Forget the feeling of having cancer 17 years after discovering the disease

In 2008, Ms. Le Dieu P. was devastated when faced with leukemia and became even more desperate after the disease relapsed twice. But thanks to the "miracle" of stem cell transplantation, after 17 years, she is still enjoying life and "completely forgetting the feeling of being sick".

Acute promyelocytic leukemia is the only acute leukemia that is amenable to autologous stem cell transplantation.

The day she received the news that she had leukemia (acute promyelocytic leukemia – M3), Ms. Le Dieu P. felt as if the world had collapsed under her feet. The first person she thought of was her 4-year-old son.

“If I were to die now, what would happen to my child? Would he or she be able to grow up in peace and happiness like other children who have both a father and a mother?” These questions echoed countless times during the days she lay in bed.

Although confused and scared, for the sake of her loved ones and above all for her child, she told herself: "I cannot be immersed in sadness, I cannot be weak forever, I must regain my will to cure my illness."

Ms. P's journey to overcome her illness is miraculous.

During her days of treatment at the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, she experienced many disturbing thoughts, only daring to cry silently. With the encouragement of her husband, family, friends and the doctors, she was given the strength to fight.

With that miraculous power, she overcame 3 treatment sessions with many side effects of chemotherapy. “I love and cherish every moment. Everything that seemed so small before has become so sparkling and precious,” she emotionally recalled.

Those peaceful days lasted for 3.5 years before she relapsed and had to return to the hospital for treatment. After 9 months of remission, she relapsed for the second time. Once again, she fell into disappointment and despair.

In the meantime, Ms. Dieu P. found hope in stem cell transplantation. Specialist II Doctor Vo Thi Thanh Binh, Head of Stem Cell Transplantation Department, Central Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, said that currently, thanks to targeted drugs combined with chemicals, the treatment effectiveness of acute promyelocytic leukemia (M3) has been significantly improved. The patient's stabilization time after treatment is much better.

For high-risk cases or relapsed cases like Ms. Le Dieu P., autologous stem cell transplantation can bring hope to the patient.

"What is special is that while other types of leukemia have indications for allogeneic stem cell transplantation, acute promyelocytic leukemia is the only type of acute leukemia that can have autologous stem cell transplantation," Dr. Binh shared.

Ms. Dieu P. knew that her journey to stem cell transplantation would not be easy because she also had diabetes, hepatitis C and pneumonia. But with faith in the doctors and nurses, the woman was determined not to give up.

At the Stem Cell Transplant Department, Central Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, her treatment process also encountered many difficulties.

Specialist II Doctor Vo Thi Thanh Binh and other doctors have worked hard to find a suitable treatment regimen, helping her to recover after the second relapse and qualify for an autologous stem cell transplant.

Specialist II Doctor Vo Thi Thanh Binh, Head of Stem Cell Transplantation Department, Central Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, consults a patient.

Until now, she still remembers that shared room, about what she experienced for more than 2 months.

At that time, her child was still very young, but every time she went to the hospital, she told her child all kinds of things, so that if her mother did not come back, the child would know how to take care of himself...

During the painful moments of illness, she silently prayed to God to let her live so that her adopted child could grow up to be a good person, even if it was just one or two more years.

“Then God gave me not only 1 year, 2 years but many more years. Up to now, I have had 17 years of illness and 11 years of transplant. There are times when I completely forget that I am a sick person. I still work, still travel and explore many new lands…

And my 4-year-old son is now 19 years old. He often teases me, "Don't worry, mom will live a long life, until she's old," Ms. Dieu P. happily confided.

Having gone through so many emotions on her journey to overcome the disease, Ms. P. confided that cancer can take away our health, but it cannot take away our hope. She hopes that everyone will always be full of energy, optimistic and live fully in the present moment. If we try our best today, no matter what happens tomorrow, there will be no regrets!

HAI NGO

Source: https://nhandan.vn/quen-cam-giac-minh-mac-ung-thu-sau-17-nam-phat-hien-benh-post924120.html