Lao Chen from Dalian: Why Be Lin Daiyu When You Can Be Wu Song? | Patient Story

My name is Lao Chen, a 42-year-old man.

In February 2021, I felt mild abdominal discomfort. By early March, severe pain forced me to go to the hospital. Imaging revealed a severe bowel obstruction, multiple liver metastases from colon cancer, and multiple tiny lung nodules highly suspicious for lung metastases. Pathological staging was pT4aN2bM1a with a BRAF V600E mutation.

It was the worst possible hand of cards. Based on all available information, my estimated survival was less than a year.

Due to the severe bowel obstruction, I underwent colon cancer resection and liver metastasis ablation on March 22, 2021, and began chemotherapy in late April of the same year.

So far, I have undergone 45 rounds of various treatments, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy. In late February 2022, with my condition temporarily stable and to allow my body to recover, I followed expert advice and paused treatment. However, a follow-up scan three months later showed the lung nodules had grown, indicating a recurrence of lung metastases, so I resumed chemotherapy.

In September 2023, I started coughing and decided to apply for a CAR-T clinical trial. However, during examinations at the First Hospital of Lanzhou University, I was diagnosed with carcinomatous lymphangitis. The doctor told me this marked the progression to the terminal stage.

My estimated survival was reduced to just six months.

Below is my story.

Author | Gini Xishu
Editor | Wu Jiu

Having worked in the IT industry for over a decade, Lao Chen, like always, went to the office daily and managed projects. In his spare time, he loved traveling, driving over 2,000 kilometers round-trip to Inner Mongolia, climbing Mount Tai and Mount Huangshan, and enjoying the scenery in Qingdao, Yantai, and Hangzhou, finding joy in freedom.

If he didn't say it, no one would guess he was a late-stage cancer patient.

Diagnosed with colon cancer and multiple liver metastases in early 2021, he carried the most aggressive BRAF V600E mutation. In September 2023, when applying for a clinical trial, worsening lung metastases and terminal-stage carcinomatous lymphangitis led to his exclusion from the study.

Holding the worst possible hand of cards, Lao Chen confidently said: “Why be Lin Daiyu when you can be Wu Song?”

Facing an invisible fierce tiger, Lao Chen transformed into the heroic Wu Song who drank eighteen bowls of wine. Casting aside distractions, he stepped forward lightly. With swift moves and strikes, no matter how fierce the tiger, he had his own ways to fight back—scientific treatment, a stable mindset, and a consistently positive attitude, confronting fate head-on.

Encountering the "Fierce Tiger" on Jingyang Ridge

One night in March 2021, severe abdominal pain robbed Lao Chen of his sleep. After enduring it for a day, he went to the emergency room, only to be immediately admitted. Tests revealed colon cancer with multiple liver metastases, highly suspected lung metastases, and a severe bowel obstruction. Delaying treatment could be life-threatening, requiring immediate surgery to remove the primary tumor.

His wife didn't dare tell him the full truth, so he didn't take it too seriously, thinking it was just a minor surgery. When the doctor told him to take a month off to prepare for surgery, he was stunned. "How long?" "A month." "That long? I still have to work." Looking back at the doctor's gaze, Lao Chen can imagine the doctor thinking, "You have no idea what you're dealing with!"

Initial fearlessness born of ignorance didn't mean Lao Chen took the disease lightly. As he learned more about treatment and researched on his own, he gradually realized his condition was far from simple. Late-stage colon cancer with the highly aggressive BRAF V600E mutation. "Searching online, for cases like mine, survival likely wouldn't exceed one year."

The truth was so cruel. That year, Lao Chen was 39, carrying the label common to most men his age—the family's pillar, with elderly parents above and young children below, deeply tied to this world.

"But death was so close, and fate might have left me only one year." The feeling was indescribable. For a moment, distress, torment, fear, and despair became a heavy shackle around his neck.

