About Betsy
I agree with Mort that there are many new readers to the blog who may not be familiar with our personal stories and so I will share mine.
In January 2002 I was diagnosed with follicular lymphoma and treated at the University of Michigan. At the time, both Bexxar and Zevalin were under FDA review and so I began treatment in a clinical trial whereby I would take eight rounds of CVP followed by a vaccine six months later. After two CVP treatments, it was clear that the disease was not responding and so my participation in the trial ended.
Next came CHOP plus Rituxan, but after five of the planned eight treatments, my disease roared back with a vengeance. So chemo did little more for me than deprive me of my hair, send me to the hospital with numerous complications and help me to forget what day it was. On the bright side, chemo bought enough time for Zevalin to be approved and that is what ultimately saved me. I have now been disease free since September 11, 2002.
Since my recovery, I wrote a book about my experience entitled "The Roller Coaster Chronicles." At the risk of sounding commercial, the book is available on amazon, but it is also available on my own website which is www.lymphomabook.com. Proceeds from website orders are donated to immunotherapy research.
I have also spoken to various groups around the country, and it has been humbling and rewarding to hear from patients either from this blog, the book or the talks. I know how lucky I was to have been in the right place at the right time and to have had a doctor who never hesitated to use the best tool he had.
Mort and I both share our experiences with the hope that others will have the same chance that we did. We know that RIT is seriously underutilized and our goal is to share useful information so that you might find out if it is right for you.
I live in Ann Arbor, Michigan (where it is STILL cold!) with my wonderful husband Alex. We own a homebuilding company where I am responsible for the marketing and sales. I have a daughter, two grandchildren and a cat who regularly sits in my lap as I write the blog.
Wishing you all well,
Betsy