curative liver resection for colorectal cancer liver metastasis, Professor Wan Desen’s team identified intraoperative blood loss as an independent predictor of long-term survival and tumor recurrence. The study supports careful surgical technique and perioperative management to improve outcomes for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer undergoing hepatectomy.
5、Chinese Expert Consensus on Managing Colorectal Cancer Lung Metastases
Professor Wan Desen contributed to a Chinese expert consensus on diagnosing and treating lung metastases from colorectal cancer. The guidance integrates surgery, systemic chemotherapy, and multidisciplinary team decisions to help patients with advanced colorectal cancer achieve durable disease control and improved survival, offering clinicians a practical framework for personalized metastatic lung cancer management.
6、Ostomy Care and Quality of Life for Colorectal Cancer Patients After Surgery
Professor Wan Desen founded China’s first enterostomal therapist school, training specialist nurses in stoma care for colorectal cancer patients after surgery. Related research on ostomy patients in China examines quality of life, skin and stoma complications, and rehabilitation support, helping patients adapt confidently to life with a colostomy or ileostomy after cancer treatment.
  • Affiliated Hospital

Where Dr. Wan Desen practices

Guangzhou

Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center

Chinese name: 中山大学肿瘤防治中心
Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, founded in 1964, is South China's leading oncology institute and the nation's top-ranked cancer center in scientific impact, ranking fifth worldwide on the 2024 Nature Index, with 6 academicians and one of Asia's finest radiotherapy centers.
Since 1964
62 years of cancer care
2,245
Licensed beds
2.56 million
Annual outpatient visits
6
Licensed beds
View Hospital Profile
Appointments with this physician are booked through official hospital channels only, coordinated end-to-end by Orisene.
  • WHY INTERNATIONAL PATIENTS CHOOSE CHINA

Why patients travel to China for treatment

Six reasons international patients now put China on their shortlist — from internationally aligned clinical capability to the policy channels that make treatment here genuinely reachable.

Clinical capability at international standard

Chinese hospitals deliver internationally aligned protocols, performing vast volumes of advanced robotic, minimally invasive, and complex transplant surgeries annually. This massive clinical data and highly specialized workforce ensure world-class outcomes, even for rare and complex cases.

Diagnostics and treatment in days, not months

A full medical workup that typically means months of waiting elsewhere is completed in China within 48–72 hours. Imaging, labs, and multidisciplinary consultations are integrated into a single visit, allowing treatment to commence immediately.

Transparent, itemised pricing

Chinese healthcare offers legally binding, itemised cost estimates before treatment begins, eliminating hidden fees or surprise billing. Due to national centralized procurement, total expenses remain 40–70% lower than comparable care in Western Europe or North America.

Policy channels that open the door

China facilitates access through 240-hour visa-free transit and dedicated medical visa routes. Policies like the Greater Bay Area drug pathway and Boao Lecheng’s pilot zone allow designated hospitals to administer innovative therapies not yet globally approved.
  • International Patient Guide

Consulting this physician, step by step

From the first message to the follow-up after you fly home, one coordinator, no paperwork on your side.
01
Day 0
  • Share your story
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02
Days 1–3
  • Records review & matching
    Orisene translates and presents your case to the right specialist. The hospital returns a tailored care plan, with costs itemised once that plan is confirmed.
03
Days 3–7
  • Your consultation
    Appointments are booked through official hospital channels only. Your navigator accompanies every visit with real-time interpretation, so you can focus on one thing: being cared for.
04
After you fly home
  • Reports & follow-up
    Translated reports and prescriptions delivered within days, remote follow-up coordination with your physicians at home, and a standing line to your navigator.
Orisene offers English and multilingual services, a professional medical interpreter at every consultation, plus translation of your records, reports and prescriptions.

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Information Sources

This physician profile is compiled by the Orisene team from publicly available online sources and verified at the time of publication. Details may change, and physician availability is confirmed at the time of booking.

Disclaimer: This information is for general educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personal medical guidance.

Mention of any specific product, brand, or manufacturer is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Dr. Wan Desen.