---
title: "A 76-Year-Old \"Graduate\" Marks a Five-Year Milestone"
url: "https://www.yyhmedical.com/en/stories/angioimmunoblastic-t-cell-lymphoma-recovery"
type: Article
inLanguage: en-US
disease: Angioimmunoblastic T-Cell Lymphoma
treatment: Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
datePublished: 2026-01-30
---

# A 76-Year-Old "Graduate" Marks a Five-Year Milestone

> Diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma at age 71, the patient underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation after facing the challenges of chemotherapy, and five years later, returned to a life shared with family.

Summary: At 71, Mr. Chen was diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL). After several rounds of chemotherapy, he had still not achieved a complete remission. Despite the challenges of his age and hard-to-control disease, Mr. Chen and his family kept looking for another option. In December 2020, after evaluation by Professor Chun Wang's team at GoBroad Shanghai Zhaxin Hospital, he underwent a related-donor haploidentical allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT). Five years later, he remains in long-term remission and is back to enjoying everyday life with his family. His story is about an older patient who kept moving forward through a difficult diagnosis - and about the hope his journey may offer others facing cancer.

![23c41c91-c188-449e-8a7a-7e47e1063aae.png](https://gaobo-byh-h5.oss-accelerate.aliyuncs.com/images/20260910/35252919cd75794ce6b8cb5556ffbab0_20260910141545.png "35252919cd75794ce6b8cb5556ffbab0_20260910141545.png") 

In July 2020, 71-year-old Mr. Chen went to the hospital with a widespread rash and fever. The diagnosis - angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma - came out of nowhere and suddenly disrupted the quiet life he had known. He and his family chose to face it together. But after several rounds of chemotherapy, he achieved only a partial response, and the future began to feel much less certain.

Being 71 and still not in complete remission made the road ahead especially difficult. At the time, only a small number of centers in China would consider allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for a patient of his age. Even as their options narrowed, Mr. Chen and his family kept calling, asking and searching for a possible path forward.

A turning point came when they reached Professor Chun Wang's team at GoBroad Shanghai Zhaxin Hospital. In December 2020, at age 71 and with the full support of his family, Mr. Chen underwent a related-donor haploidentical allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant. It was a demanding decision, both medically and personally - one made by a patient and a family who understood the risks but chose to pursue a chance for long-term survival.

Five years on, that decision has led to the outcome they had hoped for. Mr. Chen achieved complete remission and is considered clinically cured. Just as importantly, he has returned to the ordinary moments he once feared he might lose: meals at home, time with his children and grandchildren, and the quiet rhythm of everyday family life. What once felt far away is now part of his daily life again.

At this five-year milestone, Mr. Chen hopes his experience can encourage other older patients still making their way through treatment. He says: "No matter how small an instruction from your doctor may seem, follow it. Even when it is hard, keep going. During treatment, we need to trust our medical team, but we also need to hold on to our own determination. Do not give up hope. A better tomorrow is worth holding on for."

![e88a461f-781f-459d-901a-bca0f492e2c1.png](https://gaobo-byh-h5.oss-accelerate.aliyuncs.com/images/20260910/9f6386b62bef3fbf3f284d35bef89742_20260910141607.png "9f6386b62bef3fbf3f284d35bef89742_20260910141607.png") 

December 2020

  

![0e5f81dc-7370-4914-847e-af4908997537.png](https://gaobo-byh-h5.oss-accelerate.aliyuncs.com/images/20260910/22b6fc93e764f86a5c06829984758d4c_20260910141624.png "22b6fc93e764f86a5c06829984758d4c_20260910141624.png") 

January 2026

**\- In Conversation with Mr. Chen -**

**Q1: When you were diagnosed, how did you and your family react? What did the doctors tell you at the time?**

A: In July 2020, I was diagnosed with lymphoma at a hospital in Guangzhou. It was the first time I had ever heard of the disease. My Mandarin is not very good, so I had trouble following everything the doctors were saying. My son was worried the news would be too much for me. He only told me that the doctors said it was treatable, but treatment would take time and come with some risks.

After the diagnosis, I had four months of chemotherapy at the local hospital, but the lymphoma never went into complete remission. I knew the situation was probably serious, so I insisted that my son tell me the truth. He finally told me that the doctors felt a complete cure would be very difficult and that even with active treatment, my outlook might not be good. I was devastated. It took me a long time to come to terms with it.

**Q2: Why did you ultimately decide to seek treatment at GoBroad Shanghai Zhaxin Hospital?**

A: As a family, we still were not ready to give up. My son kept looking for information and learned that allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation might offer a chance of cure for angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma. But I was already 71. He contacted several hospitals, and none were willing to take me on for transplant because of my age.

