Rituxan Maintenance Schedule for MCL

abcma
abcma Member Posts: 24
in Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin) #1

Following treatment with Rituxan and Bendamustin, what is the usual maintenance schedule for Rituxan?  My friend had a complete response after 3 B-R treatments, but he will continue for 2 more. He will probably begin mainenance when he is done.

 

Comments

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #2
    Rituxan maintenance

    i believe that the maintenance regime for Rituxan is fairly standard for all forms of lymphoma. The two regimes I have seen are 1). An infusion every eight weeks for 2 years and 2). Four weekly infusions every 6 months for 2 years. I am not sure of the relative merits of these two protocols. Perhaps someone else on here knows if there is more benefit derived from one or the other. Also there are some excellent new drugs for MCL. I am sure someone will chime in with that info.

  • abcma
    abcma Member Posts: 24
    #3
    unknown said:

    Rituxan maintenance

    i believe that the maintenance regime for Rituxan is fairly standard for all forms of lymphoma. The two regimes I have seen are 1). An infusion every eight weeks for 2 years and 2). Four weekly infusions every 6 months for 2 years. I am not sure of the relative merits of these two protocols. Perhaps someone else on here knows if there is more benefit derived from one or the other. Also there are some excellent new drugs for MCL. I am sure someone will chime in with that info.

    Rituxan Maintenance

    Thank you for your reply.  I appreciate your help

    . 'll pass on the information

  • illead
    illead Member Posts: 884 Member
    #4
    abcma said:

    Rituxan Maintenance

    Thank you for your reply.  I appreciate your help

    . 'll pass on the information

    Hi abcma

    My husband has MCL and he also was treated with bendamustine/rituxan.  The rituxan maintenance for him was the first one GKH mentioned, every 2 months for 2 years.  He actually relapsed before his last infusion after 2 years in remission.  The good thing though is that he is now taking the target drug Ibrutinib/Imbruvica and has been on it for almost 2 years.  He went into remission immediately after starting it and remains in remission.  A very good source for the latest info on MCL is the Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF).    Since the prognosis for MCL in the past was not very good, many things you read online are out of date and can be depressing.  Please be reassured they have come a long way in their research and there is much hope out there and more coming.  If you want to read more about my husband, just click on our picture and you can read his story.

    My best to you and to your friend,

    Becky

  • abcma
    abcma Member Posts: 24
    #5
    illead said:

    Hi abcma

    My husband has MCL and he also was treated with bendamustine/rituxan.  The rituxan maintenance for him was the first one GKH mentioned, every 2 months for 2 years.  He actually relapsed before his last infusion after 2 years in remission.  The good thing though is that he is now taking the target drug Ibrutinib/Imbruvica and has been on it for almost 2 years.  He went into remission immediately after starting it and remains in remission.  A very good source for the latest info on MCL is the Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF).    Since the prognosis for MCL in the past was not very good, many things you read online are out of date and can be depressing.  Please be reassured they have come a long way in their research and there is much hope out there and more coming.  If you want to read more about my husband, just click on our picture and you can read his story.

    My best to you and to your friend,

    Becky

    Rituxan Maintenance

    Thank you very much, Becky.  I have read many of your posts about MCL and they are always helpful and comforting.  I appreciate your response and will pass on the information.  

     

    So happy that your husband continues to be in remission!  My best to you both

     

  • littlemac
    littlemac Member Posts: 22
    #6
    Hi.  I went through the same

    Hi.  I went through the same treatment last year. I began Ritaxun maintanence in March.  I have it intraveneously every 2 months for the first year.  Then will go to every 3 months for the second year. The maintenance thereapy has been much easier to handle- less tires, not sick....  Good Luck to your friend.

     

  • abcma
    abcma Member Posts: 24
    #7
    littlemac said:

    Hi.  I went through the same

    Hi.  I went through the same treatment last year. I began Ritaxun maintanence in March.  I have it intraveneously every 2 months for the first year.  Then will go to every 3 months for the second year. The maintenance thereapy has been much easier to handle- less tires, not sick....  Good Luck to your friend.

     

    Rituxan Maintenance

    Hi Littlemac

    I'm so happy to hear that the Rituxan maintenance is easier!  He will be as well!!

    Thank you for letting us know.

    Best wishes to you.

     

  • lindary
    lindary Member Posts: 711 Member
    #8
    abcma said:

    Rituxan Maintenance

    Hi Littlemac

    I'm so happy to hear that the Rituxan maintenance is easier!  He will be as well!!

    Thank you for letting us know.

    Best wishes to you.

     

    Rituxan

    I started the Rituxan maint recently and will have the second treatment at the end of this month. The only effect I had was I was tired when I got home and ended up taking a 2 - 3 hour nap. It might have more to do with the high dosage Bendryl than the Rituxan.

     

  • abcma
    abcma Member Posts: 24
    #9
    lindary said:

    Rituxan

    I started the Rituxan maint recently and will have the second treatment at the end of this month. The only effect I had was I was tired when I got home and ended up taking a 2 - 3 hour nap. It might have more to do with the high dosage Bendryl than the Rituxan.

     

    Rituxan Maintenance

    Thank you, Liindary.

    I'll pass that along.  It's always helpful to know what others experience.  I appreciate your help.

