--- title: After Two Rounds of Chemotherapy Failed to Achieve Remission, She Marks Five Years of Recovery After Transplant url: "https://www.yyhmedical.com/en/stories/aml-hsct-five-year-recovery" type: Article inLanguage: en-US disease: Acute Myeloid Leukemia treatment: Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation datePublished: 2026-06-30 --- # After Two Rounds of Chemotherapy Failed to Achieve Remission, She Marks Five Years of Recovery After Transplant > After two rounds of chemotherapy failed to achieve remission, an adjusted treatment strategy finally brought her into complete remission. She then underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and has now reached her five-year recovery milestone. Summary: Ms. Zhang was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) after what initially seemed like a routine case of tonsillitis. When the first two rounds of chemotherapy failed to achieve remission, she was diagnosed with primary refractory AML. After transferring to GoBroad Shanghai Zhaxin Hospital, Dr. Shan Shao and her team tailored the treatment strategy to the features of her disease, using a non-cross-resistant regimen combined with targeted therapy. For the first time, Ms. Zhang achieved hematologic complete remission and went on to successfully receive a related haploidentical allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Nearly five years after transplant, her leukemia remains in complete remission and she has largely returned to everyday life. Today, she is back with her family, enjoying a normal routine, and often shares her experience in patient support groups to encourage others still going through treatment. Her journey traces the full course of refractory AML - from treatment setbacks to remission and long-term recovery - and highlights the value of individualized treatment, well-managed transplantation, and long-term follow-up in improving outcomes.  ![b6c775e9-bf0d-4ecb-ace5-8f53bda29c3d.png](https://gaobo-byh-h5.oss-accelerate.aliyuncs.com/images/20260912/6c7a151954bd912c5740e0aedcebd351_20260912223719.png "6c7a151954bd912c5740e0aedcebd351_20260912223719.png") Ms. Zhang (pseudonym) has an upbeat, cheerful personality. Wherever she goes, she is like a ray of sunshine, bringing warmth and energy to the people around her. It is hard for anyone meeting her today to imagine that behind her bright smile is a story that once took her through some of life's darkest moments, when despair set in and her life hung in the balance. In March 2021, Ms. Zhang went to the hospital thinking she simply had tonsillitis, only to be unexpectedly diagnosed with leukemia. After two rounds of chemotherapy, the disease still had not gone into remission. Even someone as strong and optimistic as she was broke down in tears, fearing that her life might be coming to an end. But a turning point came that May, when she arrived at GoBroad Shanghai Zhaxin Hospital. The medical team switched her to a new, non-cross-resistant chemotherapy regimen, and follow-up testing showed that she had achieved hematologic complete remission. Because she had primary refractory AML and had failed to respond to her first two rounds of chemotherapy, the team recommended transplant to give her the best chance of long-term survival. In September 2021, she underwent a related haploidentical allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Her leukemia remained in complete remission, and she recovered well. Nearly five years after transplant, Ms. Zhang returned to GoBroad Shanghai Zhaxin Hospital for follow-up and successfully reached what patients affectionately call their "graduation" milestone. She says the shadow of illness has long since faded, and in daily life she can almost forget that she was ever a leukemia patient. Coming back at this special five-year point was both a way to close an important chapter of treatment and to mark a life experience she will never forget. As an old friend of the Zhaxin team and something of a veteran among fellow patients, Ms. Zhang often encourages people in patient groups who are still confused, frightened, or struggling. She remains a warm ray of sunshine, quietly passing that light on to others. ![a21aba5d-4934-4bd4-87f6-3e26b1efdded.png](https://gaobo-byh-h5.oss-accelerate.aliyuncs.com/images/20260912/169cb04ef5d30be7be6563c859cbea81_20260912223737.png "169cb04ef5d30be7be6563c859cbea81_20260912223737.png")  August 2023 ![78cd0219-359b-4fca-aaf2-89ffc44024dd.png](https://gaobo-byh-h5.oss-accelerate.aliyuncs.com/images/20260912/7971239245d746eae13671e6f98f0e9e_20260912223747.png "7971239245d746eae13671e6f98f0e9e_20260912223747.png")  June 2026 **\- Patient Q&A -** **Q1: How were you first diagnosed?