Chasing KPIs While on Chemotherapy: A Shenzhen Worker's Cancer Diary | Patient Story
“I refuse to give up. After working hard for half my life, how could I fall now before enjoying life?”
Diagnosed with stomach cancer and after a major gastrectomy, SELINA never stopped working. She continued to chase KPIs while undergoing chemotherapy, working entirely from home.
Both she and her husband are migrants—he from Hubei, she from Hunan. Driven by youthful ambition, they moved to Shenzhen after graduation.
The city is glamorous yet crowded. They had no advanced degrees, no family background, and no one to help. They relied solely on their own hands to navigate the sea of people.
From renting an apartment to settling down, from youth to middle age, the couple met, fell in love, and put down roots here. They turned a foreign city into home, blending half a lifetime of hardship into daily life.
This naturally optimistic and easygoing woman lived with almost rigid discipline: light meals, low oil and salt, no food after 8 PM, avoiding barbecue and spicy food, and keeping up with regular health check-ups.
She always thought that if she pushed through a few more years, retirement would finally free her from the relentless pace of work and Shenzhen's fast life, allowing her to rest and do what she loved.
But fate is never reasonable. At 46, she was diagnosed with stomach cancer.
The treatment journey was winding and difficult. She visited several hospitals, encountered inexperienced doctors, faced negligence with lost records, heard cold judgments, and was even bluntly told by a top specialist that she had "no chance for surgery."
Having spent half her life struggling in Shenzhen, she knew the hardships of the grassroots. After falling ill, she saw the warmth and coldness of human relations and understood the meaning of perseverance. SELINA never blamed fate; she only cherished every meal and every breath in the present.
Author | Zhong Lala & Guangguang
Editor | Xianning
Reviewer | Guangguang
「 I. Missed Opportunity for Early Detection 」
It all began without any dramatic signs, just a common physical discomfort.
Around 2 AM on July 14, 2023, SELINA suddenly developed a high fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. The relentless symptoms, accompanied by black stools, left her so weak she nearly fainted.
Her panicked family immediately called 120 and rushed her to a local hospital in Shenzhen.
After admission, she underwent a painless gastroscopy, but was only treated symptomatically for acute gastrointestinal bleeding without a biopsy. After a week of hemostatic treatment and slight symptom relief, she was discharged.
Neither she nor the attending doctor suspected cancer. No one realized the hidden crisis behind this "improvement."
Looking back, the initial doctor lacked clinical experience and was too conservative. Meanwhile, SELINA, usually in good health, lacked knowledge about serious illnesses and didn't request further tests. Thus, the best window for early detection was missed.
Four months later, at the same hour on November 24, 2023, the exact same symptoms returned, and SELINA was rushed back to the same hospital.
Fortunately, an experienced female doctor attended to her this time. Considering her medical history from four months prior, she immediately ordered a biopsy during the gastroscopy.
Finally, the diagnosis was confirmed: gastric adenocarcinoma, though the exact stage was not yet clear.
"A tree dies if moved, but a person thrives!" Upon receiving the diagnosis and reflecting on the previous setbacks and oversights, SELINA and her husband didn't hesitate. They abandoned further imaging and treatment at that hospital and decisively transferred.
They traveled to Hospital B in search of more professional care.
「 II. A Hasty Surgery 」
Arriving at Hospital B, the unfamiliar environment and unknown treatments added to the anxiety of an already frightened SELINA and her family.
The doctor ordered enhanced CT and MRI scans. Within days, genetic testing was suggested, entirely out-of-pocket. Their hearts sank. When they asked about the cost, the doctor said the cheapest package was 8,000 RMB, with others ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 RMB.
Having worked hard in Shenzhen for years without commercial insurance, every penny was hard-earned. 8,000 RMB was undoubtedly a significant expense for an ordinary family.
Yet, in that moment, they had only one thought: absolutely do not offend the doctor.
They worried that refusing might upset the doctor, leading to careless surgery with unimaginable consequences.
Knowing nothing about cancer treatment and lacking professional knowledge, they placed all their hope in the doctor, daring not to disobey despite their hesitation. After a brief discussion in the hallway, they gritted their teeth and chose the cheapest 8,000 RMB package.
They had no idea what the test would reveal, how it would affect surgery or chemotherapy, or how results would guide treatment. The doctor merely said, "It's recommended, you decide," without further explanation. No one explained its true purpose, making it seem like a routine step.
After paying and taking the test, they never saw the report, nor did any doctor mention the results, even after her successful surgery.
