Top News

Linh, thinking back to her visit to the Cancer Hospital in HCMC in September 2023, recalls: “Those 14 days waiting for the biopsy results felt like a time when no miracle could happen.”

The results confirmed that she had stage IAE non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of cancer affecting the stomach lining. She was only 22 then.

She had had a routine like many other university students in HCMC, staying up until 4 or 5 a.m. chasing deadlines, skipping meals, and dieting to lose weight.

Her stomach pain began in June, a sharp pain every morning before food, accompanied by bad breath. Her friends warned her, but she brushed it off, believing she was young and healthy.

She says: “I thought staying up late or skipping meals wouldn’t matter much. I never realized that these minor unhealthy habits, over time, were silently destroying my stomach.”

In June 2023 she and her boyfriend went to the hospital for a check-up, and an endoscopy revealed multiple ulcerative lesions in her stomach, and she also tested positive for Helicobacter pylori.

Doctors concluded that the condition was the result of a long-term H. pylori infection combined with poor eating habits, but that, fortunately, it was detected at a stage when it could be treated.

Within a week Linh vacated her apartment of seven years, quit her job, took leave of absence from her studies, and returned to her hometown of Long Thanh in Dong Nai Province for treatment.

Her treatment plan included six cycles of chemotherapy, with a subcutaneous port implanted to deliver medication directly into her bloodstream. Her first cycle began in Oct. 2023. “There was a burning sensation in my throat, dizziness and nausea every time the drugs coursed through my body,” she recalls.

The hair fell from her head, eyebrows and eyelashes, and her skin turned noticeably darker. She chose to shave her head early to make a wig and started putting on makeup daily, not to beautify herself but to regain a sense of confidence amid the smell of alcohol disinfectant and needles.

The only thing she felt she could control during that time was her mindset. “If life gives you lemons, make lemonade,” she says, not as a cliché but as a conscious choice she made every morning.

According to data from Military Hospital 103, nearly 58% of cancer patients experience depression, often driven by fear and a loss of control over their lives.

Doctors emphasize that maintaining a positive attitude plays a critical role in the success of chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

With every two chemotherapy cycles, her test results improved. In April 2024, just before her 23rd birthday, Linh completed her final chemotherapy session. She regained her appetite, slept well and realized that the painful days had truly passed.

However, what affected Linh the most was not her own pain. Her mother, a medical worker, fell into depression while watching her daughter go through treatment. Her boyfriend and his family also endured immense emotional pressure for several months.

She says: “We often focus on the patient and forget about their families. They are the ones who have to keep working, pay medical bills, and helplessly watch their loved ones fight illness. I couldn’t have made it without them.”

Gia Linh remains optimistic during chemotherapy. Photo courtesy of Gia Linh

Dr. Nguyen Viet Chung, head of the mental health department at E Hospital, too says this is a largely overlooked issue in healthcare. The long-term burden of caring for chronically ill patients can cause severe physical, emotional and financial stress, especially for older caregivers.

Social isolation and the lack of a clear endpoint often worsen depression and anxiety.

Stomach cancer is not uncommon in Vietnam. According to the Global Cancer Observatory, in 2022 there were more than 16,277 new cases and over 12,000 deaths, making it the third leading cause of cancer- mortality after liver and lung cancers.

H. pylori is a major risk factor, commonly transmitted through shared meals, pre-chewed food or improperly sterilized medical equipment. Infection rates within families can exceed 80%, particularly among children under 12.

Gia Linh now. Photo courtesy of Gia Linh

Even after successful treatment, reinfection rates in Vietnam remain high with 23% after 12 months and 38.5% after 31 months, significantly higher than the 12% seen in developed countries.

Antibiotic resistance is another major challenge, with resistance to both Clarithromycin and Levofloxacin exceeding 57%.

At 25, Linh has returned to work, studies remotely, and exercises regularly. She still occasionally stays up late, but now understands her limits.

Her priorities have shifted, and she says: “My only goal now is to stay healthy.”