New Therapies Coming up

We've been hearing quite a bit about a new therapy called Ibrutinib (eh-BRU-teh-nib.) It's a BTK inhibitor, not chemotherapy, and it is administered in pill form instead of infusion. We hope to learn more about it in February at the Emerging Therapies Conference. But for now, here's a little preview from the ASH press conference on this drug.

Treatment done, for another 5 years?

Dave finished 6 rounds of chemo (Dexamethasone, Treanda, and Rituxan) in November and his hematologist/oncologist said he should be good for another 5 years. That first dose, in June, was a doozy - with a severe "shake 'n bake" reaction, followed by a pneumonia that landed him in the hospital. But since then, he tolerated this regimen much better than the Fudarabine/Mitoxantrone that he got back 2007.

We're hearing some very exciting news about new therapies in clinical trials and hope to get more details at the annual Emerging Therapies conference, in San Francisco, in February.

And I just want to say that having treatment at the Bryan Hemming Cancer Care Center was an extraordinary experience. It's beautiful, comfortable; and it feels safe, calm, and professional. The nurses were wonderful, but then we've always been impressed with the nurses, no matter where Dave has been treated. But this facility was better than valium for soothing anxieties and letting the nurses do their best work.

Round Two

In two weeks I start my second round of chemo therapy. It's been five years since round one and I'm due. The treatment will be Treanda/Rituxan once a month for four months. Looking forward to shrinking lymph nodes an getting my energy back.

Photo: ©2012 David W. Sumner