On Giap Thin Tet, Mr. Chu Son Chung (from Quang Ninh) came to thank the doctors and nurses of the Central Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion for helping him overcome leukemia.
In 2015, when he was diagnosed with leukemia, Mr. Chung was just 30 years old and his first daughter was only 3 months old. Life was still so young, with so many unfinished dreams and so many responsibilities to shoulder, but that husband and father still did not waver.
Doctor Vo Thi Thanh Binh, Head of Stem Cell Transplantation Department, Central Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, and Mr. Chu Son Chung at a reunion following 9 years of stem cell transplantation. Lam Tung’s photo
“There are still many miserable people around, many people have accidents and die without warning. Even though I am seriously ill, I still have the opportunity to live. I am still lucky. , there is still hope, so be content with the situation and think positively to gain the opportunity to live,” Mr. Chung confided.
After the doctors proposed a stem cell transplant option, Mr. Chung did not hesitate to immediately agree. But when doing HLA testing to find a suitable donor, both his younger brother and mother were only 50% compatible.
The option of transplanting stem cells from community umbilical cord blood is also very difficult and expensive because with the patient’s weight, 2 units of cord blood stem cells are needed.
Doctors from the Department of Stem Cell Transplantation, Central Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion advised the patient to have a half-matched stem cell transplant (haplotype transplant).
Doctor Vo Thi Thanh Binh, Head of Stem Cell Transplantation Department, Central Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, who directly performed the transplant for patient Chung shared that haplotype transplant is a type of transplant that only requires a suitable stem cell source. 50% HLA from siblings, parents, biological children, cousins…, helping patients have an increased chance of transplantation (up to 90% – 100%).
“Compared with a completely HLA-matched allogeneic transplant, a half-matched transplant is more complicated, and a longer graft growth time means more risk of complications. Furthermore, as of 2015, this transplant method is still quite new in Vietnam,” said Dr. Binh.
Patient Chung became one of the first patients to receive a compatible half transplant at the Central Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion.
At the end of December 2015, when there was only regarding 1 month left until the Lunar New Year, patient Chung received a semi-compatible stem cell transplant.
While everyone was gathering with their loved ones to celebrate the New Year, patient Chung and the doctors “fought” side by side in the isolation room, trying to regain their lives.
At that time, despite pain, fatigue, and exhaustion, Mr. Chung still tried to eat and drink “with mental strength” to improve his physical condition. Even when he encountered complications of cystitis and bloody urine, with the encouragement and care of the doctors, he still maintained a comfortable spirit and believed he would overcome.
After 2 months and 7 days, he was released from the transplant room amid the joy of the whole family and doctors. Recalling Mr. Chung’s transplant 7 years ago, Dr. Binh shared: “Currently, we have more experience in handling dangerous complications in hemicompatibility stem cell transplants as well as allogeneic transplants. But when we performed the first semi-harmonious transplants, we encountered many challenges.
Therefore, we really appreciate and thank patients like Mr. Chung for trusting us and bravely choosing new treatment methods.
Mr. Chu Son Chung’s current small family. Lam Tung’s photo
Up to now, the fact that Mr. Chung is still healthy and successful is a gift of courage and also a gift for medical staff like us.”
Up to now, Mr. Chung has overcome leukemia and has welcomed 8 more warm and happy Tet holidays with his family. At the end of 2022, his small family added a new member, a handsome, healthy baby boy.
Cancer did not make Mr. Chung fall, but it also gave him strength and determination to live a meaningful life.