Rituxamab Maintenance Therapy - Do Or Don't???
Hello Group - My name is Pam, 63 year old retired nurse. I just finished 6 months of Bendemustine/Rituxamab (BR) treatment for follicular lymphoma stage 4. The majority of providers are recommending a 2 year - every 2 month infusion of Rituxamab. I've also heard some LLS physicians state they no longer use this protocol due to weakening of the immune system - with COVID and all still active would increase our chances of getting it. Anyone have advise/opinion on this? I personally don't feel… read more
I'm one year in to my 2 year Rituxan treatment. Still immuno-compromised, but the cancer is still gone. I will stick with the treatment and just continue to mask up when around people and stay safe. This too shall pass. 🙏🏾
I'm following the same course of Rituximab following my treatment of benda/rituximab for non Hodgkin's lymphoma. Seems to be working for me so I am sticking with it.
My research says rituximab maintenance therapy can delay recurrence, but does not increase overall life span.
I had FL with the same chemo treatment at the beginning of Covid. My blood work after 3 Covid vaccines showed no antibodies. I was in remission after treatment but Rituxan was recommended for 2 years.
I spoke with a specialist who said I would get the most out of one year. At the end of 7 treatments, I got Evusheld and then a Covid vaccine. I finally developed antibodies. I got the recent booster too and felt I could finally return to normal activities. When I did I got Covid BUT and it’s a big but, I was not any more sick than others who have had it. I simply could not stay shut up for a third year with Covid fear hanging over me.
The study that established the benefits of Rituxan is called PRIMA. You can easily find it on the internet. This is a game changer for FL remission. At the time, patients went from 4 to 10 years of remission. It doesn’t change long term survival but it keeps you out of treatment much longer. It does make you immune compromised during and even after treatment. Suppressing the immune system is why it works which has risks even before a darn global pandemic. I got a systemic bacterial infection from food poisoning. So it’s a trade off.
Remission rates are not quite as good now as they got in the study 20 years ago but it does double remission for most.
One year seems to do about as much good as two according to what my specialist was seeing in practice.
My oncologist was originally uneasy with my one year decision but she came over to my view point when Evushuld came out. This is what Jeff Bridges advertises in the TV commercial. It worked for me. I know neither Covid or isolation is going to kill me and Rituxan is buying me quality time. It is a very individual decision. Good luck but there is help out there.
I am similar to Diana. 4 weekly Rituxan in July, killed all B cells at 3rd infusion. In remission since - no b cells so need to avoid crowds. MZL with monitoring. No bone marrow affected. I do have joint pain mostly in wrists/hands - have to see whether its connected or carpal tunnel from typing as I am a writer or something else - curious if anyone else had joint issues.
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