Drinking Eighteen Bowls of "Strong Wine"

"Why me?" Lao Chen loved playing soccer, rarely got sick, and had no family history of similar illnesses. Cancer seemed so distant, making this fatal blow come too suddenly.

It's human to feel distressed; who doesn't yearn for a beautiful life? But Lao Chen knew that living in pain and fear all day wasn't sustainable. "These negative emotions won't help me; they'll only backfire."

After calming down slightly, he tried to answer "why me" and find a self-consistent logic. As a thorough materialist educated in science since childhood, fatalistic or religious explanations couldn't convince him. But after some thought, he realized a scientific explanation could resolve this lingering question.

"Some people think the world's cause and effect are predetermined. But in my view, the world is one of probability. Nothing happens 100% or doesn't happen 100%. Many things lack logic." The uncertainty of the world forms the foundation of Lao Chen's worldview, and illness is no exception.

"Most cancers are caused by genetic mutations. Mutations occur due to errors during DNA replication. At a more microscopic level, molecules or electrons forming DNA might not react chemically as programmed—it's just an accident." Quantum mechanics' description of probabilistic events taught Lao Chen that cancer itself is a probability event. It occurs according to the laws of nature with a certain probability, beyond anyone's control. There's no need to blame others or yourself, "If it falls on you, just accept it."

Having resolved "why me," Lao Chen also found that analyzing the world's laws helped him rediscover life. "Is our arrival in this world inevitable? It seems natural, but it's actually an extremely low-probability event, nearly zero. Yet here we are, that 'one' in hundreds of millions. That's incredibly lucky. So, the world owes us nothing. Being here to experience its vibrancy and life's beauty, we should face it all with gratitude."

With grateful eyes, Lao Chen began to reexamine everything around him. Since his illness, his wife has stayed by his side, caring for the family, balancing work, and meticulously looking after him—a tremendous effort. His parents-in-law have constantly accompanied and fully supported his treatment. Leaders and colleagues at work have also offered various forms of support, with care and help in every detail.

"The world owes me nothing, and those around me owe me nothing. Meeting them makes me feel incredibly lucky. In fact, I owe them so much, perhaps more than I can ever repay in this lifetime. Living well with a grateful heart might be the best way to repay them."

Coming to terms with cancer isn't easy for anyone. But armed with a scientific understanding of the disease, Lao Chen turned the poison fate threw at him into strong wine. Though it burned his throat and was hard to swallow, once it settled, it boosted his morale to "fight the tiger on Jingyang Ridge"—to battle the illness. In just over a month, he figured it out and adjusted his mindset remarkably well. "You ask if I'm afraid of death now? Maybe everyone is, but it no longer troubles me."

Forging Eighteen "Martial Arts"

Casting aside self-pity and stepping forward lightly, Lao Chen began to forge his "martial arts" to fight the disease through both treatment and mindset.

First, he actively sought scientific and reasonable treatment plans. After local bowel resection and liver ablation in Dalian, he traveled to Beijing for multidisciplinary team (MDT) consultations at the Cancer Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking University Cancer Hospital to verify the local treatment plan and diagnose liver shadows. Subsequent treatments were mostly in Dalian, with regular visits to Beijing, seeking multiple opinions at critical treatment junctures.

Initially, his wife accompanied him to appointments and chemotherapy. Soon after mastering the process, he started going alone, both locally and out of town. "I don't think it's necessary to always have family accompany me; I can handle it myself. They also have work and family to care for, which is a heavy burden. I'll do what I can on my own."

The Panda Group was also a crucial channel for Lao Chen to gather treatment-related information. When treatment began, his wife joined the group but hesitated to let him join, fearing it might affect his mindset. Lao Chen said, "I'm not that fragile." He had her step out and joined himself.

Joining the Panda Group felt like finding his community. He frequently asked questions, and the volunteers' highly professional answers resolved many of his issues. As an "active member," he loved chatting in the group during downtime, sharing joyful topics like food and daily life.

