Diagnosed with B-ALL at 62, She Returns to Everyday Life After a Stem Cell Transplant

Summary: At 62, Ms. Chen (pseudonym) joined a friend for a hospital visit and decided to have a health check of her own. Unexpectedly, her blood tests were abnormal, and she was later diagnosed with Philadelphia chromosome-positive B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ B-ALL). The sudden diagnosis left her and her family frightened and unsure where to turn, but they soon began searching for treatment options. After coming to GoBroad Shanghai Zhaxin Hospital, the medical team developed an individualized treatment plan, and she underwent autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, achieving complete remission. In the years since transplant, Ms. Chen has gradually returned to normal life. She now manages household chores, gets around independently, travels with friends, and once again enjoys ordinary moments with family and loved ones. By sharing her story, she hopes to encourage other patients to hold on to hope, trust their medical team, and stay actively engaged in treatment and recovery.

Ms. Chen (pseudonym), now 62, was accompanying a friend to the hospital in the spring of 2021 when she decided to have a health check herself. That casual decision changed everything. Her blood test results were abnormal, and before she had even completed the rest of the routine checkup, she received an urgent call from the doctor asking her to be admitted to the hospital immediately.

In May 2021, after further testing, Ms. Chen was diagnosed with Philadelphia chromosome-positive B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ B-ALL). The news felt devastating, as though life had suddenly been put on a countdown. She and her family were shocked, frightened, and unsure what to do next. Still, they did not give up. They quickly began asking around and looking for treatment options. Their search eventually brought them to GoBroad Shanghai Zhaxin Hospital. After a comprehensive assessment, the medical team developed a treatment plan tailored to her condition. In February 2022, Ms. Chen underwent an autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant and recovered smoothly through the transplant phase. Her leukemia went into complete remission. More than four years later, she is back to doing household chores, riding her e-bike independently, and going out with friends. Most days, she hardly feels like someone who once had a serious blood cancer. At this follow-up visit, accompanied by her younger sister, Ms. Chen completed all her scheduled tests and shared her treatment experience with other patients. Her message to them is simple: believe in yourself, stay hopeful, and keep moving forward through treatment and recovery.

Ms. Chen's sister also shared advice for families: stay close, offer reassurance, pay attention to the patient's emotional needs, and do what you can to make everyday life more comfortable — including helping with food and meals when appetite is difficult. Small acts of care can help patients feel supported and less alone.

Q1: When you think back to the moment Ms. Chen was first diagnosed, what was going through your mind as her sister?

Ms. Chen's sister: I still remember getting a phone call from my niece. She was crying and said, 'Auntie, Mom has leukemia.' Just hearing the word 'leukemia' was terrifying. Before that, it was something I had only heard about on television. I never imagined it could happen to someone in our own family. While my sister was in the local hospital, the doctors gave us devastating news — they said she might have as little as one month to live. We simply could not accept it. She had seemed perfectly well and had only gone for a checkup. How could she suddenly be so seriously ill? When we first heard the diagnosis, it felt as if the sky had fallen in. The whole family was crying, and none of us knew what to do. We kept asking people where we should go and what treatment might help. It was an incredibly frightening and painful time.

Q2: Ms. Chen, what helped you regain confidence and decide to go ahead with an autologous stem cell transplant? What was the transplant-unit experience like for you, both physically and emotionally?

Ms. Chen: I really feel that coming to GoBroad Shanghai Zhaxin Hospital was meant to be. Before we arrived, my family and I had no sense of direction. We were ordinary people facing something completely unfamiliar, and we were deeply afraid. But after speaking with the medical team here and understanding the treatment plan, we realized that leukemia was not necessarily a hopeless diagnosis. With appropriate treatment, there was a real possibility of recovery and returning to normal life. The doctors and nurses were patient and attentive. My Mandarin is not very good, but they never made me feel rushed. They explained things again and again, and sometimes spoke through my daughter to make sure I understood what was happening at every step. The atmosphere here felt warm and reassuring, and everyone around us was kind. Slowly, our whole family began to relax after the fear and panic we had felt at the beginning. Before I entered the transplant unit, my family was very worried because I was already close to 60. But once I was there, the 20-plus days passed faster than I expected. My two daughters rented a place near the hospital and brought me food every day. Things went smoothly throughout. I was definitely scared before the transplant, but looking back now, it was not nearly as frightening as I had imagined.

After I was discharged, I went home to recover. Whenever I felt unwell or had questions after follow-up tests at my local hospital, I would contact Dr. Chuxian Zhao. She always responded promptly, answered my questions, and reassured me. That helped me feel much more at ease.

Q3: More than four years after your transplant, how is life different from before you became ill? How have you recovered, and is there anything you pay particular attention to now?

Ms. Chen: I have never been very good at sitting still, and I tend to worry about everything. But during the first year after transplant, I wanted to focus completely on recovery, so I bought a small place out in the countryside — what I jokingly called the 'middle of nowhere.' The air was fresh, and my daughters would not let me do any housework at all. After about a year, I could feel my strength gradually coming back, and I started taking care of things around the house again, just as I used to. When I first came home after the transplant, I had lost all my hair, and that affected my confidence. Now it has all grown back. Today I can ride my e-bike to buy groceries and go out on my own. If I do not tell people, they would never know I once had leukemia. For me, mindset matters a lot. During treatment, trust your doctors and believe that you can get through the difficult days. During recovery, do not rush — take it one step at a time and listen to your body. Once you are well again, try not to think of yourself only as a patient. Go back to living your life and enjoy it.

Photo taken in April 2026 during a self-drive trip with a friend.

Q4: Recovery from a blood disorder often depends on the quiet, day-to-day support of family. From a caregiver’s perspective, what advice would you give families going through a similar experience?

Ms. Chen's sister: Her two daughters were her main caregivers. To me, they were still 'kids' themselves, but when their mother became seriously ill, they stepped up and carried an enormous responsibility. They gave her strength and confidence, both in practical ways and emotionally. They learned how to care for her and often asked other caregivers on the ward for advice. Their attentive care played an important part in my sister's recovery. For this follow-up, I insisted on coming with her. I wanted to witness this important milestone and hoped that, after passing this latest 'exam,' she might finally be able to 'graduate' from the hospital. When someone in the family becomes seriously ill, caregivers also go through tremendous emotional strain. The most important thing is to look after your own emotional wellbeing so you can keep supporting the patient. If the patient becomes upset or discouraged, try to be patient and understanding. When the whole family pulls together, it becomes much easier to get through the hardest parts of treatment and recovery.

Photo taken in March 2026 during Ms. Chen’s follow-up visit at GoBroad Shanghai Zhaxin Hospital.