Glenn Ohler Kass Flaig

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On September 13, 2018, after having surgery to remove what was thought to be inflamed adenoids, I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.  I  quickly learned that there are categories of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, and that I have Mantle Cell (blastoid variant) Lymphoma.  

As our lives turned upside down,  Glenn and I (with the help of family and friends, especially Kass's brother, Kevin) found Dr Michael Wang at MD Anderson in Houston, Texas.  He is one of the top researchers and physicians in the U.S. treating patients with this rare type of lymphoma.  
Within two weeks of being diagnosed, Glenn and I were on our way to MD Anderson, and after 16 days of testing (we thought we were staying for 4 days!), I was accepted into the WINDOW clinical trial at MD Anderson.   This 2 phase trial involves use of two immunotherapy drugs (Ibrutinib and Rituxan) in Phase 1 of the treatment, followed in Phase 2 by traditional chemotherapy agents.  During Phase 2, I'll be an in-patient at MD Anderson for 1 week each month for 4 months.
 
This clinical trial can last from 9-24 months depending on my response to treatment.  Per protocol, all of the treatment must take place at MD Anderson. 


This is how the the story begins......