ABVD didn't work, anyone have some hope?

JynxPhD
JynxPhD Member Posts: 11
edited March 2014 in Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin) #1
Well my husband finished his 6 cycles of ABVD for stage II Hodgkin's (20cm x 20cm mediastinal mass) a month ago. He had his follow up PET yesterday and the news wasn't good. His score actually increased from the initial 4.5 to 7. Well the doctor said our next step was two rounds of ICE and he would harvest stem cells incase we need them. Has anyone been through this with good results? Just how sick will the ICE make him? Has anyone been cured like this?

Comments

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #2
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • Tracie1981
    Tracie1981 Member Posts: 125
    #3
    Hi
    I also had to complete a cycle of ICE before starting ABVD, I'm still new myself but as far as I can tell as in side effects ICE is a little harder to deal with. I also was diagnosed with a mediastinal mass and stage II, I'm hoping to get good results on my CT scan in 2 wks. I havent yet to have a follow up scans yet. My prayers are with you and your family, I know it has to be frustrating to think your not getting anywhere, hopefully with the ICE treatment it will come back better. I know after my first round I could breath a lot better and am feeling overall good about it. Goodluck and God Bless!!
  • dejo16
    dejo16 Member Posts: 1
    #4
    ABVD - I.C.E
    Thank you for sharing your story. I have a very similar story. At the age of 38 I was also diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma. At the time I was Stage II. I was given the classic speech that if you have to have cancer this is a good one to have, that it is very treatable. I also had 6 cycles of ABVD and did not tolerate the medication well. I had to be hospitalized for each treatment and my counts were not coming up quick enough which prolonged the treatments. After the 6 cycles of ABV my doctor told me there were no signs of disease. I took her at her word, but my gut feeling was that I was not cured. I went into Dana Farber in Boston 3 months later for a second opinion and found out that I was now Stage 4. My bone marrow had been infiltrated. I underwent a clinical trial called S.P.I.C.E. I was given 40% survival rate. My sister was a match, but they preferred to do "autologus" stem cell replacement with high dose chemotherapy. To be honest, it was brutal! I was not expected to survive. At the time I had two young daughters and my husband would continue to remind me that I had to live for them. That kept the fight in me. That was 13 years ago! I have been cancer free ever since!
  • Tracie1981
    Tracie1981 Member Posts: 125
    #5
    dejo16 said:

    ABVD - I.C.E
    Thank you for sharing your story. I have a very similar story. At the age of 38 I was also diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma. At the time I was Stage II. I was given the classic speech that if you have to have cancer this is a good one to have, that it is very treatable. I also had 6 cycles of ABVD and did not tolerate the medication well. I had to be hospitalized for each treatment and my counts were not coming up quick enough which prolonged the treatments. After the 6 cycles of ABV my doctor told me there were no signs of disease. I took her at her word, but my gut feeling was that I was not cured. I went into Dana Farber in Boston 3 months later for a second opinion and found out that I was now Stage 4. My bone marrow had been infiltrated. I underwent a clinical trial called S.P.I.C.E. I was given 40% survival rate. My sister was a match, but they preferred to do "autologus" stem cell replacement with high dose chemotherapy. To be honest, it was brutal! I was not expected to survive. At the time I had two young daughters and my husband would continue to remind me that I had to live for them. That kept the fight in me. That was 13 years ago! I have been cancer free ever since!

    Wow
    That is something to be thankful for!!! Congrats on getting through that, I know that had to have been hard too. It truly does give hope... God Bless!
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #6
    dejo16 said:

    ABVD - I.C.E
    Thank you for sharing your story. I have a very similar story. At the age of 38 I was also diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma. At the time I was Stage II. I was given the classic speech that if you have to have cancer this is a good one to have, that it is very treatable. I also had 6 cycles of ABVD and did not tolerate the medication well. I had to be hospitalized for each treatment and my counts were not coming up quick enough which prolonged the treatments. After the 6 cycles of ABV my doctor told me there were no signs of disease. I took her at her word, but my gut feeling was that I was not cured. I went into Dana Farber in Boston 3 months later for a second opinion and found out that I was now Stage 4. My bone marrow had been infiltrated. I underwent a clinical trial called S.P.I.C.E. I was given 40% survival rate. My sister was a match, but they preferred to do "autologus" stem cell replacement with high dose chemotherapy. To be honest, it was brutal! I was not expected to survive. At the time I had two young daughters and my husband would continue to remind me that I had to live for them. That kept the fight in me. That was 13 years ago! I have been cancer free ever since!

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

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