Thirteen Years Fighting Advanced Gastric Cancer: A Romantic Life Despite Four Surgeries and Three Ostomies | Patient Story
Chengcheng, a bank employee from Chongming Island, Shanghai, was diagnosed with gastric cancer in January 2012. After losing four-fifths of his stomach and completing six chemotherapy cycles, he faced three recurrences (2015–2016, 2021, 2023), undergoing multiple surgeries, chemotherapy, interventional therapy, and radiotherapy. Throughout his treatment, he received support from family, colleagues, and friends, and even found love. Currently in post-operative follow-up, he is tumor-free, living a fulfilling life with his girlfriend. He hopes this interview will inspire more patients, especially young cancer fighters, giving them the belief and strength to keep going.
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Author | Guangguang
Editor | Xianning
「 1. From Gastric Ulcer to Gastric Cancer 」
Born in 1986 in a quiet corner of Chongming Island, Shanghai, Chengcheng began his ordinary yet extraordinary life under his parents' loving gaze.
In the summer of 2008, as cicadas buzzed in the heat and the nation celebrated the Beijing Olympics, Chengcheng, like every college graduate full of hope, stepped into his career. He successfully joined a major bank, eager to work hard, prove himself, and smoothly transition into his new professional role.
By late 2011, promoted to a bank client manager, Chengcheng frequently attended business dinners and drank heavily for work. Over time, his body sounded the alarm: gastric ulcers flared up three times. Despite the recurrences, he initially chose conservative treatment to avoid missing work. Considering his young age and benign biopsy results, doctors opted for hemostatic and anti-inflammatory therapy.
Chengcheng thought little of it, noting that several of his uncles also drank heavily and had gastric ulcers early in life. Even those who had partial gastrectomies lived normally. He never imagined "cancer" would be linked to him, until the third ulcer struck fiercely, making him realize the severity.
It was the busy year-end. Though extremely fatigued, he pushed through, knowing it was a critical performance review period. He decided to finish his tasks before seeing a doctor. Only when his supervisor noticed his condition and urged him to seek medical help did he visit a nearby district hospital. Blood tests prompted immediate emergency admission for hemostasis and an urgent gastroscopy.
Seeing his symptoms were worse than ever, and remembering her own mother's passing from rectal cancer, Chengcheng's mother grew anxious. She tried to get the biopsy results early. Though the final report said "severe gastritis," the endoscopy notes mentioning "raised morphology" and "fragile, easily bleeding tissue" kept her worried. An uncle with ulcer experience consulted a familiar doctor, who immediately recommended transferring to Xinhua Hospital in Yangpu District, Shanghai, for further evaluation.
After transferring, Chengcheng underwent another gastroscopy. This time, the result was starkly different: he was diagnosed with gastric cancer.
「 2. Surgery Removes Four-Fifths of the Stomach 」
Initially, the family felt desperate and sought advice everywhere, even reaching out to an aunt who had successfully treated breast cancer. They hoped to find the surgeon who treated her, but learned he had retired and was actually a breast surgeon. After visiting a crowded oncology hospital, Chengcheng felt overwhelmed and instinctively hesitant, ultimately deciding to continue treatment at Xinhua Hospital.
On January 6, 2012, when gastric cancer treatment was less standardized than today and genetic testing was unavailable, Chengcheng underwent surgery, removing four-fifths of his stomach. The post-op pathology simply noted "tubular adenocarcinoma of the anterior gastric wall, Grade II-III (diffuse infiltrative type)," indicating one high-risk factor.
"After surgery, I was extremely weak, barely able to speak. My throat was so dry I could only sip water. Every breath brought sharp pain, as if a knife were twisting in my abdomen." Yet, compared to the post-op struggle, chemotherapy was even more grueling. Six cycles of capecitabine and oxaliplatin brought indescribable suffering: constant nausea and vomiting, losing almost everything he ate. The 14 days of oral capecitabine meant daily nausea and loss of appetite; the 7-day break felt like "heaven," only to plunge back into "hell" for the next cycle. Yet, through it all, Chengcheng never shed a tear.
Though heartbroken for her son, his mother, having lost her own mother to rectal cancer without proper treatment, remained optimistic. She encouraged him to face treatment positively, always saying, "Illness comes from behind; no one sees it coming. Just focus on active treatment now. Things will work out in the end."
With family care, Chengcheng recovered and gradually embraced life again. However, cancer had altered his path. He began researching literature online to understand his prognosis and survival rates, posting on forums like DXY. Seeing the term "five-year survival rate," he naively complained, "I'm only 26 now. Even with five years, I'll only be 31. That's not enough!"
To live longer, he joined the Shanghai Cancer Rehabilitation Club. At the 84th offline summer camp, as the youngest patient sharing with older survivors, he found the experience deeply inspiring. Hearing others with harsher journeys share their success stories gave him hope, convincing him he wouldn't "kick the bucket" so young.