** A: In the spring of 2021, I went to the hospital because of a sore throat. I thought it was just a common cold and that a little medication would take care of it. But a routine blood test unexpectedly showed that my white blood cell count was abnormally high. The doctor immediately suspected a hematologic condition and recommended that I be admitted for further evaluation. It felt like a bolt from the blue. I had always been healthy, and apart from the sore throat I had no other symptoms, so I found it very hard to accept. I went to another hospital for a second opinion, but the repeat test still showed a persistently high white blood cell count. It was only after I was admitted and underwent a full work-up that I was finally diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. When I heard the diagnosis, my mind went completely blank. **Q2: What was the major turning point in your treatment, and how did you make the key decisions along the way?** A: Once the diagnosis was in front of me, I knew I had no choice but to face it. What truly pulled me into despair, though, was not the word "leukemia" itself - it was going through treatment after treatment without seeing a response. The first-line regimen failed, and then the second-line regimen failed too. I was told that if the disease still could not be brought into remission, the only remaining option might be to proceed directly to transplant despite active disease, just to fight for a chance. I had never felt so lost. The thought that I might not be able to stay with my family made me cry uncontrollably. After finishing chemotherapy at another hospital, I came to GoBroad Shanghai Zhaxin Hospital. I had already heard from other patients about the care here, but once I arrived, I experienced the team's professionalism and warmth for myself. Their attentive care helped ease not only the physical pain of treatment, but also much of the fear and anxiety I was carrying. A younger woman in the same room, Ms. Yu, also had refractory leukemia. She had three gene mutations, and one of mine was the same as one of hers. Seeing how well she responded to treatment at Zhaxin gave me enormous encouragement (Read Ms. Yu's story). That sense of warmth and hope helped me make up my mind: I would have my stem cell transplant here. Even if things did not turn out exactly as I hoped, I felt I could accept that choice because I felt safe and cared for here. Before transplant, the team developed a new chemotherapy plan for me - and this time, the response was better than I ever expected. I will always remember Dr. Shan Shao telling me, "Your results are back. Most of the leukemia cells are gone." In that moment, it felt as though a light had appeared in the middle of complete darkness. Reaching complete remission before transplant meant my chances with transplant were much better. I was so overwhelmed that I burst into tears. **Q3: What helped you keep going through the transplant?** A: My family's support was the biggest reason I kept moving forward, especially my daughter. At the time, she was preparing for the gaokao, China's national college entrance examination. As a mother, my first instinct was to put her first. I worried that donating stem cells might affect her health or interfere with her exams. While I was hesitating, she looked at me and said firmly, "Mom, you're going to get better." I immediately started crying. I wanted to live. I wanted to be there to watch her grow up. With the understanding and support of her teachers, she took a few days away from school to come to the hospital and donate stem cells for me. Whenever I think about it, I am still deeply moved. I gave her life, and in turn, she helped save mine. Once I entered the transplant unit, my body went through an extremely difficult period. I had forceful vomiting and severe mouth ulcers that made it impossible to eat. But I did not give up on myself. I kept working with the medical team and following treatment. I kept telling myself: if I can still feel this pain, at least I am alive, and I still have a chance to see tomorrow's sun. Whenever I thought about the love and encouragement from my family and friends, I knew I had to keep going, no matter how hard it was. Day by day, my daughter's cells began to engraft and grow inside me, and I gradually started feeling better. Finally, the day came when I could leave the transplant unit. When that door opened, I felt as if I had been given my life back. **Q4: How did you gradually return to everyday life after transplant? What would you say to other patients who are recovering?