A Singaporean patient is celebrating the one-year anniversary of her full recovery from a rare type of lymphoma after receiving treatment at Shanghai's Jiahui International Hospital.

Lyn, a 17-year resident of Shanghai, said that receiving treatment in here was the best decision that she made. To celebrate the one-year anniversary of her recovery, she went on a diving trip to the Republic of Palau.

Diagnosed with primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma at the age of 40, Lyn had a 15-centmeter tumor between her heart and lung, which caused great pain and affected other organs as well as large vessels.

She first went through six rounds of chemotherapy once every three weeks. She experienced weight loss, hair loss and vomiting during the treatment. Lyn then received 20 radiotherapy treatments, as well as immunotherapy, but only saw temporary improvement.

She once again felt hopeful again when, in June 2023, China approved CAR-T cell therapy for her type of disease. This method of therapy requires a hospital with rich experience in tumor treatment and a comprehensive medical team.

The decision was made to continue her treatment in Shanghai as her children go to school in the city and the fees are much lower in China, and there would be no waiting period.

It was then that Lyn became the first foreigner to receive Axi-Cel CAR-T treatment in China. The intricate process involved the extraction and modification of T cells, the stabilization of her condition, and the reinfusion of the engineered CAR-T cells back into her body – a critical phase fraught with risks. Guided by a multidisciplinary team of medical experts and the specialized CAR-T nursing unit at the Shanghai hospital, Lyn navigated through the complexities of the treatment protocol with fortitude and resilience, culminating in her triumphant discharge from the hospital on Sept 13, 2023.

Source: Shanghai Observer