After His Lymphoma Mass Grew Beyond 10 cm, He Chose CAR-T. Now He Is Back to Fishing, Hiking, and Watching His Children Grow

Summary: At the end of 2023, Mr. Wei was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma after developing a lump beneath his jaw. His treatment journey included a revised pathology diagnosis, chemotherapy resistance, and a severe infection, while the disease at one point progressed rapidly. After evaluation by Dr. Yajing Zhang and her team at Beijing GoBroad Boren Hospital, he received CAR-T cell therapy followed by a second CAR-T treatment targeting a different antigen, and ultimately achieved complete remission (CR). Now, two years after treatment, Mr. Wei has returned to daily life and is once again able to spend time with his family and watch his children grow.

At the 3rd CAR-T Cell Immunotherapy Survivorship Conference, we met many people who had made their way back to everyday life after difficult illnesses. Mr. Wei was one of them. At the event, he shared his experience of facing lymphoma in the hope that his story might help other patients.

At the end of 2023, Mr. Wei, the main breadwinner in his family, was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma. His wife was two months pregnant at the time, and the diagnosis placed enormous pressure on the whole family. Today, two years after CAR-T therapy, he has returned to a normal routine - fishing and hiking with friends, spending time with his family, and watching his two children grow. Looking back, he says, "It really feels like I've been given a second chance at life."

A Small Lump Led to a Lymphoma Diagnosis

It started with a small lump beneath his jaw. At first, everyone assumed it was an enlarged lymph node. He took medication and watched it for a while, but instead of going away, the lump kept getting bigger. In December 2023, his doctor recommended surgical removal and a pathology examination. The result confirmed lymphoma. "I was terrified," Mr. Wei recalls. His wife was two months pregnant when he received the diagnosis.

"I can barely remember how I drove home that day, or what I said to my wife on the way." For many families, a diagnosis of lymphoma brings an overwhelming mix of fear and uncertainty. For Mr. Wei, this was only the beginning.

From Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma to Burkitt Lymphoma: Getting the Diagnosis Right

After diagnosis, Mr. Wei began treatment. Initially, he was treated for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and the tumor shrank for a time. But only one week after discharge, the mass began growing rapidly again. On the advice of another patient, he went to a larger hospital for an expert pathology review. This time, the diagnosis was confirmed as Burkitt lymphoma.

With the diagnosis clarified, he restarted chemotherapy. Then another major problem emerged: he developed severe pneumonia and treatment had to be interrupted. For a long period, he needed supplemental oxygen and was too weak to get out of bed. "The treatment had started to work, but the infection delayed everything that was supposed to come next."

The disease did not wait. The tumor continued to grow rapidly, while his overall condition became weaker and weaker.

Tumor Over 10 cm and Chemotherapy Resistance: He Decides to Go to Beijing for CAR-T

Mr. Wei had heard about CAR-T soon after he was first diagnosed, but at the time it seemed far removed from his own situation. As he learned more about Burkitt lymphoma, he came to understand how aggressive the disease can be, and that once treatment stops working or resistance develops, the number of remaining options can narrow quickly. By then, he no longer felt he had time to keep waiting.

"I didn't want to keep switching from one chemotherapy regimen to another just to see what might work. At that point, I was very clear in my mind - I wanted to pursue CAR-T." Through another patient, he learned about Dr. Yajing Zhang and her team at Beijing GoBroad Boren Hospital.

As soon as his pneumonia improved, he traveled to Beijing. He was admitted on the day he arrived, and preparations for the next stage of treatment began the following day.

Twenty-Eight Days Later, He Achieved Complete Remission

After admission, the medical team carried out a comprehensive assessment. Mr. Wei had a high tumor burden, and his recent history of severe infection and interrupted treatment made the situation particularly challenging. Taking into account the biology of Burkitt lymphoma and his previous treatment course, the team developed a comprehensive treatment strategy.

After cell collection, Mr. Wei successfully received his first CAR-T infusion. During treatment, the tumor in his neck temporarily became much more swollen as part of the treatment response. Seeing the mass enlarge again made him understandably anxious. "During chemotherapy, whenever it got bigger, it was always bad news, so I was really nervous." The medical team closely monitored the changes and explained the types of treatment-related reactions that could occur. Over the next several days, the mass began to shrink. A tumor that had grown to more than 10 cm decreased markedly within just over ten days.

A subsequent PET-CT showed complete remission (CR). On the team's recommendation, Mr. Wei returned two months later for a sequential second CAR-T treatment targeting a different antigen to further consolidate the response. Looking back on his treatment in Beijing, he says the doctors spent a great deal of time discussing his condition, the next steps, and the overall treatment plan with him. "That made me feel much more reassured. As a patient, I understood what might happen and what we could do to prevent or manage it."

Getting Back to Ordinary Life Is the Greatest Happiness

It has now been two years since Mr. Wei received CAR-T therapy. Although his stamina has not yet fully returned to what it was before he became ill, he has resumed a normal daily life.

In his spare time, he goes fishing and hiking with friends, spends time with his family, and watches his children grow little by little. Asked what matters most to him now, he smiles and says, "I'm already very content. It feels like I've been given another life."

Mr. Wei with his two children (photo provided by Mr. Wei)

What Mr. Wei Would Like to Share with Other Patients and Families

1. When lymphoma is diagnosed, consider expert pathology review. Accurate classification is essential to choosing the right treatment.

Pathology subtype directly affects treatment decisions and outcomes. Talk openly with your doctors, and when appropriate, seek an additional pathology opinion. Experiences shared by well-informed patients can also help families know what questions to ask.

2. If treatment is not working, do not simply wait.

If the disease changes or the response is not what you and your doctors hoped for, discuss the next step proactively. Acting in time may open up more treatment opportunities.

3. Learn about new research and emerging treatment options for your disease.

I learned a great deal from talking with other patients. In hematologic cancers, and lymphoma in particular, new drugs and treatment approaches are developing quickly. Understanding the available options can help you and your medical team think ahead if the situation changes later.

4. Keep going, even when treatment becomes difficult.

If you encounter drug resistance, tumor growth, or a serious infection during treatment, do not give up on yourself. Follow your medical team's guidance, keep treating the problems in front of you, and hold on to the belief that you can make it through. For many patients, mindset can also be an important source of strength during a difficult treatment journey.

Behind every recovery story is a difficult road. More people with lymphoma, like Mr. Wei, are gaining opportunities for long-term survival and a return to everyday life through appropriate, standardized treatment. We hope every patient still in treatment can make it through the challenges ahead, one step at a time, and eventually receive the good news they have been waiting for.