Health Update – Part 2

Part 1 is here. Health Update (first in years!) Part One  And of course it had a spoiler alert.  You may want to read Part 1 first, but not necessary.

Four weeks ago yesterday, I had my six month visit to Sloan to see Dr. Zelentz. As per the usual they had the blood work and CT scan. I have blood work every three months and the CT every six. Since my relapse I’ve been on Brukinsa (long list of side effects, none of which I’ve had) which was cleared for use in 2019, primarily for relapsed mantle cell patients. Since then it’s use has expanded to other lymphomas, as well as several diseases I can’t even pronounce. Memorial Sloan Kettering (my hospital) was involved in clinical trials before it was approved in 2019 so Dr. Zelenetz is very familiar with it.

The way these every six month meetings go (I have a zoom meeting with a NP on the in between quarters), I have to drive into the city – Brigid or Tim go with me – and go to the Koch Center building, part of MSK . There I get interviewed by a nurse practitioner who asks the usual questions. This time in my discussion of my med she said “It’s been a game changer” for treatment of mantle cell and a third generation is about to be approved. I’m on the second generation. And I got the expected and hoped for good news, everything is fine. She also said to me “your are getting your PSA tested?” And I said “of course.” This was 17 days before the debacle of Biden’s prostate cancer and no PSA test since 2014, became public.

When Dr. Zelenetz joined us we had a longer meeting (15 minutes) than normal; I asked him about the Brukinsa.  And something I always ask him every year of two – If I presented initially with mantle cell would the initial treatment be the same (See part 1)? He has always has said yes.

BUT the answer now is no. After studies with three different groups and three different protocols using Brukinsa with chemotherapy, most people will not need the high dose chemo with the 20 day in hospital stay and the stem cell transplant. I said “That’s great! Science marches on!” And he said “Science marches on.” Brigid and I were thrilled to hear this. And Dr. Zelenetz should be very gratified – he and Sloan Kettering were major contributors to this advance.

The other good thing, as were wrapping up Dr. Zelenetz said you are “A poster boy” for this lymphoma treatment. WOW what a great thing  to be a poster boy for!

Next Monday I will be posting a somewhat humorous – we thought so anyway – addendum to my health update.

It revolves around this hat.