I am receiving my treatment from Ironwood Cancer center in Phoenix, AZ. I'm 70 yr old female and I would call myself active as well. Before this diagnosis I was determined to lose my Covid weight and was either biking 7 miles, walking 3 miles or working out in the gym once a day. I did manage to lose 25 lbs prior to my birthday in June. That is when I started having night sweats and saw my MD in mid-August. She ordered lab which was abnormal and referred me to an MD at Ironwood. My oncologist ordered more labs, a neck to knee's CT with contrast and an bone marrow biopsy to determine my SMZL diagnosis. I contacted Mayo at that time for 2nd opinion, I was give a mid December appt. I started my Rituximab treatments on 10-14. My weight was continuing to drop but now seems to be stable. I took a 2 week Thanksgiving break and then started the treatments again on 11/29 and will end on 12/20. I do feel much better than I did when I originally started. the treatment. Some of that may be due to the fact that I have accepted the cancer diagnosis and trying to enjoy my life, 3 children and 4 grandchildren despite the diagnosis. I hope this information is helpful to you.

I think you should do what is required to be as comfortable as possible with your diagnosis and care team. When this started for me, the mental strain of delayed appointments, and waiting was rough. Desperation for answers is why I called Rochester. They diagnosed my SMZL and also found lung cancer and have had subsequent surgeries. I am very pleased with the care I have received. If you have questions let me know.
Another thing to consider about a second opinion is with your Insurance or Medicare plan. Contact them if you are concerned about coverage.
I hope this helps.

I was diagnosed by oncologist #1 in November of 2021 and 'fired' that cancer practice after weeks of frustration of their inability to return a phone call or see me for weeks. I now travel 1 hour each way to see a lovely oncologist in Baltimore, who is the head of a cancer clinic and she reconfirmed the first doc's diagnosis, and I love my current specialist. She saw me days after Christmas, where I asked her if she would be my primary doc and she found room to see me immediately & her team set up all of the appointments & we rolled! My first round of Rutixan was Jan 7, followed by 3 more rounds total, the spleen shrunk quite a bit and my blood cancer levels went drastically down. I do feel like the spleen might be trying to enlarge a bit? (Or maybe my fear in my head). My spleen was twice its normal size and down to my belly button almost, couldn't do normal stuff like lay on my stomach to do Yoga exercises, walk up a flight of stairs without feeling winded or dizzy, etc. I have had little or NO reaction to the Rituxan treatments, they put me on Predinisone for a week prior to the first treatment to get my body in "fight" mode.