August 3, 2017 - Imbruvica is boss

This was such a relieving visit to MD Anderson! Since I began treatment with Imbruvica June 22, I have noticed significant decrease in all of my lymph nodes. I have felt great (minus a few weird, yet tolerable side effects), and I have felt such an incredible sense of relief having all the nodes down. 

I had a follow up with Dr. Burger to see how my bloodwork looks since beginning Imbruvica. It is remarkable! Yay!! 

I will continue on Imbruvica for as long as possible. Sometimes after a couple of years Imbruvica can start to not work anymore. Of course we hope this isn't the case. If that happens, they told me about a new trial completed at MD Anderson that they just completed showing that adding Venetoclax along with Imbruvica is showing remission. Imbruvica alone usually doesn't cause "remission", but control. Since all my nodes are down and my lab work looks good, he does not recommend adding anything at this point. But it's an option in the future hopefully. It may take a year or so for the results of the Imbruvica + Venetoclax study to be released anyway. So I'm certain insurance (looking at you, Humana) wouldn't consider covering it until well after that time anyway. They were such a pain getting Imbruvica covered, which has already been approved for front line CLL treatment. 

I got to spend a fun evening in Houston after my appointment with a girlfriend... doing what I do best: eating amazing food, shopping til we drop, Pure Barre-ing, and inbibing in a plethora of wine! 

Thank you for your continued prayers, love, and support!