March 3rds appointment went well. Sam is a candidate for CAR T-cell treatments but will not know for sure if he is accepted until sometime in April. the next clinical trial is in May in Houston TX.
My cancer is not curable and is chemo resistant -- Immunotherapy keeps it at bay and I may need it for the rest of my life. Fingers crossed that I am accepted into the trial for CAR T-cell.
After the biopsy and second opinion I am back on Immunothrapy until March 2 but will being going back ad forth to Roswell in Buffalo NY. Going to determine if a bone marrow transplant or CAR T cell therapy is my best option. May need both -- more to come.
Back to Buffalo on Feb 25th for a consult with the transplant Doctor. Immunotherapy on March 2nd and Buffalo on March 3rd to meet with the doctors again.
My PET scan showed what looked like the cancer coming back again. The bone marrow transplant has been put on hold.
Off for a biopsy and Lymph node to be removed. Upstate cancer center had Sam go to Roswell Cancer Center in Buffalo NY for a second opinion.
Good news is, it looks like the areas of concern are his white blood cells doing their job and attacking the leftover cancer cells. Transplant is still on hold though.
Not so good news, I will need a bone marrow donor or T-cell treatments as they will not be able to use his own bone marrow as originally planned.
Sam is getting back in the immunotherapy to keep things at bay.
The doctors are weighing in on whether or not he should get a bone marrow transplant or T-cell treatments.
Bone Marrow transplant would be in Buffalo NY. After he gets his blood matched with either a family member or to someone on the national bone marrow donor list.
T-Cell treatments would be a 2-week ordeal in Houston Texas.
We will see where our journey takes us in March when we see the doctors for a consultation.
On October 24, 2020 Samuel Sears, then 20 year old, was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma after a breif illness, his skin turned gray, he was vomitting and lumps appeared on his neck.
He was rushed to Upstate Cancer Center in the neighboring city after being diagnosed at our local emergency room. He was hospitalized for 10 days for treatment of a blood infection and to begin this chemotherapy. Sam had to drop out of college and could not work because of his illness/treatment. He had held a small part time job in between rounds 1 and 2, but the treatment was too intense for him to keep working.
Round 1: (2020 - 2021) his first round of chemo did not put him into remission and after 6 months of treatment and susequent testing on to, round 2 began.
Round 2: This time it was "ICE". Very aggressive chemotherapy and requires 3-4 days of hospitalization per treatment. He had allergic/adverse reactions to this but the nurses were able to give him medication to allow him to continue treatment. 3 treatments later and a slew of more testing revealed, he was ALMOST to the point of being a candidate for a Bone Marrow Transplant.
Round 3: At the end of 2021, Sam began a emunotherapy/chemo combination treatment. At the end of this treatment (December 2021) he was told he is now a candidate for Bone Marrow Transplant.
Final (hopefully) steps: January 2022, Samuel has begun the testing necessary for approval through our health insurance. If all goes well his bone marrow retrieval, final chemo treatment and transplant will begin soon all of which will be done as inpatient treatment. He will be required to be there for approx. 21 days.
However the last 3 years of deductibles has taken a toll on the family financially. Any help would be appreciated.
THANK YOU!