Bob, thanks for both posts. Please don't assume I understand anything - all explanations appreciated. If I know something, I can always skip over it.
I felt ill not because Techniclone might not do so well, but because way back in November when I first started learning what might save somebody with diffuse, large B cell, stage 1A, IPI0, intermediate grade NHL I soon arrived at Rituxan.
I thought Tarken [my 21 year old superhealthy son] should be tested for p53 mutations and CD20 expression with a view to using combined surgery, CHOP, Rituxan and radiation, cod liver oil, Vitamin C, E, etc. I had spent days and nights desperately learning what I could about NHL starting from a position of gross ignorance about biology and came up with that as the best treatment which met good clinical practise, with lowest risks and best chances of maximizing the statistical chance of living until 100 in fun and health.
Luck of all lucks, Rituxan was approved by the FDA in December, just at the time Tarken started CHOP. But were doctors here interested? No! So we travelled at some expense [who cares when you are dying] to Scripps Clinic hoping that Johny-on-the-spot would be right up with the play and decide that Rituxan was worth using. No!
Now, six months later, the what to me was obvious seems to be gaining credence: "Well, golly gosh, who'd a thunk it? Rituxan and CHOP seem to kill off more cancer cells than CHOP alone".
Since distant metastases are the problem and the primary 2 cm cervical tumor beside the right parotid gland was excised, it seemed to me that a cancer cell scavenging job was needed. Rituxan should be pretty good at that.
Well, it turned out Tarken is strongly CD20 positive, but that is of academic interest only [at this stage].
I'd calculated his improved odds as going from 80% cure rate to 85% or maybe with luck 90%. Since the risk of tuberculosis or other death dealing opportunistic infections seemed a lot less likely than 1:10, it seemed obvious that the greater risk was no treatment with Rituxan.
And so it seems to clincians now!
So I feel ill. Maybe the 80% odds will win out, [we don't know yet], and we'll be in the lucky lot. But 90% beats 80%!
Meanwhile the FDA comes lumbering over the horizon:
fda.gov
Thanks for your posts.
Maurice |
