Treatment

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Anemia Prevention in Elderly NHL Patients

According to results presented at the 47th annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), chemotherapy-induced anemia in elderly patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin’s lymphomamay predict for a worse overall survival. These results strongly suggest that early intervention or prevention of chemotherapy-induced anemia with agents such as Aranesp(R) (darbepoetin alfa) may actually improve long-term survival in these patients.

More in this News Article.

New Drug for Mouth Sores

Leukemia and lymphoma patients who need a bone marrow transplant now have a drug to help them cope with one of the treatment's most common side effects: mouth sores (called oral mucositis). Most patients develop these mouth sores, which are often painful enough to need treatment with intravenous narcotics.

T-Cell Immunology

I have been contacted by a doctor who is conducting a clinical trial. They are using modified T-lymphocytes to attack cancer cells. I have added to the immunotherapy section information on T-Cell innumotherapy. I'll add and change this page as information comes out.

While this has been talked about for over 10 years, this technology is only now coming out of the lab. Right now the Fred Hutchinson CRC study is targeting relapsed follicular lymphoma.

Humira, Pain Medications, and Lymphoma

The latest drug I have found that is advertised as linked to increased lymphoma risk is Abbott Labs Humira. Approved for rheumatoid arthritis. The warning is on their website here.

Corixa Transfers Bexxar to GlaxoSmithKline

Corixa, original developer of Bexxar(R), the novel NHL drug, has transferred its rights to the drug to GlaxoSmithKline, it's manufacturing partner.

The change should not affect Bexxar availability but Corixa laid off 160 employees right before the holidays.

This blog will continue to dig the dirt on this situation as it unfolds.

Press Release

Shot Update

It took awhile but my doctor finally gave me a note saying I needed a flu shot. Then the problem was finding vaccine as most of it has been used. I finally got a shot with one of those small batches given to a local health concern - many senior citizens in line, I felt a bit guilty but hey, their immune systems are probably in the same shape mine is.

I hope the flu season this year is not too bad. Mike

Medical Marijuana

The US Supreme Court will be hearing a case on medical marijuana use this term. (Article) In the case of cancer sufferers, the newer drugs zofran and kytril releave much of the therapy induced nausea. But for some, they still advocate marijuana. Eleven US states allow marijuana use for medical purposes.

Exercise and Chemotherapy

Ok, maybe I was soooo tired during chemo that I couldn't drool without falling asleep. But many doctors encourage some healthy activity too. Some studies show that, on average, chemotherapy patients who incorporate exercise into their lives have shorter hospital stays, experience a lesser decline in physical functioning, report significantly less fatigue and emotional distress, and enjoy a higher quality of life during treatment. Of course you should ask your doctor if this is ok for you.

Some references:

Methotrexate

Methotrexate is a drug used to sometimes treat rheumatoid arthritis and some forms of lymphoma (including Central Nervous System lymphoma). In a new study out in the Journal of the (US) National Cancer Institute, a researcher concludes the drug also promotes the growth of the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) - a virus that has been linked to the formation of several forms of lymphoma including Hodgkin's!

Flu Shots & Lymphoma

This is why the big medical sites can be just as confusing as the independent ones....

In the question & answer section of WebMD.com, a Hodgkin's stage 3 survivor of 4 years asks the honest question about the need for a flu shot. They are scarce in the US this year and even I have not been able to get one.

Rather than the doctor helping her, he berates US political leadership & just tells her to wash her hands often! So much for the help.