Meanwhile, in an era before standardized treatment protocols, Chengcheng began a three-year routine of drinking traditional Chinese medicine and practicing qigong in the park at 6 AM. His workplace accommodated his health, allowing him to rest. He adopted a peaceful daily rhythm: 6 AM qigong, afternoon naps, guitar practice, twice-daily herbal medicine, and street photography in his free time.
「 3. First Recurrence 」
Living healthily, Chengcheng passed routine check-ups until July 2015.
One day after July, while practicing qigong in the park, he suddenly experienced severe lower abdominal pain that left him immobilized. It didn't recur, so he dismissed it as a fluke. Two months later, however, he felt aching and swelling in his left lower back.
In September 2015, tests revealed the tumor had metastasized to the pelvis, compressing his ureter and causing hydronephrosis. Facing this, Chengcheng was in deep denial. Despite his relentless fight, he couldn't accept that the cancer had spread.
Despite his resistance, he began the difficult journey of seeking second opinions. He initially hoped surgery would cure him again, but both Zhongshan Hospital and others said it was inoperable. Compared to his initial panic at diagnosis, the realization that his recurrence was untreatable by surgery plunged him into profound fear.
Desperate, he returned to Xinhua Hospital and, following his original surgeon's advice, started chemotherapy with fluorouracil and oxaliplatin, but the response was poor. Meanwhile, he connected with a fellow patient cured of colon cancer at MD Anderson in the US. Lacking funds to go abroad, he decided to try Beijing. He sought a consultation with Director Ji Jiafu, but the multidisciplinary team (MDT) at Peking University Cancer Hospital also deemed him inoperable.
The Beijing trip ended in disappointment. However, prior to this, a fellow patient had introduced him to Director Liao Daixiang for an online consultation. After reviewing his PET-CT, which showed high metabolic activity in a pelvic mass and a 1.1 cm left supraclavicular lymph node, Director Liao recommended continuing chemotherapy to reassess surgical eligibility. With the Beijing consultation failing, Chengcheng reluctantly continued chemotherapy in Shanghai for six months until late 2016.
Though treatment continued, chemotherapy resistance emerged—imaging showed the tumor growing and directly compressing the ureter. Severe hydronephrosis required a ureteral stent, replaced every three months.
After two successful replacements, the third failed as the tumor completely flattened the ureter. With severe left kidney hydronephrosis and an unreplaceable stent, Chengcheng underwent a nephrostomy. The terrible post-op experience finally made him realize his condition had progressed to a critical point; if he didn't find a solution, he might truly "die."
「 4. Second Surgery 」
Snapping out of his post-recurrence despair, Chengcheng contacted Director Liao again. Fortunately, Director Liao agreed to consider surgery if Chengcheng was willing to take the risk. What moved him most was that high school classmates spontaneously raised funds for his second surgery during their school's centennial, delivering the money to his home the day before he left for Beijing. As he headed to the airport, he felt a profound sense of mission: he had to return alive. "So many people still care about and support me. I can't let them down."
In late December 2016, Chengcheng underwent his second surgery in Mentougou, Beijing. Half of his bladder, the left spermatic cord, and part of his rectum were removed. During the procedure, Director Liao informed his parents that the tumor might have invaded the right piriformis and sciatic nerve. Removing it could cause post-operative lameness.
"My mom asked Director Liao, 'Will he still be able to drive?' The director said yes, so my mom said, 'Then remove it!' Her priority was simply to save his life; everything else was secondary. The pelvic tumor removed was as big as my fist, at least 10 cm." This surgery added a cystostomy to his existing nephrostomy.
Post-surgery, Chengcheng also developed a rectovesical fistula. Due to recurrent infections, he endured 111 days of hospitalization and two months of fasting, surviving solely on IV nutrition. Hunger tormented him constantly. Smelling others' food made his stomach cramp, but he endured it. "It wasn't just craving; I was starving mad. Every day during rounds, I'd ask the doctor when I could eat again."
By then, his family had been living in that small hospital room for nearly four months. They arrived on December 20, 2016, and he was discharged in mid-April 2017.
After this surgery, Chengcheng continued follow-up treatment with Director Liao, taking oral S-1 until December 2018. Fortunately, all follow-up scans during this period were clear.
Feeling he had survived against all odds, Chengcheng gradually let go of past hardships. Reflecting on the bitter herbal medicine, the freezing winter mornings practicing qigong in dark parks, and living like an ascetic only to face recurrence anyway, he decided: "Forget it. Life shouldn't be like this. It's better to seize the moment and enjoy life."
So, in the second half of the year after discharge, he embarked on a self-driving tour to Yunnan with fellow patients. Following Director Liao's advice, he also resumed dietary freedom. To other patients, he seemed like a miracle, until March 2021, when recurrence "visited" again.
「 5. Second Recurrence and Third Surgery 」
In March 2021, Chengcheng went to Mentougou Hospital for a routine check-up. Unlike the first recurrence, there was no pain or warning. His CEA rose to 6.25, and imaging showed metastasis to the right piriformis muscle and behind the bladder.
