Between Concealment and Truth: She Secured a Glimmer of Hope for Her Mother | Patient Story

In the spring of 2025, Rong’s 61-year-old mother began experiencing frequent insomnia.

Despite maintaining a careful diet and routine due to long-standing diabetes, her blood sugar suddenly spiraled out of control in April 2025, unresponsive to medication.

Her body began to waste away, and her strength gradually drained. On April 13, Rong took her to the endocrinology department of a local hospital. “At that time, her ALT and AST levels were quite high. The doctor was very cautious and immediately arranged an ultrasound of her liver, gallbladder, and spleen.”

Rong said she had expected a routine adjustment for a chronic condition, but instead received a report indicating a “45×54mm hypoechoic mass with blood flow signals.” On April 15, contrast-enhanced CT and MRI scans showed a very high likelihood of cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer).

With each further examination, hope seemed to grow dimmer. Initially, doctors suspected peritoneal lymph node metastasis and deemed surgery impossible. Carrying old wounds and anxious uncertainty, Rong’s family traveled from Zhuzhou to Changsha, and then to Beijing. After carefully weighing treatment options, they finally seized the most precious window of opportunity for her mother, and the surgery was successfully completed.

Rong knew that in the face of cancer, emotional turmoil is the most futile drain. What ordinary people can do is grasp accurate information, make informed decisions, and seize the right timing to choose the best possible path.

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Author: Guangguang & Dun'er
Editor: Dun'er
Reviewer: Guangguang

「 I. Cognitive Misconceptions Lead to Detours in Treatment 」

Upon seeing her mother’s ultrasound results, Rong said, “My heart sank. I had a feeling it wasn’t good.”

Rong was all too familiar with this warning sign. Years earlier, her 12-year-old eldest son had passed away from liver cancer. He was diagnosed at a late stage, with no chance for surgery. Despite enduring interventional therapy and targeted drugs for over two years, he eventually passed away.

These experiences shaped Rong’s complex understanding of hepatobiliary diseases. When the “hypoechoic mass” appeared on her mother’s ultrasound, her reaction was swift. She was more sensitive to abnormal indicators than most, yet her quick response was also tinged with blind spots born from past trauma.

After a brief discussion with her younger sister, the two told their mother, “It’s just a benign cyst.”

At that time, the local hospital assessed the tumor as localized with no distant metastasis, making initial resection feasible. To secure better surgical conditions for her mother, Rong did not hesitate. On the third day after diagnosis, she transferred her mother to the Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Department at Zhuzhou Central Hospital. Further CT scans and a liver mass biopsy ultimately confirmed moderately to well-differentiated cholangiocarcinoma.

However, the surgical plan was put on hold. Because the tumor was close to the hepatic artery, doctors found an ambiguous lesion nearby, making surgery highly risky. They recommended starting with interventional therapy (hepatic artery embolization) combined with immunotherapy (sintilimab) to shrink the tumor before reassessing surgical feasibility.

Fearing her mother would learn the true diagnosis, Rong and her sister declined the chemotherapy regimen also proposed by the doctor. This “protective concealment” became a key strategy throughout the early treatment phase. Rong admitted, “We were reluctant to accept systemic chemotherapy at the time, largely because we fell into cognitive traps shaped by our past experiences.”

Starting April 17, her mother underwent two hepatic artery embolizations and three immunotherapy sessions at Zhuzhou Central Hospital. Her CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) levels dropped slightly, but the mass size showed no significant change.

For her mother, who remained unaware of the diagnosis, her overall condition during treatment was relatively stable. Although the doctor said, “No progression is still good,” Rong knew deep down that this stability was only temporary. The lesion remained, and the window for surgery had not yet opened.

「 II. Told Surgery Was Impossible in Changsha 」

Throughout July, Rong felt like a tightly wound spring. As a primary school teacher, she used the summer break to take her mother to a more authoritative hospital in Changsha, hoping to take one more gamble on the possibility of surgery.

