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When 28-year-old Brooke Lee looks at her husband Jim and daughter Scarlett, she knows that she’s going to fight against the stage IV follicular lymphoma that has spread throughout her body so that she can see her daughter grow up. No matter what, she’s going to fight. And that means joining the “Leverage” clinical study. Tyrone Dalton of ABC Central Victoria reports that the trial seeks to test a combination of oral lenalidomide and venetoclax with injectable obinituzumab. Researchers want to identify whether the drug combination is safe and effective, as well as the ideal dose for further testing.

Brooke’s medical journey began shortly after her daughter’s birth. She found herself facing drenching night sweats and her arms ached. But maybe these were just post-pregnancy symptoms. Or maybe she was just tired, not used to the challenges of being a new parent. But then, one day, Brooke felt some concerning lumps in her groin. A visit to her doctor identified additional lumps on her neck and head. Testing showed that Brooke had follicular lymphoma that has spread to her bone marrow, diaphragm, and lymph nodes.

Of course, the diagnosis came with a heavy emotional burden. What did this mean for her family, for her future? Brooke has always imagined herself seeing her daughter growing up, going through school, and eventually getting married. She wants to live until she is old and gray, relishing and soaking in all that the world has to offer.

She turned to a clinical trial at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne, Victoria as one of the 60 participants. She was admitted to the trial given the size of her tumors. Participants need to be untreated, meaning Brooke has been unable to start chemotherapy if she wants to remain included in the trial. But she hopes that, over the trial period (which includes treatment for up to 2.5 years), the results will be worth it.

About Follicular Lymphoma

There are many different forms of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), a cancer which affects the lymphatic system. Normally, your lymphatic system helps your body stay healthy and protect against infection. Lymph, a clear liquid that flows through your lymphatic system, contains a type of white blood cell called lymphocytes. In non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, cancer forms somewhere in the lymphatic system. Follicular lymphoma is a slow-growing subtype of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that forms in B-lymphocytes. This form accounts for approximately 20-30% of all NHL cases. Follicular lymphoma is most common in older individuals. This cancer is often seen as “chronic.” While it responds well to treatment, it is often difficult to cure; even in long-term remission, there is a chance of relapse. Symptoms of this cancer may include:

• Swollen lymph nodes (particularly in the groin, neck, underarms, or abdomen)
• Unintentional weight loss
• Fever and night sweats
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Enlarged spleen