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My concerns reaffirmed today

When I was first diagnosed with MCL, I pretty much read just about everything I could get my hands on, I attended various conferences, and I talked to anyone who would listen.

One of the most important lessons I learned, and which I've mentioned numerous times before was
No one cares more about you than you.

But in addition to that, I learned to fear the drug Doxorubicin, AKA Adriamycin, Doxil, Hydroxydoxorubicin, or more affectionately the Red Devil.

Besides being a deadly chemical, as is the case with most chemotherapy drugs, it is one of the few chemotherapy drugs known to cause permanent heart damage.

I even heard Dr. Sandra Horning, a noted Stanford lymphoma specialist, state at the first lymphoma conference I attended in LA, there was no evidence Doxorubicin provided any added benefit to chemotherapy protocols.

This was music to my ears, since Doxorubicin is very common in most lymphoma treatment protocols.

And even though Dr. Horning has since changed her tune [which my skepticism of the US health care system makes me believe she was pressured to do so], and I have seen one favorable study using Doxorubicin, I remain skeptical, and refuse to even consider its use for me, should the need for treatment present itself.

So it was with great trepidation when I heard Edie's protocol also included Doxorubicin or Doxil (the liposomal version). I expressed my concerns to her, but in the end it was her decision. She has since received 5 (30 mg/m2) doses to date.

But now, after this phase II study, conducted in France on 482 patients, I believe I have been vindicated in my belief, as has Dr. Horning, that Doxorubicin is not a necessary addition to any chemotherapy protocol.

This study clearly shows Velcade + Dexamethasone results in twice the complete remission (CR) and very good partial remission (VGPR) rates of the same protocol + Doxorubicin prior to transplant, and a better than 30% improvement after a transplant.

Hopefully now, Edie will also stop taking this particular drug. Who knows, it might even improve the neuropathy!
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