On Director Liao's recommendation, he underwent three sessions of interventional embolization. However, due to the rich blood supply of the piriformis muscle, embolization couldn't achieve a cure. Thus, on July 1, 2021, Chengcheng underwent his third surgery. To preserve the sciatic nerve, the surgical margin was positive. Post-operatively, he received 30 sessions of radiotherapy from August to September 2021.
In August 2022, imaging suggested a new 7mm nodule in the right piriformis muscle. Given the uncertainty and pandemic factors, Chengcheng started oral S-1 and underwent monthly contrast-enhanced MRI for close monitoring.
「 6. Third Recurrence 」
After eight cycles of oral medication, Chengcheng tested positive for COVID-19 around New Year's Day 2023. After recovering, in mid-February, he developed difficulty defecating. He immediately had a colonoscopy, which revealed a 0.8 cm raised lesion 8 cm from the anus, biopsied as a hyperplastic polyp. The doctor said it was too small to cause obstruction or defecation issues.
Yet, Chengcheng could barely pass stool. After trying various laxatives and enemas without success, he traveled between Beijing and Shanghai hospitals to find the cause. In April 2023, he underwent a PET-CT with FAPI imaging, which essentially confirmed a new intestinal metastasis causing the obstruction.
In May, with advice and help from fellow patients in the "Panda Group" and Chen Yu, he visited Director Shi Min at Ruijin Hospital. After pathology, genetic testing, and immunohistochemistry, Director Shi recommended sintilimab.
After the first monotherapy dose, CEA and CA19-9 continued to rise, suggesting immunotherapy might be ineffective. After consulting Director Shi again, he combined it with nab-paclitaxel. This adjustment caused his tumor markers to drop by half.
「 7. When Love Knocks on the Door 」
Due to the pandemic and long-term cancer treatment, Chengcheng deeply craved freedom. He began sharing his thoughts and self-acoustic covers on social media. Through this, he met his girlfriend on Weibo. Bonding over shared hobbies, they decided to travel to Qingdao, where they finally met in person. Chengcheng never imagined that despite his misfortune, such a beautiful love was waiting for him.
Her presence reignited his hope for life and gave him courage to fight the disease. "She doesn't mind my condition and is willing to stay by my side. She's from Beijing but works in Qingdao, while I'm from Shanghai and on medical leave. So, I decided to stay in Qingdao to continue treatment."
With his girlfriend's companionship and encouragement, Chengcheng continued active treatment in Qingdao using Ruijin Hospital's protocol. Though initially effective, the regimen soon showed signs of resistance: tumor markers rose again, hovering near the safety line, and defecation difficulties returned. Considering his immunohistochemistry results were unremarkable (MSS, pMMR, HER2 1+, C-MET -, FGFR2 break probe negative, EBER -, Claudin18.2 -, CPS=1), and with nab-paclitaxel plus sintilimab losing efficacy, he realized long-term medication wasn't a cure. Surgery seemed necessary, but he already had a cystostomy. Adding an enterostomy felt unbearable, especially with potential odor concerns. His girlfriend encouraged him not to give up on surgery prematurely, assuring him she would figure out stoma care, as it wasn't an unsolvable problem.
Chengcheng contacted Director Liao again, but this time, Director Liao felt unable to handle it and recommended consulting Professor Zhang Jian in Shanghai.
「 8. Fourth Surgery and Treatment Completion 」
On March 14, 2024, after consulting Professor Zhang Jian, Chengcheng underwent his fourth surgery. Originally prepared for a total pelvic exenteration, the surgery only removed the obstructing bowel segment and created a permanent enterostomy. "During the operation, Professor Zhang came out to talk to my mom and girlfriend. He said reconnecting the anus might cause future issues since I've had too many surgeries, and the prognosis isn't ideal. If obstruction recurs, it would be even more troublesome."
After becoming tumor-free again, Chengcheng underwent genetic testing and MRD testing post-surgery. To his delight, the MRD result was negative, marking his long-awaited treatment completion!
Professor Zhang Jian advised him to closely monitor MRD and tumor markers. "He said I might not even need imaging scans anymore. Just live my life. If it recurs, surgery would be the only option anyway. The scar tissue in my pelvis is too severe for drugs to reach effectively, so there's no point in taking medication while I'm doing well."
Chengcheng deeply agrees. His physical condition is steadily improving. The stoma, once a major worry, has been well-managed with help from the Panda Stoma Group and his girlfriend's meticulous care.
Today, Chengcheng and his girlfriend share a vibrant daily life: they love riding motorcycles together, feeling the wind; they practice guitar and singing, enjoying the romance of music; they take road trips across the country, marveling at majestic mountains and tranquil lakes.
Even with occasional hospital visits, his girlfriend's unwavering support and his family's steadfast companionship remind him that perhaps all the hardships of these 13 years have magnified today's quiet happiness to its fullest.
Editor's Note: Search "Weiwancheng" on WeChat Channels for Chengcheng's account, full of sweet moments 🐶
To protect patient privacy, names in this article are pseudonyms.
Images featuring the patient are used with authorization and may not be reproduced without permission.
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