Compiled from public reports
Amanda’s CAR-T journey to Shanghai: seven weeks, caregiving and follow-up in Australia
After another relapse in 2025, Australian patient Amanda Harvey contacted a Shanghai team through another patient and travelled for CAR-T. During seven weeks in China, a friend and her husband took turns supporting her. She experienced adverse reactions and readmission, then continued follow-up and immune support in Australia.
Compiled by SinoCareHub · Information checked: 2026-10-12
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Patient overview
Amanda Harvey · Australia → Shanghai · CAR-T · Multiple myeloma
- Treatment in China:
- Shanghai · BCMA/GPRC5D dual-target CAR-T; seven weeks in China.
- Outcome at the reported stage:
- Bone marrow testing was negative before departure. In a June interview she reported complete remission, with continued immune support after returning to Australia.
Facing another choice after years of treatment
In 2018, Amanda was admitted with pneumonia and anaemia, subsequently developed respiratory failure and briefly needed ventilator support. Further tests diagnosed multiple myeloma with adverse genetic changes.
She had two consecutive autologous stem cell transplants in 2019, followed by lenalidomide maintenance and about two years of remission. After relapse, she received daratumumab and carfilzomib. A third autologous transplant followed in 2023; further carfilzomib kept the disease stable until mid-2025. Her own account also noted resistance to bortezomib, lenalidomide and cyclophosphamide.
Contacting Shanghai through another patient
On relapsing again in 2025, she did not meet eligibility for the CAR-T trials then open in Australia. After reading research, she contacted a New Zealand patient previously treated in Shanghai to understand the actual care experience and obtain the Shanghai doctor's contact.
Her Australian haematologist spoke with a New Zealand colleague, and she submitted an enquiry to the Shanghai team. Her disease burden was low at the time; she decided to travel after discussion with doctors. A friend accompanied her first, and her husband later travelled to Shanghai to take over caregiving.
Treatment in China: Tests and treatment during seven weeks in China
After arrival, she completed blood tests, imaging and a bone marrow biopsy. Her own T cells were collected through central venous access and sent to Beijing for manufacture. She then received lymphodepleting chemotherapy, a preparatory treatment reducing some lymphocytes before infusion, followed by BCMA/GPRC5D dual-target CAR-T.
She stayed in hospital for about two weeks after infusion and spent seven weeks in China overall. Those seven weeks included assessment, waiting for cell manufacture, treatment and recovery.
Readmission and shared caregiving
She developed mild cytokine release syndrome (CRS), an inflammatory reaction that can follow CAR-T activation of the immune system. After discharge, a viral respiratory infection required readmission.
She particularly noted that bathing and other daily care, and emotional support, at her hospital mainly depended on herself and her caregivers. Her friend and husband accompanied her in turns, helping with daily care during admission and recovery.
Who continued her care in Australia
Bone marrow testing before departure found no myeloma cells. Her May 2026 account recorded that paraprotein remained low and continued to fall after returning to Australia. She received no further anticancer myeloma treatment, but had monthly intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) support.
In a BBC interview published on 30 June, she further reported complete remission. A Brisbane haematology team took over care after her return while she continued contact with the Shanghai team to connect subsequent care. These accounts describe her condition at the time of those reports and interviews; they do not establish her subsequent condition.
Video interview
BBC World Service · Asia SpecificWatch the original video on YouTube (opens in a new window)
Sources and scope
- [1] Travelling to China for CAR T-cell therapy
Myeloma Australia · Amanda Harvey's own account ·
- [2] Why cancer patients are travelling to China
BBC World Service · Asia Specific · Amanda Harvey interview ·
- [3] Why cancer patients are travelling to China — Transcript
Exa Podcast Library · BBC interview transcript, cross-checked against her written account ·
Image source: Myeloma Australia / Amanda Harvey · Amanda's treatment photograph
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