In front of us sits A Ping (alias), with a buzz cut and a radiant spirit. But few would know that she once prepared for the worst because of her tumor. In 2021, she noticed swelling in her breast and could feel a lump. A check-up at her local hospital confirmed it was invasive carcinoma of the left breast.
The local doctors recommended surgery, but she was too afraid and opted for conservative treatment. However, after a year, her condition worsened — even walking became difficult. Persuaded by her family, A Ping underwent a full-body examination. The results were shocking: not only had the cancer spread in her left breast, but it had metastasized to multiple areas throughout her body.
“The doctors said surgery was impossible and that further treatment would be meaningless.” Despite receiving this “death sentence,” her family was unwilling to give up. The cancer had tormented A Ping so much that she could hardly sleep or even turn over in bed. Witnessing her suffering, her family desperately hoped to find a way to ease her pain.
Thanks to their persistence, a miracle occurred. At the end of 2022, A Ping began endocrine therapy. The tumors shrank, her condition stabilized, and she gradually returned to normal life.
Unfortunately, in August 2024, her body became resistant to the medication. Small painful lumps began appearing on her breast. Her local doctor advised chemotherapy, but she refused. “I’m scared of chemo — so many people die while going through it,” she said. She chose to continue endocrine therapy, but this time, luck was not on her side. Her condition deteriorated further:
Her breast became covered with lumps, exuding fluid and odor.
She grew increasingly weak and emaciated.
She could no longer walk and relied on a wheelchair.
She couldn’t sleep at night.
Several times, her family feared she wouldn’t make it and painfully prepared for the worst.
“Why not try interventional chemotherapy?” After learning that interventional chemo has milder side effects than traditional chemo, A Ping and her family came to Medical Oncology Department 6 at Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital in November 2024. For the family, this was a hopeful attempt to reduce her pain. For A Ping, the treatment was a way to comfort her family. But as someone unable to care for herself, she also felt that “saying goodbye” might be a form of relief.
Upon admission, she had many nodules on her breast. Due to the heterogeneity and atypia of the tumor, a new biopsy revealed triple-negative breast cancer. A Ping received interventional treatment. Aside from the first treatment’s strong side effects, her condition improved steadily. Most notably, the once-hard and lumpy breast skin began to soften and scab, and imaging showed the tumors had shrunk.
At the end of January this year, she began experiencing numbness in her left fingertips, occasional joint pain, and general fatigue. A pathology consultation revealed a rare diagnosis: small-cell carcinoma of the left breast. Director Li Hongmei promptly adjusted the treatment plan to intravenous chemotherapy.
Upon hearing this, A Ping and her family were nervous. There were no better options, so with encouragement from the medical staff, she agreed to try. To her surprise, the chemotherapy wasn’t as terrifying as she had imagined. After several rounds, the woman who once relied on a wheelchair was now able to stroll with her family, go grocery shopping, cook, and even visit the Canton Tower — experiences she never thought she’d enjoy again.
Imaging results at first admission (November 2024)
Imaging results on April 14, 2025
“We had prepared for the worst, but reality kept surprising us — and we love this kind of surprise!” Now, when A Ping and her family visit Fuda for treatment, it feels more like a vacation. They are deeply grateful for the professionalism and compassion of the Fuda medical team. Throughout the treatment, the staff not only focused on efficacy but also paid attention to her emotional well-being. Personalized and timely adjustments to her treatment plan based on her condition made her feel very satisfied. Currently, A Ping’s therapeutic evaluation is “PR” (Partial Response), and she will continue maintenance treatment primarily with chemotherapy.
