ricters transformation - treatment/ transplant info

hi all,

i trying to get info on anyone who has got treatment ,and/or transplant for ricters transformation.

unfornately for this disease very little information available.

my mum had cll then got ricters so we all want to get more info on treatment used, and hospiltals used and outcome.

please if u can help i would be very grateful as i could hepl alot.

tks.

 

On 6/21/2009 family wrote:

hi all,

i trying to get info on anyone who has got treatment ,and/or transplant for ricters transformation.

unfornately for this disease very little information available.

my mum had cll then got ricters so we all want to get more info on treatment used, and hospiltals used and outcome.

please if u can help i would be very grateful as i could hepl alot.

tks.

Hello,

My husband was dx in 2003 with CLL. His wbc was progressing steadily but he was asymptomatic and did not need treatment. (W&W)

About a month ago, he developed severe pain in his abdomen that caused us to go to the ER. A CT scan revealed a severely enlarged spleen with multiple lesions and high LDH levels. The onc. ordered a PET scan that was highly suggestive of a Richter's transformation

A biopsy was too dangerous so the doc. arranged for my husband to begin R-CHOP the next day. He's completed 3 treatments and is responding well. The spleen has shrunk and his blood work is "normal" with no sign of CLL. He's had very few problems with the treatment.

The onc. will do another PET scan two days before the 5th treatment and then we will discuss post treatment options. My husband is 56 and has never had treatment before the R-CHOP so we're hoping for a "good" remission.

Some oncs. recommend a stem cell transplant after the first remission while others wait for relapse. Apparently this decision depends upon a variety of considerations based upon the individual patient. We will discuss options with the onc. after the PET scan results and latest blood work is done.

What treatment is your mom receiving for the Richter's? Was she previously treated for the CLL before the transformation? Does she see an oncologist with experience in CLL and transformations? Is the onc. connected with a major cancer center?

Hope this helps a little.

Stella

On 6/29/2009 stillstanding wrote:

 

On 6/21/2009 family wrote:

hi all,

i trying to get info on anyone who has got treatment ,and/or transplant for ricters transformation.

unfornately for this disease very little information available.

my mum had cll then got ricters so we all want to get more info on treatment used, and hospiltals used and outcome.

please if u can help i would be very grateful as i could hepl alot.

tks.

Hello,

My husband was dx in 2003 with CLL. His wbc was progressing steadily but he was asymptomatic and did not need treatment. (W&W)

About a month ago, he developed severe pain in his abdomen that caused us to go to the ER. A CT scan revealed a severely enlarged spleen with multiple lesions and high LDH levels. The onc. ordered a PET scan that was highly suggestive of a Richter's transformation

A biopsy was too dangerous so the doc. arranged for my husband to begin R-CHOP the next day. He's completed 3 treatments and is responding well. The spleen has shrunk and his blood work is "normal" with no sign of CLL. He's had very few problems with the treatment.

The onc. will do another PET scan two days before the 5th treatment and then we will discuss post treatment options. My husband is 56 and has never had treatment before the R-CHOP so we're hoping for a "good" remission.

Some oncs. recommend a stem cell transplant after the first remission while others wait for relapse. Apparently this decision depends upon a variety of considerations based upon the individual patient. We will discuss options with the onc. after the PET scan results and latest blood work is done.

What treatment is your mom receiving for the Richter's? Was she previously treated for the CLL before the transformation? Does she see an oncologist with experience in CLL and transformations? Is the onc. connected with a major cancer center?

Hope this helps a little.

Stella

hi Stella, nice to hear from you and with someone is similar situation, sorry for late reply. my mum is 59 and had cll for the last 9 years which she received treatment, at the start of this year 09 she got ricters and did 2 treatments of r-chop but got very sick and treatment stopped now she just started treatment 3 but its very difficult. transplant an option later but docs have never done this in the country we live in and also never done in england. doctors have experience with cll and ricters they said but we have no contact with anyone else who have it. its all quite new ground i think with all envolved even though ricters around since 1920's. i got a recent report about 2 years old done in u.s with some statics on ricters whch is interesting which i can give. we are all hoping r-chop goes well and my mum can do stem cell transplant as this seems to be the very few options. looking forward from hearing from you and any one else with info/help. take care . family.