That 8,000 RMB was spent in confusion, offering no clear guidance, but becoming a particularly passive and helpless chapter in her cancer journey.
After further evaluation, they were told, "Surgery is an option."
The sudden illness hit them like a hammer. They had no time to research online, consult other professionals, or compare treatment options. Their only thought was: if surgery is possible, there is still hope.
They deeply realized that ordinary patients, without power or medical knowledge, must tread carefully, fearing one wrong step could lead to total loss.
Helplessly, they passively followed the doctor's arrangements, waiting anxiously yet with devout trust, praying the surgery would end the nightmare.
On surgery day, as SELINA was wheeled in and the door closed, her family outside endured agonizing, slow-moving hours.
No one expected this "routine" surgery to last seven or eight hours, far longer than stated, heightening the family's anxiety.
Only as anesthesia wore off and SELINA regained consciousness did she learn a cruel truth: intraoperative findings vastly differed from pre-op imaging. Her cancer was not early-stage; it had already metastasized.
To clear the lesions and halt progression, the doctor had to remove over half her stomach, along with the "fat above the stomach" (later identified as the greater omentum).
More frustratingly, pre-op discussions never mentioned such extensive removal or introduced "neoadjuvant therapy"—chemotherapy to shrink tumors before surgery, potentially preserving more stomach and reducing metastasis risk. They only learned of this later from other sources.
Post-op recovery was thorny. Severe wound pain and eating difficulties tormented SELINA.
A heavier blow followed: one month post-op, the hospital notified her to start chemotherapy immediately to curb residual cancer cells and reduce recurrence risk.
Only then did she realize stomach cancer wasn't over after surgery. The battle would be longer and harder than imagined, and she had to grit her teeth and push forward.
「 III. Finding Glimmers of Hope Amidst Setbacks 」
Misfortunes never come singly. The oncologist in charge accidentally lost all her special outpatient application documents. Overwhelmed by long-held grievances and anger, SELINA decisively left the disappointing hospital to seek hope elsewhere.
Fate's turning points often hide in chance encounters.
By chance, recommended by a Xiaohongshu blogger, she joined a stomach cancer support group, then the "Panda Group." This warm, empowering community opened a new door of hope for her in despair.
In the group, SELINA proactively learned about stomach cancer treatment and received enthusiastic help from members.
She booked an online appointment with Dr. Zhao, a Beijing expert, who recommended the SOX chemotherapy regimen. Following group members' advice, she learned Peking University Shenzhen Hospital had imported chemo drugs, so she went there and booked an appointment with Director Jin.
Director Jin carefully reviewed her discharge summary, patiently asked about her recovery, completed necessary tests, and efficiently scheduled her chemotherapy, restoring her hope for a cure.
Chemotherapy was not easy.
During oxaliplatin infusions, SELINA experienced severe reactions, developing facial paralysis-like symptoms. Her eyes uncontrollably squinted, only relieved by anti-allergy injections. Each infusion was an ordeal.
Besides, chemo side effects lingered: severe loss of appetite made eating impossible, and a hypersensitive sense of smell made her avoid all odors. Throughout chemo, she barely ate, surviving on small amounts of fruit, and grew increasingly thin.
During those grueling chemo days, as IV fluids dripped into her, her hands never left the keyboard. When reactions hit, nausea surged, weakness left her unable to lift her arms, and her sense of smell dulled. She would rest her head on the desk for minutes, sweat beading on her forehead, then sit up straight and resume work the moment she felt slightly better. She dared not stop, and could not stop.
Despite repeated torment from illness and side effects, SELINA never showed resistance or retreat.
She maintained an optimistic, resilient mindset, viewing each chemo session as a step toward "cure." She always felt that one more session brought her closer to recovery and retirement.
As planned, SELINA needed 8 chemo sessions.
However, after 6 sessions, her blood counts consistently failed to meet standards, and doctors advised stopping chemo.
Thinking she could finally catch her breath, fate struck again. She developed severe abdominal pain and bloating, even feeling a growing mass at the terminal ileum through her thin abdominal wall.
SELINA fell into despair again. She consulted several doctors, who thrice refused to evaluate her, consistently stating surgery was impossible. Doctors at PKU Shenzhen Hospital also said surgery wasn't an option, only continued chemo and observation.
「 IV. A Race Against Time 」
Abdominal pain worsened, preventing her from lying flat at night. She had to sleep sitting up. An emergency visit for intussusception only brought temporary relief through fasting and medication, failing to solve the root problem.
