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An elderly Tsinghua University expert who has suffered from two types of cancer: I am 80 years old this year, and it has been 69 months since I started fighting cancer

时间：2026-04-27　人气：

If you can't understand the subsequent professional descriptions, just take two minutes to read through this text.

Overview of the condition

Ms. Zhang is also an experienced expert at Tsinghua University. During a routine physical examination in 2013, it was found that "there was a space-occupying lesion with spicules in the right middle lobe of the lung, with a maximum diameter of 0.9CM". However, Ms. Zhang did not take it seriously and did not further clarify the nature of the space-occupying lesion.

Three years later, during a follow-up PET-CT scan in 2016, it was indicated that "there was a possibility of lung cancer in the lateral segment of the right middle lobe". Ms. Zhang immediately underwent a right middle lobe resection at the People's Hospital of Peking University. Postoperative pathology revealed invasive adenocarcinoma.

Within less than a year of discovering lung cancer, in early 2017, Ms. Zhang experienced bloody and purulent stools. After undergoing colonoscopy at multiple hospitals, she was finally diagnosed with malignant melanoma of the anal canal. On February 25, 2017, Ms. Zhang underwent ESD (Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection) at Tsinghua Changgeng Hospital in Beijing. Postoperative pathology showed "tumor cells involving the muscularis mucosae". After surgery, she received three cycles of chemotherapy with temozolomide and Endostar.

Department

Small

Knowledge

Disease

1. Lung Cancer

In imaging descriptions, terms such as "coarse edges," "burr sign," "spiny protrusions," or "serrated changes" are all common indications of lung cancer.

Lung cancer commonly falls into two major categories: squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma of the lung is more common in male smokers, where fine particles in smoke repeatedly irritate the columnar epithelium of the bronchi, transforming it into squamous epithelium that is more resistant to irritation. This process is known as metaplasia, which is a precursor to carcinogenesis. Adenocarcinoma is more common in women and non-smoking patients, originating from the bronchial mucosal epithelium. Its occurrence is strongly correlated with environmental factors. Early adenocarcinoma generally presents no obvious clinical symptoms and is difficult to detect, but its growth rate is relatively slower compared to squamous cell carcinoma.

2. Melanoma

Malignant melanoma is a malignant tumor caused by abnormal proliferation of melanocytes, which are widely distributed in the skin, eyes, mucosal surfaces, and nervous system. Malignant melanoma can occur in various tissues and organs, with 90% occurring in the skin, where its incidence rate is relatively low, and the other 10% occurring in the iris, ciliary body, choroid of the eye, mucosa of the oral cavity, digestive tract, urogenital system, and choroid of the meninges. It is more common in Caucasians, but the incidence rate is not high in China. It has a high degree of malignancy and has the highest mortality rate among skin malignancies.

For the same person to develop two different types of malignant tumors in succession, it is considered a case of dual primary tumors, indicating that Ms. Zhang may have a cancer-prone constitution. Multiple surgeries and chemotherapy have taken a toll on Ms. Zhang, who is 80 years old. She hopes to find a way to break this "curse".

Coincidentally, Ms. Zhang is an experienced expert from Tsinghua University. She contacted Professor Zhang Minghui from the Medical School and gained a detailed understanding of the principles and demonstration cases of NKT cell therapy. She particularly hoped to try it to reduce the risk of tumor recurrence and delay the occurrence of recurrence/metastasis.

After reviewing Ms. Zhang's medical records, Professor Zhang Minghui made the following analysis and judgment:

1. The patient has dual primary malignant tumors. Although both underwent radical surgery, due to a "susceptible" constitution, there is still a significant risk of metastasis.

2. The patient is over 80 years old and has a strong aversion to chemotherapy. After undergoing ESD surgery, the patient only completed 3 cycles of chemotherapy. Considering the significant side effects of chemotherapy, it is reasonable for the patient to decide to suspend chemotherapy. Moreover, other treatment methods with greater side effects cannot be prioritized at this time.

3. NKT therapy utilizes powerful immune cells to eliminate tumor cells that may persist but are not easily detected. Unlike chemotherapy, NKT therapy has minimal side effects and is relatively mild. It is suitable for elderly cancer patients, and can effectively reduce the risk of tumor recurrence and metastasis.

Ms. Zhang decided to undergo NKT cell immunotherapy in July 2017. The initial plan was one course every two months, and after multiple stable examinations until August 2019, the frequency was changed to one course every three months. As of now (November 2021), 19 courses have been completed, over a period of more than four years, totaling 44 monthswithout any signs of recurrence or metastasis!

In terms of imaging

Multiple CT scans of the chest, abdomen, and pelvic cavity did not show clear signs of tumor recurrence.

Tumor markers

During cell therapy, CEA, CA19-9, Cyfra21-1, and NSE were all within the normal range; CA72-4 slightly increased in July 2017, but returned to normal upon reexamination in September 2017. It then intermittently increased, but the reexamination results were normal from July 2020 to October 2021. Continued monitoring is recommended.

Quality of Life

Ms. Zhang's current state bears no resemblance to someone over 80 years old. She often goes on self-driving trips with her lover and even made a trip to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau this year, full of energy. She is dexterous, clever, and perceptive, and occasionally handcrafts cloth dolls and silk flowers to give as gifts to friends and family... Moreover, the chronic inflammation that has plagued her for over 50 years has actually gradually healed on its own! This is also an unexpected surprise for Ms. Zhang.

Conclusion Discussion

The condition of Ms. Zhang having dual primary malignant tumors is relatively rare, and most patients find it difficult to tolerate the side effects of chemotherapy. However, under NKT cell immunotherapy, there are no significant side effects, and it effectively reduces the risk of metastasis and recurrence, achieving a stable condition for over 44 months, reversing the curse of the "cancerous constitution".

This information is for educational purposes only, and individual patients should seek clinical medical advice.

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An elderly Tsinghua University expert who has suffered from two types of cancer: I am 80 years old this year, and it has been 69 months since I started fighting cancer

Overview of the condition

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