Besides actively gathering treatment information, Lao Chen carefully organized his treatment process. His IT background fostered rigorous and orderly habits. After falling ill, he created Excel spreadsheets tracking each chemotherapy session, medications, and reactions. He also chronologically listed years of test results and turned them into clear line graphs.

Whenever he visited hospitals out of town, he printed these out for doctors, greatly reducing communication costs and helping them give sound advice. Lao Chen shared his spreadsheets in the Panda Group several times to help newly joined patients.

Facing cancer, a good mindset is also crucial. After adjusting his mindset, Lao Chen not only ate and slept well but also did chores, exercised, traveled, and even returned to work normally.

Except for the two or three days right after chemotherapy, Lao Chen walked almost daily in good weather, for one to two hours, covering 10,000 to 20,000 steps. "But you have to know your limits. I don't walk outside in winter when it's cold; catching a cold isn't worth it." He also shared household chores with his wife. "I can wash dishes, cook, sweep, and do laundry. Anyway, I try not to see myself as a patient. I live as I always did."

Throughout treatment, Lao Chen's physical condition remained fairly good, with almost no chemotherapy side effects. "Aside from a slight rash, it's nothing." Feeling restless sitting at home all day with his normal energy, he decided to return to work.

"Going to the office gives me something to do. Interacting with colleagues and society is better for my mental and physical well-being." Lao Chen knew work was work, but there was no need to return to his previous grueling pace. Leaders and colleagues were very considerate. He did what he could at work, sharing the load where possible.

Before his illness, busy with work, Lao Chen rarely traveled. Ironically, he has visited many places in the years since. Last July, he drove with his family to Inner Mongolia, over 2,000 kilometers round-trip. It was his first time on the grasslands, and the vast greenery was breathtaking.

In October, he climbed Mount Huangshan, taking a cable car halfway and then hiking to Bright Summit. Watching the red sun rise from the peak of Mount Tai, Lao Chen sighed, "Life is so beautiful; we must do our best to enjoy it."

After the 2022 World Cup, Lao Chen excitedly changed his WeChat profile picture to the moment Argentine star Lionel Messi lifted the World Cup trophy. A fan of Argentina for nearly 30 years, the team has long been his spiritual anchor.

The final started at 2 AM. Despite having COVID and a high fever, Lao Chen stayed in front of the TV. After a thrilling match and penalty shootout, Argentina won. The veteran fan was moved to tears and remained too excited to sleep even after the game ended at 5 AM.

Argentina's last championship was over 30 years ago in 1986. Since becoming a fan, Lao Chen has cheered for the team every World Cup, hoping for their victory.

When diagnosed in 2021, Lao Chen thought the 2022 World Cup might be his last chance. "Could Argentina fulfill my lifelong wish?" He didn't hold high hopes, as besides Messi, the other players weren't big stars. Reaching the quarterfinals or semifinals would satisfy him. "I might never see Argentina win in my lifetime, which would be a huge regret." However, the united Argentine team ultimately gave him a massive surprise. "That event truly made me happy for a whole year."

"It's good to have a hobby or a spiritual anchor." Lao Chen feels life is like a soccer match; regardless of the outcome, you must strive. "Illness is the same. While a complete cure might be impossible, don't harbor delusions. But we can broaden the width of life and live each day well. We don't give up. We pursue scientific treatment and stay happy daily. From my personal experience, this absolutely has a positive impact."

Regarding how to coexist with illness mentally, Lao Chen doesn't impose his logic on fellow patients. Instead, he suggests they try to find a self-consistent logic to convince themselves.

"Everyone's understanding differs. Some may firmly believe in religion, finding peace in Buddha or God, and that's fine too. Often, friends and family will try to comfort you, but their words may not always help. You must try to untie the knot in your own heart, when illness comes, accept it, face it, and then find ways to enrich each present day." Lao Chen said.

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