** A: During the first year after transplant, I barely went out because I was worried about infection. Most of my activity was limited to walking around my residential community or a nearby park, and occasionally using some simple outdoor fitness equipment. After the first year, as my strength gradually returned, I started meeting friends for small get-togethers and traveling with my family. I have always been someone who enjoys good food, going out, and being around people. Staying home with nothing to do actually made me feel worse emotionally. So whenever my health allowed, I tried a little exercise or a short trip and slowly found my way back into the rhythm of life. What I want to say is that, within your own limits, it is important to find things that make you happy. Illness does not mean you have to shut yourself away from life. As your body recovers, you might try foods you enjoy or take a short walk somewhere nearby, just as I did. But everyone recovers differently, so always listen to your body, pace yourself, and put your health first. ![f5d863ea-7414-42d3-9e3c-cf656c58beeb.png](https://gaobo-byh-h5.oss-accelerate.aliyuncs.com/images/20260912/e5b92c6c9d73d97c8a1f5594c25a0db4_20260912223834.png "e5b92c6c9d73d97c8a1f5594c25a0db4_20260912223834.png") Ms. Zhang traveling more than one year after her transplant **Q5: What is life like for you now, and what do you hope for in the future?** A: I am now approaching retirement, and life has returned to a simple, steady rhythm that I really value. I spend time with my elderly parents and try to be there for them in the small moments of everyday life. When I have time, I meet a few close friends for a meal and a chat. It is an ordinary life, but it feels peaceful and grounding. Looking back, I want to say this to patients who are still going through the hardest part: do not be afraid. Be brave enough to face the disease, and place your trust in the medical team caring for you. The process can be very hard, but when you finally come through it, you may discover that you are much stronger than you ever imagined. There is tremendous strength inside us, and much of that strength comes from one simple belief: keep living. As long as you are here, you still have the chance to give back to the people who love you and the time to fulfill the hopes you once had for your life. ![72a9388f-da46-43a3-9bff-79ba4b7035d8.png](https://gaobo-byh-h5.oss-accelerate.aliyuncs.com/images/20260912/72ee717e16ead6216282cddcbb7703c7_20260912224004.png "72ee717e16ead6216282cddcbb7703c7_20260912224004.png") Ms. Zhang during a trip to Jiuhua Mountain in May 2026 ## Expert view Dr. Shan Shao (Associate Chief Physician, MD; Medical Team Leader, GoBroad Shanghai Zhaxin Hospital): Refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains one of the major challenges in hematology. We are very pleased that, through the joint efforts of the entire team, Ms. Zhang was able to come through an extremely difficult period and move into a new chapter of life. Ms. Zhang had high-risk AML that was FLT3-positive and NUP98-positive. Her disease had remained refractory to earlier treatment. After she came to our hospital, we used sorafenib as part of an induction strategy to achieve remission, followed by a related haploidentical allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant. When she first arrived, she was understandably discouraged after so many setbacks in treatment, and our doctors and nurses spent time encouraging her every day. Once she achieved her first remission after sorafenib-based treatment, her energy gradually returned. Throughout everything that followed, including transplant, she remained optimistic and actively engaged in her care. She became our team's "little sun" and would even try to comfort other patients when they were having a difficult time. In the end, three young women who became close friends while going through treatment around the same time all achieved complete remission (CR) after transplant and received their own milestone pins. (Read Ms. Yu's story) (Read Ms. Gu's story) Successful treatment for hematologic diseases depends on the work of doctors and nurses, but it is also closely tied to a patient's willingness to keep going and actively participate in care. To our "little sun," I want to say: a new chapter has already begun. Keep embracing life with the same brightness and optimism - shining for yourself and bringing warmth to those around you. > This content is published with the authorization of the patient and their family, intended solely to share real experiences and health knowledge. It does not constitute a recommendation of any treatment plan or medical diagnostic advice. 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