CAR-T Cell Therapy: Introduce yourself and connect with others

Posted by Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung, Sep 17, 2018

Welcome to the CAR-T Cell Therapy group on Mayo Clinic Connect.
This is a welcoming, safe place where you can meet people who have experience with CAR-T cell therapy or are caring for someone on CAR-T cell therapy. There are so few people who have experience with this new cancer immunotherapy. Together we can learn from each other, support one another and share stories about living with cancer and coping with the challenges of treatment.

Let’s chat. Why not start by introducing yourself? When did you or your family start therapy? How are you doing today?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) & CAR-T Cell Therapy Support Group.

smokie | @smokie | Feb 24, 2021

In reply to @grandpabob "Hello @sunnyd - Dana, I am so glad to hear that your mother made it home...." + (show)

Hi Bob - this is Barb - Greg (Winnipeg) Mum.
I lost you and had trouble getting to this site.
Greg doing well. Had appt this morning. Wondered if you had info from the Mayo on effect that the Covid 19 shot has on already engineered T Cells.

Bob, Alumni Mentor | @grandpabob | Jun 12, 2020

In reply to @sunnyd "Hi, Mom and I are home. Mom had virtually a clean scan. From a prognosis from..." + (show)

Hello @sunnyd - Dana,

I am so glad to hear that your mother made it home. That is exciting.
There is nothing more comforting than finally getting some news that a treatment is actually working.

I concur the treatment does work, like your mom, I had involvement in the brain as well.

I am so glad you were finally able to address your Dad properly, that must be a relief, though very difficult.

I want to encourage you to continue to reach out on Connect as you see fit.

If, you feel your mom may be looking for some help that you feel can be provided on connect, have her post as well. There are a lot of different groups that she may be able to gain a measure of comfort from.

Thank you for your wishes, take care and be safe.

SunnyD | @sunnyd | Jun 12, 2020

In reply to @grandpabob "Hello @sunnyd Just checking in to see how you are are doing. It is my hope..." + (show)

Hi,

Mom and I are home. Mom had virtually a clean scan. From a prognosis from weeks to a month in January with the state of her disease and brain tumor, to home with a clear scan! All I can say is, CAR-T works! Its a rough road but the rewards are SO worth it.

We miss dad terribly. We were finally able to lay him to rest June 1st. I know he saw the results from above and is so proud. Mom has come a long way and endured more than anyone I know.

Thank you for checking in. Hope all is well for everyone also 🙏

Dana

Bob, Alumni Mentor | @grandpabob | May 15, 2020

In reply to @ruttgerbay "This really has been a tough time for you! I'm sorry to hear about your dad,..." + (show)

Hello @ruttgerbay

I am just checking with you.

Have your wife's Car-T symptoms past?

I hope you are both doing well.

Bob, Alumni Mentor | @grandpabob | May 15, 2020

In reply to @sunnyd "Thank you for the reply. Today is Day 7 and having all the symptoms that would..." + (show)

Hello @sunnyd

Just checking in to see how you are are doing.

It is my hope that your mom is progressing as expected.
How are you and your mom doing?

I hope that at this time you are able to be physically together which I know is extremely important to you.

Take care.

Bob, Alumni Mentor | @grandpabob | May 3, 2020

In reply to @sunnyd "Thank you for the reply. Today is Day 7 and having all the symptoms that would..." + (show)

Hello @sunnyd - Thanks for the update.
Car-T can be quite harsh, given the fact that most of us have to undergo at least types of treatment prior to qualifying for Car- T, I hope that criteria can change in the future. I would have to say I was at my lowest point prior to the infusion as well.

I am no scientist, so there is likely a real need to try and eradicate as much of the cancer prior to receiving treatment.

I concur she will be receiving excellent care at 7-3.

Not getting to see her I am sure must be difficult, thankfully in this day and age it is easy to stay in contact with the care team to receive an update.

Take care and I wish you and your mom all the best.

SunnyD | @sunnyd | Apr 30, 2020

In reply to @grandpabob "Hello @sunnyd - Just sending a quick note to say I have been thinking about you..." + (show)

Thank you for the reply. Today is Day 7 and having all the symptoms that would be anticipated. She keeps having spikes with her fevers which bring on the chills and fatigue also. My mom is very petite and didn't have much 'reserve' to begin with. So its been scary. She is in excellent care at Station 7-3 I know. Its been personally very difficult not seeing her. The care team updates me daily and encourages me to call anytime, so it's good to know this.

Bob, Alumni Mentor | @grandpabob | Apr 26, 2020

In reply to @sunnyd "Thank you for the information and support. Its been a trying time. We lost dad two..." + (show)

Hello @sunnyd - Just sending a quick note to say I have been thinking about you and your mom.
Today is day 3 post infusion if I remember correctly.

How is your mom doing?

Hello @ruttgerbay - I hope today finds you well.

How is your wife's condition progressing? I am hoping the neurotoxicity is stating to subside.

Take care and be safe all.

ruttgerbay | @ruttgerbay | Apr 22, 2020

In reply to @sunnyd "Thank you for the update. Is your wife needing additional care due to speech and motor..." + (show)

This really has been a tough time for you! I'm sorry to hear about your dad, but if there's a bright spot in all of this, it goes by the term CAR-T. Not to be concerned about the infusion... it's actually interesting. Two nurses handle it...one constantly checking vitals and the other controlling the flow based on the vitals. It's really anticlimactic. They'll keep her and monitor for several hours..as I remember, 4 or so... then if no reaction, away you go back to GOL. Then in a day or two, she'll probably be hospitalized for a while. The hardest part there is the separation. My wife will need the rehab because she was in pretty poor shape when this started, and she's lost a lot of strength while hospitalized. As the doctor told me this morning, "she was in pretty tough shape when she came in -- she hadn't been giving herself enough to eat." Whatever you do, remember what they told you...everyone is different and responds differently. Not to worry... it'll work out and she'll do just fine. Remember---the best in the country are taking care of her!

SunnyD | @sunnyd | Apr 22, 2020

In reply to @grandpabob "Hello @sunnyd – I see this is your first post. Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect, an..." + (show)

Thank you for the information and support. Its been a trying time. We lost dad two weeks also on top of all this (wasn't expected) and haven't had time to process and heal from that. My mom is by far the strongest woman I know. I appreciate the support.

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