  • abcma
    abcma Member Posts: 24
    #10
    illead said:

    Hi abcma

    My husband has MCL and he also was treated with bendamustine/rituxan.  The rituxan maintenance for him was the first one GKH mentioned, every 2 months for 2 years.  He actually relapsed before his last infusion after 2 years in remission.  The good thing though is that he is now taking the target drug Ibrutinib/Imbruvica and has been on it for almost 2 years.  He went into remission immediately after starting it and remains in remission.  A very good source for the latest info on MCL is the Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF).    Since the prognosis for MCL in the past was not very good, many things you read online are out of date and can be depressing.  Please be reassured they have come a long way in their research and there is much hope out there and more coming.  If you want to read more about my husband, just click on our picture and you can read his story.

    My best to you and to your friend,

    Becky

    Rituxan Maintenance

    I flagged this because I wanted to save it for reference.  Was that the correct thing to do?   I couldn't find any instructions for posting on the discussion boards.  

  • Rocquie
    Rocquie Member Posts: 869 Member
    #11
    abcma said:

    Rituxan Maintenance

    I flagged this because I wanted to save it for reference.  Was that the correct thing to do?   I couldn't find any instructions for posting on the discussion boards.  

    Flag

    abcma, flagging a post brings it to the attention of the site moderators. It may or may not be removed. It is usually done because of violation of the terms of use, or when something objectionable is posted.

    If you want to save something, look right at the top of the thread, right above the title. You will see, in blue, the words Add to Favorites/Manage Your Favorites. 

    Cheers!

  • abcma
    abcma Member Posts: 24
    #12
    Rocquie said:

    Flag

    abcma, flagging a post brings it to the attention of the site moderators. It may or may not be removed. It is usually done because of violation of the terms of use, or when something objectionable is posted.

    If you want to save something, look right at the top of the thread, right above the title. You will see, in blue, the words Add to Favorites/Manage Your Favorites. 

    Cheers!

    Rituxan Maintenance- Flagging Question

    Rocqui

    Thank you!  I appreciate your help.  I usually flag email that I want to save and assumed this message board worked the same way.  

     

  • mrsspies
    mrsspies Member Posts: 3
    #13
    Rituxan maintenance after R-hyper cvad-araC

    Husband treated with R-hyper cvad-araC and completed that Septmeber 2015. Began rituxan maintenance November 2015 with a dose every 8 weeks for two years. Has this month, July, and September to go. Treatment in March left him feeling poorly for 3 weeks, something that hadn' t happened before. He's contemplating whether to do the last 3 treatments. Anyone have suggestions?

  • ShadyGuy
    ShadyGuy Member Posts: 923 Member
    edited May 2017 #14
    mrsspies said:

    Rituxan maintenance after R-hyper cvad-araC

    Husband treated with R-hyper cvad-araC and completed that Septmeber 2015. Began rituxan maintenance November 2015 with a dose every 8 weeks for two years. Has this month, July, and September to go. Treatment in March left him feeling poorly for 3 weeks, something that hadn' t happened before. He's contemplating whether to do the last 3 treatments. Anyone have suggestions?

    Do it

    I had 26 infusions. It works. Don't quit in the home stretch!

  • lindary
    lindary Member Posts: 711 Member
    #15
    abcma said:

    Rituxan Maintenance

    Thank you, Liindary.

    I'll pass that along.  It's always helpful to know what others experience.  I appreciate your help.

    Update

    It has been a little over a year since I posted the info on my Rituxan maintenance. I just had a treatment last week. The Benadryl still makes me tired and it also give me a bout of restless legs duirng treatment. Other than that is it a nice, relaxing day (about 5 hours). My blood counts are still below the low end of where they should be but I don't let that bother me I am still working, driving and doing what I did before I was diagnosed. Last Nov after the PT/CT  scans I was told I was in remission. I have my 6 month CT scan in a couple of weeks and hope I sitll get the all clear. 

     

  • lrclum
    lrclum Member Posts: 5
    #16
    lindary said:

    Update

    It has been a little over a year since I posted the info on my Rituxan maintenance. I just had a treatment last week. The Benadryl still makes me tired and it also give me a bout of restless legs duirng treatment. Other than that is it a nice, relaxing day (about 5 hours). My blood counts are still below the low end of where they should be but I don't let that bother me I am still working, driving and doing what I did before I was diagnosed. Last Nov after the PT/CT  scans I was told I was in remission. I have my 6 month CT scan in a couple of weeks and hope I sitll get the all clear. 

     

    Ativan for "Dancing Legs"

    Lindary,  I have had the same problem with my rituximab maintenance. An Ativan, even half of a .5mg tablet takes care of the jumpiness and lets me doze. I only mention it because it makes the the whole infusion much easier.

  • lindary
    lindary Member Posts: 711 Member
    edited June 2017 #17
    lrclum said:

    Ativan for "Dancing Legs"

    Lindary,  I have had the same problem with my rituximab maintenance. An Ativan, even half of a .5mg tablet takes care of the jumpiness and lets me doze. I only mention it because it makes the the whole infusion much easier.

    ativan

    Thanks for the suggestion. Normally I get up and just walk around.  I didn't know there was anything to do about the restless leg problem.  All I know is that once the benedryl is done and the rituxan starts the leg restlessness stops and I take a nap. I'll talk to my Oncologist about the antivan.

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