Updated Results
Earlier this year, I spoke with three patients who had relapsed and needed additional treatment. All believed they were candidates for RIT and wanted to find out if it was an option for them, but their doctors were recommending additional chemotherapy in one case and transplants in the other two cases. RIT was not offered as an option. Even when they asked their doctors, it was not recommended.
All three patients lead busy lives and had no intention of undergoing months of risky, unpleasant treatment if another option were available - and so they persisted in finding out about RIT. All three have now taken it. In each case, they were back to leading their normal busy lives a couple of days after treatment.
I am pleased to report that the first patient just received the results of his first scans and they show no evidence of disease. As he says, "My tumors melted away." The second patient just had her first scans this past week and awaits results. The third will soon have his, but feels confident that all is well since he can feel no swollen nodes.
Each of these patients had to "work" to find out about RIT. One managed to convince his own doctor to use it, but the other two had consultations with oncologists at universities who are experts in RIT. These experts then coordinated the treatment with the patients' own oncologists.
It shouldn't be so difficult for patients with any type of illness to learn about all options, but sometimes it is. In the case of these patients, they would be undergoing months of miserable treatment had they not persisted in learning about RIT.
As Mort and I have said many times, you are your own best advocate. If you think you may be a candidate for RIT, it is worth having a consultation with an oncologist who is experienced with it, and that may involve some travel, but the expert can coordinate treatment with your local oncologist.
If you are having trouble finding an expert, don't hesitate to let Mort or me know. We'll try to help in any way we can.
Betsy