Leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma treatment in China

Blood cancers include leukaemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma. Their treatment has changed quickly in recent years, and Chinese hospitals have become very active in cell therapy and stem cell transplantation.

Who can ask for a review

Anyone with a diagnosis of leukaemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma or a related blood disease can send us their records. That includes people whose disease has come back or has not responded to earlier treatment.

Records to send

• The pathology report, and bone marrow test results if you have had them
• Flow cytometry, cytogenetic and molecular test results, if you have them
• Recent PET-CT or CT reports, and the image files if you have them
• Recent blood tests
• A list of the treatments you have had, with dates and doses, including any earlier transplant

Treatment in China

Standard treatment. Depending on the disease, doctors may recommend chemotherapy, targeted medicines, immunotherapy, radiotherapy or a stem cell transplant.

CAR-T cell therapy. China has approved several CAR-T cell therapies for certain types of lymphoma, leukaemia and multiple myeloma. These are used for specific situations, usually after other treatments have not worked.

Stem cell transplants. Chinese hospitals have long experience with half-matched (haploidentical) transplants, which can make a transplant possible when no fully matched donor is available.

Clinical trials. Many new cell therapies in China are still in clinical trials. Trial treatments are still being studied: they are not standard treatment, and their benefits and risks are not yet fully known.

Hospitals we can arrange

These are examples of hospitals our patients often choose for this condition. We can arrange care at other hospitals too.

• Peking University People's Hospital: Recognised in 2019 as China's National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease.
• Ruijin Hospital: Home of the Shanghai Institute of Hematology, with a long history of research in blood cancers.
• Peking Union Medical College Hospital: Large general hospital and national centre for complex and severe disorders, including rare blood diseases.
• Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences: Specialist cancer hospital and host of China's National Cancer Center, with treatment for lymphoma.

We have no formal partnership with these hospitals. Each hospital decides whether to accept a patient and when appointments are available.

From your records to treatment

1. Free second opinion. Send us your records. Our medical team and specialist doctors in China review them and send you a written opinion, usually within 2 to 4 weeks. See second opinion.
2. Decide and plan. If you decide to come, we arrange your appointments or admission as soon as possible, together with your visa invitation letter, flights and hotel.
3. At the hospital. The doctors see you in person, may repeat some tests, and confirm the treatment plan. An interpreter is with you at every appointment.
4. Back home. You leave with translated reports. We keep you in touch with your doctors in China and help your doctors at home continue your care.

What affects cost and length of stay

We cannot give a fixed price in advance, because it depends on your case. The main factors are:

• the type and stage of the disease, and the treatment the doctors recommend;
• which tests the hospital needs to repeat or add;
• whether you need surgery or a hospital stay, and for how long;
• the medicines used, and whether you continue treatment in China or at home.

Hospital fees are set by the hospital. Once the doctors have proposed a plan, we ask the hospital for an estimate and share it with you before you decide anything.