In despair, SELINA sought help in the Panda Group. She wanted to book Director Cai but feared rejection, worrying that as a stomach cancer patient, a colorectal surgeon might refuse her.
Unexpectedly, a group member's question, "Why would he refuse you?" gave her courage.
She gathered her courage, had her husband book Director Cai's VIP appointment, and finally met the person who would reignite her hope.
Director Cai's straightforwardness exceeded SELINA's expectations.
He didn't refuse her due to her stomach cancer. Even before seeing her, he clearly agreed to operate on the terminal ileum mass and bowel obstruction, only noting the anastomosis might not be fixable.
In that moment, SELINA's long-held emotions broke down, not from despair, but from finally seeing hope for survival.
Even more touching, when she tearfully told Director Cai she planned to attend a patient meeting on the 20th but feared she wouldn't make it, he gently promised, "I'll finish your surgery before the meeting."
Just like that, she booked on the 17th, was admitted on the 18th, and on the 19th, SELINA was scheduled for surgery, becoming the third case of the day.
The surgery lasted from the evening of the 19th to 3 AM on the 20th. Without resting, Director Cai attended the patient meeting on time. When group members asked about SELINA, he directly replied that the surgery was highly successful.
During Monday rounds, he smiled and told SELINA, "The surgery was successful, even simpler than we thought. Your abdominal cavity isn't full of lesions as other doctors said."
Post-op exploration revealed two tumors at the terminal ileum, about 5 cm and 1.5 cm, matching the mass she felt. Additionally, cancer cells were found in her right ovary and appendix—none detected in prior exams.
Director Cai had anticipated these issues pre-op and precisely addressed each. His decisive approach wasn't authoritarian; it was decades of experience choosing the path best for preventing recurrence and reducing risk.
Post-op, SELINA underwent four hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) sessions to prevent peritoneal metastasis. Daily Dolantin injections managed pain, but she never complained, only felt grateful.
She admitted that Director Cai's team at the Second Municipal Hospital was the most compassionate she'd encountered. Dr. Liu (born in '95) patiently answered all her questions. Graduate students gently comforted her during dressing changes, saying "youth aids recovery," giving her strength. Director Cai mentored his team openly, explaining treatment logic during rounds to help young doctors grow.
The missed meeting became SELINA's most special memory; the life-saving effort pulled through overnight by Director Cai's team was a warmth she'd never forget.
「 V. Facing the Future with Resilience 」
In Shenzhen, a city that never stops, illness is never an excuse to pause.
From diagnosis and surgery to enduring chemo, and later recurrence and another surgery, SELINA never took a single day off or stopped working.
Her boss, understanding her hardship, allowed remote work, but her KPIs never decreased, and the work pace never slowed.
"Shenzhen is too competitive. For migrants like us with no background or support, stopping means falling behind and being abandoned by life," SELINA once sighed to her husband, her tone helpless yet stubborn.
With elderly parents above, she carefully hid her illness to spare them shock. With a young daughter below, she fought to protect her, ensuring a stable upbringing.
Medical bills piled up. Living expenses, mortgage, and rent weighed heavily on them. Every expense was an invisible whip urging them forward, allowing no rest.
Today, she still awaits the next chemo plan. Her temporary stoma constantly reminds her of the journey's hardship. Her appetite hasn't fully returned, often causing nausea after a few bites.
Yet, whenever asked about her condition, a faint smile graces her face. It holds no complaint or despair, only undeniable optimism and resilience.
She fights the illness with all her might, treating it properly; she also fights to keep her job that supports her family, securing her place in this city.
She wants to live well, to firmly plant her roots in the city where she's spent half her life, giving her family a secure future, honoring every bit of perseverance and effort.
She is grateful to the strangers in the Panda Group, whose encouragement and help gathered like starlight to light her path. She thanks Director Cai and his team for their professionalism and warmth, giving her hope for rebirth. She is deeply grateful to her husband for his unwavering support, day and night, as her strongest backing. And she thanks her daughter's understanding; every "Go, Mom!" is her greatest strength against the disease.
"Even if the sky falls, use it as a blanket," is a phrase 48-year-old SELINA often says.
Looking back on this thorny cancer journey, SELINA has endured countless stumbles, the heart-wrenching pain of surgery, the physical and mental torment of chemo, and countless sleepless, helpless nights.
Yet she never bowed, never retreated, always facing every storm and hardship with unwavering resilience.
To protect patient privacy, names in this article are pseudonyms.
Images featuring the patient's portrait are used with authorization and may not be used without permission.
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