--- description: Breaking news and analysis from time.com. Politics, world news, photos, video, tech reviews, health, science, and entertainment news. title: Lymphoma treatment with cell therapy stories: Don't lose hope image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- # Lymphoma treatment with cell therapy stories: Don't lose hope Jenna thought the hardest part of cancer was behind her. After undergoing six months of chemotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma, she expected to hear good news in time to relax and enjoy the summer with her 8-year-old daughter. Instead, her scans showed more cancer growth. She received a follow-up biopsy which led to a new diagnosis: primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma – a type of large b cell lymphoma (LBCL). “I felt like I had become a professional at \[the type of cancer\] I was dealing with, and now I had to switch gears. It was a really tough transition,” says Jenna, now 38 and living in New Jersey. Still, she had some familiarity with what might come next. Early in her treatment, Jenna’s doctor had told her about a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy from Bristol Myers Squibb called [Breyanzi](https://www.breyanzi.com/ "undefined")® (lisocabtagene maraleucel), a one-time infusion as part of a treatment process used to treat adults with relapsed or refractory LBCL, a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. This innovative treatment uses a patient’s own white blood cells (T cells), which have been reprogrammed to fight and target cancer cells. With the goal of achieving remission, the process involves multiple steps over the span of a few months including blood collection, the creation of CAR T cells, a possible bridging therapy, low-dose chemotherapy, a one-time infusion, and short- and long-term monitoring for side effects. Breyanzi​ is indicated for the treatment of LBCL when your first treatment has not worked or your cancer returned within a year of your first treatment OR your first treatment has not worked or your cancer returned after the first treatment, and you are not eligible for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation because of medical conditions or age OR two or more kinds of treatment have not worked or stopped working. Please see Important Safety Information provided below, including Boxed WARNINGS​ for Breyanzi regarding Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS), Neurologic Toxicities (NT), and Secondary Hematologic Malignancies. “It sounded really cool and scientific, but I thought I’d never get to the point of needing it,” she says. But after her diagnosis shifted and other treatments had failed, Breyanzi​ became her best option. While Jenna had undergone multiple treatments before receiving Breyanzi, patients with LBCL are now eligible for this treatment, after receiving one previous therapy, providing the opportunity for a long-term response. She temporarily moved closer to the hospital so her care team could monitor for side effects following her infusion. Serious and potentially life-threatening side effects are possible. ​ Patients should tell their doctor right away if they experience any signs or symptoms of serious side effects while on Breyanzi treatment including fatigue, difficulty breathing, chills, confusion, dizziness, lightheadedness, fever, muscle pain, severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and headache, as these are possible side effects of CRS or NT. Though the process seemed intimidating at first, Jenna says she never felt alone. Her family visited often, and her mom stocked the freezer with homemade meals. “During such an extremely challenging time, I had the sense of normalcy that my family and friends were really able to provide for me. My support network kept me sane—they kept me laughing,” she says. Jenna also found deep connection and support in a Facebook patient group that included ​ CAR T cell therapy patients and care partners who could identify with her experience “It was an indispensable well of support for me,” she says. Just days before the Christmas she feared would be her last, the news she’d hoped for arrived: a follow-up scan showed no signs of cancer. Jenna was in remission within a month of her treatment.  Similar to Jenna, other Breyanzi​ patients, like Dean from Washington, have also found renewed hope through CAR T cell therapy—and his wife of 47 years, Mary, played a central role in helping him navigate his diagnosis and treatment. Dean, now 73, had always been healthy and active—running, cycling and taking pride in caring for his yard. One day, intense back and stomach pain sent him to the emergency room. A biopsy revealed news he and Mary never anticipated: non-Hodgkin lymphoma, stage 3A, which meant the disease had already spread to the lymph nodes on both sides of Dean’s diaphragm. He started chemotherapy right away, but after six rounds, the cancer hadn’t responded as hoped. The next option his doctor recommended was a stem cell transplant—a grueling process that involves high-dose chemotherapy and months of recovery. Dean and Mary were hesitant to move forward. “We decided to get a second opinion,” says Dean. That decision changed everything. At a medical center in Portland, Dean’s new care team told him: “Don’t lose hope. There’s an option called Breyanzi. I think you’re a good candidate.” Mary, a former medical technician and hospital chaplain, had been by Dean’s side since he was first diagnosed. She continued coordinating appointments, kept his spirits up, and even hired a neighbor to mow the lawn. Dean received Breyanzi​ and spent several weeks recovering at a hotel near the hospital, in order to stay close to his care team to monitor for side effects. ​ Dean experienced fever after treatment and was closely monitored for possible CRS and other serious side effects. The couple turned the experience into something like dorm life—living in a small apartment, ordering takeout, and focusing on getting to the next stage of their lives. Their three daughters and seven grandchildren stayed in close touch throughout it all. “It changed the partnership and Mary really leaned into it, recognizing that she would need to do things differently to encourage me,” says Dean. “She was my hope-holder.” Shortly after, he was grateful to be in remission. Now, he’s soaking up time with his daughters and grandkids. “The reality of having cancer and then having this treatment has impacted how I look at life,” Dean says. “I feel like I have been given a gift.” Jenna and Dean say they feel lucky to have received Breyanzi​ knowing that the treatment and outcomes may differ for other patients. “I was in awe of what they were able to do,” Dean says. “All the science in the world isn’t enough—it’s the people who dedicate time, energy, and their careers to making this treatment possible.” Bristol Myers Squibb, the maker of Breyanzi, has worked to expand patient access to cell therapy. As a result of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) class wide update, patients who received cell therapy including Breyanzi​ have reduced post infusion close monitoring time. Driving restrictions were also shortened from at least eight weeks to at least two weeks. Reducing these requirements may allow patients to return to their day-to-day activities sooner. Learn more about Breyanzi​ at [https://breyanzi.com](https://breyanzi.com/ "undefined")​ or talk to your doctor about what treatment options may be right for you. ###### © 2025 Bristol Myers Squibb. All rights reserved. \[2009-US-2500458\] 10/25 BREYANZI and the related logo are trademarks of Juno Therapeutics, Inc., a Bristol Myers Squibb company.  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