At first, Gulina (alias) thought she was just overly tired and not getting enough rest.
In the summer of 2024, she began experiencing poor sleep, extreme fatigue, frequent nausea and vomiting, and a loss of appetite. Later, her body was already very weak, and even breathing had become difficult. She consulted many doctors and friends, and in the end, many people recommended Fuda Cancer Hospital in Guangzhou, China.
Without hesitation, she decided to go straight to Fuda. “At that time, I no longer had the strength to keep searching. Since so many people recommended this hospital, there must be a reason. I thought, if it turned out not to be cancer, that would be wonderful; but if it was cancer, then I would receive treatment at Fuda right away.”
In July of the same year, Gulina was admitted to the Second Medical Department of Fuda. After thorough examinations, she was diagnosed with an abdominal malignant lymphoma, specifically extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma, a relatively rare type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Her condition had progressed to stage IIIS.
According to the Lugano classification, stage IIIS means the tumor had already involved lymph node regions above the diaphragm along with the spleen. This stage indicates that the disease had spread beyond a localized area, but had not yet widely invaded other extranodal organs such as the liver, bone marrow, or lungs.
△ Image source: Internet
Based on pathology and comprehensive staging evaluation, the medical team designed a personalized R-CHOP treatment plan for her. After three cycles of targeted therapy combined with intravenous chemotherapy, her disease was effectively controlled.
The doctors then adjusted her treatment, opting for a more precise method: intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy. Instead of circulating through the entire body, the chemotherapy drugs were delivered directly via the arteries to the tumor tissue. This increased the local drug concentration while reducing systemic side effects. The treatment proved more potent, with fewer side effects.
After several cycles, Gulina’s CT scans brought encouraging news: her lymph nodes had shrunk, some had even disappeared, the lesions in her abdominal cavity had reduced in size, and the fluid in her chest and abdomen had nearly vanished. She also felt her body improving day by day: “Now I’m much healthier than before—I even feel strong when I walk.”
“In this place, I never feel alone.”
What warmed Gulina most during her tough cancer journey, making her exclaim that she felt “never alone,” was not only the advanced treatment, but also the people she met. At Fuda, she encountered many fellow patients from Indonesia. They often gathered together, encouraged one another, and shared their experiences. Along with support from her family and the dedicated care from the medical staff, she felt a warm force that transcended borders.
△ Gulina with her family
Today, Gulina has completed all chemotherapy and entered the maintenance stage, relying on immunotherapy and targeted drugs to prevent recurrence. With a smile, she said: “I want to recover well and become one of Fuda’s cancer-fighting stars!”
And we, too, are committed to accompanying her on her journey toward a healthier tomorrow.
