Cancer
A dashboard for tracking health.
As of 04.23.25, I am in remission following treatment for recurrent disease. I am currently undergoing an allogeneic stem cell transplant with a donor and will need approximately 100 days for engraftment and 9 months or so for full immune system recovery.
I created this dashboard to mindfully keep track of my treatment journey. The timeline below documents both my initial diagnosis and treatment in 2023-2024, as well as the recurrence and subsequent treatment in 2024-2025. Thanks for following along.
Diagnosis
Stage IIB Classic Hodgkin's Disease, Nodular Sclerosing type with Superior Vena Cava compression.
Status
Remission after treatment for recurrent disease. Currently undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplant.
Next Steps
Approximately 100 days of recovery for engraftment following allogeneic stem cell transplant. Monitoring for GVHD and other transplant-related complications.
Narrative History
In July 2023, I sought medical attention for a persistent, dry cough. Over time, additional symptoms emerged, including fatigue, vomiting, and facial swelling. These were later understood to be related to a large chest tumor, diagnosed as Hodgkin Lymphoma. The tumor was complicating blood flow back to my heart and causing many of my symptoms by pressing against my phrenic nerve.
Treatment began with ABVD chemotherapy administered through IV due to the risks posed by my heart condition. Once the tumor shrank, I was able to receive chemo via a port. A PET scan in October revealed that my cancer was proving resistant to ABVD. I started Pembro-GVD, a combined immunotherapy and chemotherapy in response.
A PET scan in December revealed a complete response, meaning the cancerous activity in the tumor decreased dramatically. To address concerns about potential recurrence and wipe out any remaining cancer cells, I received a stem-cell transplant.
The autologous transplant was completed successfully, and I entered remission in April 2024. However, a follow-up PET-CT scan on 09.23.24 revealed disease recurrence. I underwent treatment with Brentuximab + Nivolumab immunotherapy, followed by proton radiation therapy. After achieving a complete response, I proceeded to an allogeneic (donor) stem cell transplant in May 2025, which I am currently recovering from.
Treatment Timeline
Diagnosis
- 07.24.23 Discovery of 15.7cm mediastinal mass via Chest X-Ray.
- 07.25.23 CT scan confirms tumor extending into right chest, encasing SVC.
- 08.02.23 CT-guided biopsy revealing atypical lymphohistiocytic infiltrate.
- 08.10.23 Initial PET scan reveals extensive disease with high metabolic activity.
- 08.14.23 Echocardiogram showing LVEF 65-70% with SVC collapse.
- 08.17.23 Chest Biopsy to confirms Nodular Sclerosing Hodgkin Lymphoma.
ABVD
Adriamycin | Bleomycin | Vincristine | Dacarbazine
- 08.21.23 Initiation of ABVD chemotherapy. First infusion done via intravenous injection.
- 09.05.23 Second IV infusion but I had significant pain in my arm due to Dacarbazine.
- 09.11.23 Port placement for chemotherapy administration.
- 09.18.23 First infusion with the Port, much easier.
- 10.02.23 Routine infusion.
- 10.23.23 Restaging PET scan post 2 cycles of ABVD shows response with decreased mass size and metabolic activity but remains Deauville score 5 prompting reassessment of treatment. Treating as refractory.
- 10.24.23 Infusion was delayed due to PET scan scheduling.
- 11.13.23 CT-guided biopsy confirms persistent presence of Hodgkin cells and demonstrates the cancer's resistance to ABVD.
Pembro-GVD
Pembrolizumab | Gemcitabine | Vinorelbine | Liposomal Doxorubicin
- 11.15.23 Initiation of Pembro-GVD chemotherapy. First infusion with a bit of pain from Doxorubicin at the start.
- 11.20.23 GVD infusion. Really tough, and low blood count and high liver enzyme readings delayed my next chemo by a week.
- 12.11.23 Pembro-GVD infusion. ~10% lower dose to adjust for last time.
- 12.18.23 GVD infusion. Dose lowered slightly again.
- 12.22.23 Hospitalized for 4 days with a neutropenic fever peaking at 103°F.
- 12.28.23 PET scan shows a "Complete Response" under new treatments, prompting final chemo dose and proceeding onto Stem-Cell Transplant.
- 01.02.24 Pembro-GVD infusion. Following positive PET-CT results this is my final infusion.
Autologous Stem-Cell Transplant
- 01.16.24 Begin testing and orientation for transplant.
- 02.03.24 G-CSF Neupogen injections to boost stem-cell count.
- 02.05.24 Hickman line installation.
- 02.06.24 Begining of stem-cell transplant. Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Apheresis: the process of collecting stem cells from my blood. Stem cells are then frozen and stored for later transfusion.
- 02.14.24 Hospitalized for 6 days of BEAM chemotherapy in order to destroy any remaining cancer cells, as well as destroy or suppress my immune system entirely.
- 02.21.24 Transfusion of collected stem cells to replace destroyed bone marrow and restore the body's ability to make healthy blood cells again.
- 02.29.24 Neutrophil count bounced back from 0 to 40uL. By 03.02.24 they were at 4280uL, signaling successful engraftment.
- 03.06.24 Discharged from the hospital.
- 03.20.24 30 days since transplant, daily clinic visits stop.
- 03.22.24 Re-staging PET scan confirms no remaining disease.
- 03.27.24 Removal of Hickman line.
- 04.05.24 Discharge from transplant treatment.
Disease Recurrence and Second-Line Treatment
Brentuximab | Nivolumab
- 09.23.24 PET-CT scan shows disease recurrence, requiring reassessment of treatment plan.
- 10.21.24 CT-guided lung biopsy confirms recurrent Hodgkin lymphoma.
- 11.19.24 First Brentuximab + Nivolumab infusion.
- 12.10.24 Second Brentuximab + Nivolumab infusion.
- 12.31.24 Third Brentuximab + Nivolumab infusion.
- 01.21.25 Fourth Brentuximab + Nivolumab infusion.
- 02.11.25 PET-CT confirms complete response (no metabolic disease).
Proton Radiation Therapy
- 03.06.25 Begin proton radiation therapy of the mediastinum and lung.
- 03.07.25 - 03.28.25 Completed 15 total doses of proton radiation (weekdays only, skipped weekends, March 19-20, and March 24).
Allogeneic Stem-Cell Transplant (Donor)
- 04.15.25 Admitted to allogeneic stem cell transplant clinic to begin testing process.
- 04.23.25 PET-CT confirms remission/complete response (no active disease).
- 05.03.25 Started Fludarabine as part of RIC allo stem cell transplant (outpatient).
- 05.04.25 Second dose of Fludarabine.
- 05.05.25 Third dose of Fludarabine.
- 05.07.25 Total body irradiation (with lung blocks).
- 05.07.25 Stem cell transplant from donor completed.
- 05.10.25 Hospital admission and first dose of Cyclophosphamide for GVHD prevention.
- 05.11.25 Second dose of Cyclophosphamide.