Eventually, we were referred to Professor Chun Wang, a specialist in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. We had three in-depth discussions with his team. At first, Professor Wang had reservations: I was older, and I still had not reached complete remission after several rounds of chemotherapy, so transplant would be very challenging. But my family and I strongly wanted to pursue treatment, and I was otherwise in relatively stable condition. After careful evaluation, he agreed to take my case.

In December 2020, I underwent an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant at GoBroad Shanghai Zhaxin Hospital, using stem cells donated by my son.

**Q3: As an older transplant patient, what worried you and your family most about the risks? What ultimately led you to go ahead?**

A: Before the transplant, all of us understood there were real risks. But without transplant, chemotherapy alone was unlikely to give me either a good quality of life or much time. I thought: if there is still a chance of a cure, why not take it?

My family gave me tremendous support. My sons told me: "Do not worry about the cost or caregiving. As long as you have the confidence and determination to do this, we will be behind you all the way." With them behind me, I wanted even more to gain more time and be there with my family.

The care team at Zhaxin also gave me a lot of confidence. My attending physician, Dr. Chuxian Zhao, checked on me every day and paid attention to every detail. The doctors and nurses were always there, almost like family. That made me feel safe and strengthened my resolve to continue treatment.

**Q4: What was the hardest or most memorable period during transplant, and what helped you get through it?**

A: Once I entered the transplant isolation unit, I had to stay there for about a month. It was very difficult. After the transplant, I had a high fever for 12 days. I felt terrible physically. The food in Shanghai was sweeter than I was used to, so I barely had any appetite, and I also had diarrhea every day. I felt exhausted and anxious.

During that period, the caregiver who looked after me was a huge support. She kept telling me, "Do not be afraid. Just keep going." She also reassured me that my condition was actually not too bad and that the diarrhea was not severe. Maybe she was simply trying to comfort me, but it helped more than she probably knew.

What reassured me most was Dr. Zhao. She came to see me every day, checked how I was doing, and encouraged me not to get too anxious because things would improve step by step. She told me: "Keep hope and confidence. Once your blood counts start to recover, your body will get stronger day by day. When the cells grow back, it is like new energy returning to your body."

And she was right. Once I got through the hardest stretch, my blood counts gradually recovered and I felt stronger each day. Eventually, I was well enough to leave the transplant isolation unit.

**Q5: What would you like to share with other patients about recovery after transplant?**

A: For me, the hardest part was the time in the transplant unit. Once I was out, recovery went fairly smoothly and I did not have much discomfort. As soon as I felt a little stronger, I started walking up and down the ward corridor every day for about an hour. Sometimes a nurse on duty would see me and ask, "You are already up and walking this early?" I would say, "Yes - I want to keep moving and build my strength back up."

After I went home, I was very careful about daily life. Apart from my morning walk, I mostly stayed home and avoided crowded places. One habit helped me a lot: unless it was raining, I walked for an hour every day, about five kilometers.

I also paid close attention to nutrition. I am allergic to milk and eggs, and for a while after transplant I was eating a very limited diet. When I got home, a local doctor told me I was a little malnourished. So my advice is: food safety matters, but so does variety. Try to eat a balanced diet and keep regular meal times.

**Q6: What does reaching the five-year "graduation" milestone mean to you and your family? What are you hoping for next?**

A: "Graduating" at five years means that life has given my family and me more time - and more warmth. Being able to return to ordinary life and spend each peaceful day with my family is already the greatest gift.

We are a big family. After the children finish work, they come home and we eat together and chat. My oldest grandson is in college now. During school holidays, we often travel as a family, and I have been to quite a few places with them. Having this time with the people I love makes me very happy and grateful.

Looking ahead, I hope life can stay this simple and warm: to watch my grandchildren grow up, and to share many more seasons and trips with my family. Every day feels like a gift.

## Expert view

Dr. Chuxian Zhao (Director, Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Center, GoBroad Shanghai Zhaxin Hospital):

Under Professor Chun Wang's leadership, our team has continued to explore better treatment approaches for difficult-to-treat T-cell lymphomas. At our center, patients with relapsed/refractory T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (R/R T-NHL) have achieved a long-term disease-free survival rate of 58%.

With advances in transplant medicine, age alone is no longer an absolute barrier to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Patients over 70 who are otherwise physically fit may still be candidates for allogeneic transplantation with curative intent.

That said, older patients still face multiple challenges during treatment, including organ function and physical recovery. Every patient who recovers and returns to life after treatment is a tremendous source of encouragement for our team.

Mr. Chen's bright smile is the best gift our care team could receive.

> 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. For specific treatment, please follow the guidance of a professional physician.

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