Finally got some semi-decent news yesterday.
After both ABVD and ICE failed, the third treatment (Brentuximab (Adcetris)) has worked fairly good. Not perfect, but a lot of it is in remission. This drug is pretty new and pretty neat. First new drug since the 70s for Hodgkins and only works for Hodgkins. Its a therapeutic treatment that finds a specific protein then releases the cytotoxin(chemo). This has lower side effects and such as well. It's shown really good results in refractory(what I have) and relapsed HL. Problem with it is that its new and doesn't have a huge market (only 9k new cases of HL each year and few ever make it to where they need this drug) thus the cost stays very high. Its great treatment, hopefully they can get costs down eventually and use it earlier on since it has the best results with the least amount of side effects.
I still have some areas that show up with activity and have a biopst soon to determine if they are lymphoma or inflamation. If lymphoma I will get radiation for those spots, if not they will move forward with stem cell transplant. My scan was clean enough they feel comfortable doing an Autologous transplant where they use my stem cells instead of a donors. This carries less risk overall but in cases where the HL is not in complete remission it has a lower success rate than using a donors cells. Its worth trying though due to how much easier things are if it does work. Requires a month stay inpatient though so I'm sure I'll be one here often, bored out of my mind.
Thanks everyone for the support.
After both ABVD and ICE failed, the third treatment (Brentuximab (Adcetris)) has worked fairly good. Not perfect, but a lot of it is in remission. This drug is pretty new and pretty neat. First new drug since the 70s for Hodgkins and only works for Hodgkins. Its a therapeutic treatment that finds a specific protein then releases the cytotoxin(chemo). This has lower side effects and such as well. It's shown really good results in refractory(what I have) and relapsed HL. Problem with it is that its new and doesn't have a huge market (only 9k new cases of HL each year and few ever make it to where they need this drug) thus the cost stays very high. Its great treatment, hopefully they can get costs down eventually and use it earlier on since it has the best results with the least amount of side effects.
I still have some areas that show up with activity and have a biopst soon to determine if they are lymphoma or inflamation. If lymphoma I will get radiation for those spots, if not they will move forward with stem cell transplant. My scan was clean enough they feel comfortable doing an Autologous transplant where they use my stem cells instead of a donors. This carries less risk overall but in cases where the HL is not in complete remission it has a lower success rate than using a donors cells. Its worth trying though due to how much easier things are if it does work. Requires a month stay inpatient though so I'm sure I'll be one here often, bored out of my mind.
Thanks everyone for the support.