Following recommendations from an AI platform, on July 4, Rong’s mother was admitted to the biliary surgery department of a hospital in Changsha. A PET-CT scan showed increased glucose metabolism in the retroperitoneal lymph nodes. “It could be reactive hyperplasia, but lymph node metastasis cannot be completely ruled out.” Based on this, doctors concluded that the surgical risk remained too high.

Later, the doctors noticed the HER2 (2+) result from a previous biopsy immunohistochemistry report and prescribed a treatment plan combining chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.

“The doctor said HER2 (2+) was likely a viable target and recommended a newly launched targeted drug, costing 6,739 RMB per vial. Including other medications, it would amount to nearly 50,000 RMB a month,” Rong recalled. “I wasn’t entirely sure, so I looked it up online. The new drug seemed to have good efficacy.”

Despite some reservations about the prescribed medication, driven by trust in the doctor and anxiety, Rong and her sister paid for the targeted therapy behind their mother’s back.

Around this time, introduced by a college classmate, Rong joined the Panda Group. Her classmate told her that in gastric cancer treatment, HER2 3+ has clear targeted therapy significance, while 2+ requires further verification via FISH testing.

“Isn’t gastric cancer different from bile duct cancer?” This question struck Rong. The next day, she requested a supplementary FISH test from the doctor, and the subsequent results came back negative.

“When the doctor first recommended the targeted drug, I thought that since surgery wasn’t an option, hitting a target would be a blessing in disguise. We clung to it like a lifeline. Looking back now, we might have skipped standard first-line treatment,” Rong admitted.

The trip to Changsha did not bring surgery, but it left Rong deeply questioning her medical choices. “Although I ultimately insisted on using the drug myself, I feel I might not have found the right doctor.”

「 III. Seeking Treatment in the North Brings a Surgical Window 」

After returning from Changsha, Rong began dedicating her energy to the Panda Group. She realized that relying solely on her and her sister’s limited knowledge made it difficult to make optimal decisions.

She listened to Director Zhou’s patient education lecture in the group and began to understand that “even if surgery isn’t possible, systemic medication must still be used according to standard guidelines.” After consulting in the hepatobiliary group and weighing advice from administrators, volunteers, and fellow members, she decided to take her mother to Beijing for treatment.

“On the first day, we’ll see Director Wang at the Cancer Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences to assess surgical feasibility. On the second day, we’ll visit Director Zhou in the medical oncology department at another hospital,” Rong planned. With this in mind, she brought her family aboard a train heading north.

Because the previous PET-CT had suggested possible retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis, Rong held little hope for surgery. Before the consultation, she arranged for blood tests and a contrast-enhanced CT on August 4 through a proxy consultation service in the Panda Group. On August 6, Rong provided Director Wang with a detailed history of her mother’s prior embolization, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy.

After listening to Rong’s description of her mother’s condition, Director Wang recognized the family’s understanding and courage. He offered a completely different assessment from previous hospitals: “He said he wasn’t entirely sure whether surgery was advisable, but this was a window of opportunity worth trying. He had performed similar procedures for twenty or thirty cases before.” Director Wang’s response brought immense surprise and joy to Rong, who had only expected to “just take a look.”

What Rong did not expect was that Director Wang would reveal the truth directly to her mother. “He told my mother: ‘You are in the late stage, but I want to help you live longer.’”

Rong feared her mother would break down. Perhaps her mother hadn’t fully processed it yet, still believing she had a severe benign condition. It wasn’t until she was hospitalized and saw the word “malignant” on her test reports that she realized she had a tumor.

When the doctor explained, “This is a major surgery; we will need to remove 60% of your liver,” her mother hesitated for a moment. However, Director Wang’s patience and confidence quickly reassured her.

The belated “truth” fostered deeper trust in her mother. “Director Wang told her, ‘This is your own body, and you have the right to know,’” Rong said. Sometimes, whether to conceal the diagnosis from a patient is truly hard to judge. Fortunately, a doctor’s words are often more reliable and empowering than those of family members.

