In April 2023, I was diagnosed with stage 4 peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). I enrolled in a phase 2 clinical trial through VCU Massey Cancer Center. After the first round, my intestine ruptured, and I had to have an ileostomy for the remainder of my treatment. This caused several complications, including an abscess in my abdominal cavity that didn't go away until I completed treatment. After six rounds of treatment over five months, the cancer was classified as below the minimal detectable level. I underwent an autologous stem cell transplant in October 2023 and had my ostomy reversed in February 2024, and have been on the mend ever since. Blood Cancer United provided information and a sense of community throughout my illness and treatment. On a funny note, my actual transplant was done on Halloween, so I donned a Nacho Libre costume to celebrate the occasion. I might have lost 50 pounds and was walking with a cane during treatment, but I tried to keep my sense of humor.
Michael
peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL)
