Oncology

Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma

“My wife and I, we’ve always tried to keep things in perspective, but getting cancer just fine tunes it even more and I can actually say that I appreciate my life more,” says Michael Picarella. 45 year old Michael Picarella is a competitive athlete but he’s also a husband and father to 4 beautiful children. Two years ago when Michael was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, he knew he was about to face the fight of his life. Determined to beat his cancer, Michael received aggressive treatment including chemotherapy.
“Fatigue, I had mouth sores, went bald, lost all my hair,” says Michael.

Michael was desperate to find an alternative treatment to avoid the horrific side effects. Doctors started Michael on a regimen of the drug Rituxan and immediately he saw a difference. “It was just outstanding, I am positive that that probably contributed mostly to my getting into remission having been so sick,” says Michael.

Non-Hodgkin’s is a cancer that starts in the lymphatic system.
“Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is a cancer of cells called lymphocytes these are white cells that are involved in producing antibodies and fighting infections and there are many subtypes of lymphocytes, b-cells is one subtype and actually the more common, eighty percent of Non- Hodgkin’s Lymphomas involve b-cells,” says oncologist, Dr. Michel Hoessly of Pioli Memorial Hospital.

The drug Rituxan in combination with chemotherapy is being touted as a breakthrough in treatment for the disease. This type of cancer divides and multiplies rapidly in the body and if left untreated, can be fatal within as little as six months to two years. “If you combine all the studies there is a clear documentation if you add Rituxan to chemotherapy you improve response rates, you improve survival and duration of remission,” says Dr. Hoessly.

“Getting the diagnosis of cancer is shocking and a lot of people think you are going to die right way, but thankfully with drugs like Rituxan that is not the case. My wife and I are much closer, my children and I are closer and I hope to be around for a long time,” says Michael.

We don’t know exactly what causes Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, but risk factors include getting older, treatments that compromise your immune system, and certain infections. Rituxan is given as an infusion and side effects of the drug can include flu-like illness, fever, chills, nausea, headache, and hypotension.

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