After the consultation, her mother told Director Wang, “Thank you for telling me the truth. I am very grateful.”

[ Before surgery, her mother happily discovered a small apple tree by the roadside while visiting a park ]

「 IV. Panda Group Education Strengthens Resolve for Surgery 」

After returning from the hospital, Rong specifically searched the group for Director Wang’s patient education videos to rewatch. “As a surgeon, my duty is to treat illnesses others cannot, and perform surgeries others dare not.” These words took deep root in her heart and remained unforgettable.

“My husband is usually very critical and rational, but yesterday he quietly watched nearly an hour of patient education videos with me. He was completely moved by the sincerity and professionalism of Director Han and Director Wang.”

Regardless of whether her mother could be admitted smoothly or if the surgery would succeed, Rong felt that meeting such doctors was already profoundly worthwhile and left no regrets. Previously, she had been anxious, fearing her limited knowledge and tight schedule would lead her mother down more detours. Now, her heart was finally at peace, and her resolve for surgery was completely solidified.

[ Her mother, who bought steamed buns to feed goldfish while strolling through the Dream Langfang International Drama Park ]

Rong did not hesitate and canceled the next day’s medical oncology consultation. “My husband said, ‘If someone is willing to operate on Mom, don’t waver. If surgery is possible, let’s go all in for it.’”

During the waiting period for surgery, Rong created a family group chat to clearly divide tasks online with her sister’s family. Previously, her sister had been the primary caregiver. This time, Rong and her husband settled the family’s daily life in Langfang, waiting only for her sister to arrive from Hunan the day before the surgery.

[ After learning the truth about her illness, her mother did not lose heart. While waiting for surgery, she even visited local markets and parks in Langfang ]

「 V. Post-Surgery Treatment Faces Another Dilemma 」

On the day of the surgery, everything went more smoothly than expected. “In less than five hours, I heard them calling for the family. It was shorter than I anticipated,” Rong said. Immediately after the surgery, she updated the group members.

“The director said the liver resection went fairly well, and the retroperitoneal lymph nodes were cleared.” However, the “ambiguous” lesion near the hepatic artery was indeed difficult to dissect. Fearing the risk of massive bleeding during surgery, they only removed a small portion for pathology.

A few days later, the final pathology report showed: R0 resection, no lymph node metastasis, and the suspicious metastatic site was merely a small amount of pancreatic tissue with no tumor found.

Before surgery, Rong’s greatest fear was that her mother “wouldn’t make it off the operating table.” She didn’t know where this thought came from. “It seems like a common perception in daily life that late-stage patients might not survive major surgery.” She consulted anesthesiologist friends in the group and sought further confirmation from Director Wang, which finally eased her mind.

For postoperative adjuvant therapy, her mother chose to enroll in a clinical trial on her own, which worried Rong, who had already returned to work in Zhuzhou. “Fellow patients in the group reminded me that if recovery goes well, adjuvant chemotherapy should ideally start within four to six weeks. The approval timeline for clinical trials is uncertain, and I was afraid of delaying treatment.”

Rong then consulted Director Cheng from the Eastern Theater General Hospital in Nanjing via Haodf Online. After reviewing her mother’s medical records, he pointed out that despite extensive preoperative medication, the postoperative tumor necrosis rate was less than 5%, indicating the tumor was not highly sensitive to the drugs. He advised against off-guideline treatments, recommending a focus on postoperative recovery and oral administration of S-1.

Currently, her mother has completed five cycles of S-1 therapy. Although her CEA levels occasionally fluctuate, neither CT nor MRI scans show signs of recurrence. Monthly tumor marker monitoring and quarterly imaging reviews have become their new rhythm of life.

After her mother was discharged, Rong wrote a handwritten letter of gratitude (swipe left to view)

「 VI. The Calmness and Resilience Taught by Illness 」

Rong remembers that after her first consultation with Director Wang, she finally had a peaceful night’s sleep. Despite constantly trying to manage her emotions, the invisible weight pressing on her heart during that period had never truly lifted. Waking up in the early morning, memories flooded back. Thinking of all the struggles seeking medical care for her son years ago, she couldn’t hold back and cried alone.

Human fragility and strength both surpass our own imagination. Sometimes, a single vulnerable sentence can bring tears, and other times, you realize you’ve already walked a long path with gritted teeth.

“Only now do I truly understand the weight of the two words in Yu Hua’s To Live: ‘Just live.’ It’s the same for everyone. Whether sick or not, as long as you’re still here, live earnestly and steadily.”

After discharge, her mother moved to Rong’s grandmother’s house in the countryside, away from daily chores and family trivialities, to focus on recovery. The resilience her mother showed was beyond Rong’s expectations. “I always thought my mother had a reserved personality and wasn’t particularly communicative.” Yet, after learning the truth, she showed excellent compliance, proactively managing her diet and nutritional supplements, and gradually adopting a peaceful mindset. “My mother said, ‘If it recurs, don’t put me through more hardship. Just manage the pain.’”

In Rong’s view, having the opportunity for surgery already made them much luckier than many. The only period that felt “particularly tangled” was their time in Changsha—the doctor’s recommendations, the financial pressure of out-of-pocket targeted drugs, and doubts about the treatment plan all intertwined.

But if anything sustained her calmness, it was perhaps those heavier past experiences, which made her even clearer that in the face of illness, information, decision-making, and timing are often far more important than emotions.

「 VII. The Panda Group Gave Me Rationality and Courage 」

Now, Rong has developed a habit of browsing the Panda Group. “I don’t necessarily respond to everything, as I lack experience in some areas, but scrolling through the group’s daily updates has become a part of my routine.”

After joining, Rong received advice and comfort from members like KK and Outdoor Brother. She often thinks of the classmate who invited her into the group. She knows that person has their own struggles, but the mutual comfort between them has been enough to give her the strength to keep going.

Rong is deeply grateful to the Panda Group, to administrator Lynn, and to the strangers who readily answer questions in the group. Without the Panda Group’s informational support, she might still be wandering through non-standard treatments. Without the decisive trip north, her mother might have lost the chance for surgery.

“In our understanding, if major hospitals in Changsha said surgery was impossible, then it truly was. When I suggested going to Beijing for treatment, my husband even said I was just making a fuss.” Fortunately, the final outcome was much better than expected.

In Lynn’s eyes, Rong is a typical “excellent group member.” After joining, she carefully read group announcements, diligently studied patient education materials, trusted fellow members’ experiences, and willingly shared and provided timely feedback on her mother’s condition. Later, when a new patient from Changsha prepared to seek treatment in the north, Rong guided her almost the entire way, sharing every detour she had taken and every process she had mastered.

Receiving help while helping others is the simplest philosophy of the Panda Group. From doctor recommendations and nearby accommodations to ward conditions at the Langfang campus, travel routes, and even places to relax, Rong meticulously organized everything and shared it in the group.

Looking back on a year of treatment, Rong’s key takeaways are: do not feel stigmatized by illness; everyone eats grains and vegetables, so getting sick is completely normal. Do not work behind closed doors; “researching intensely online” is not necessarily objective. Most importantly, find the right doctor, not just the right hospital. “Lynn always says, looking at the hospital alone is useless; you must find the right doctor.”

Choice after choice, night after night of worry, day after day of companionship, life continues to move forward at a rhythm recalibrated by illness. Rong no longer fantasizes about “having time later,” but instead believes that “every day is important, and every day should be spent together in good companionship.”

She also wants to share this mindset with more fellow travelers: recognizing the truth of the illness yet still being willing to embrace life is, in itself, a form of courage. As long as there is standard treatment and heartfelt companionship, hope, like starlight in the dark night, will always be there.

To protect patient privacy, names used in this article are pseudonyms.
Images featuring the patient’s portrait have been authorized by the patient and may not be used without permission.