For Amal, advanced cancer treatment meant having a team behind her
When Amal felt a sudden crack in her back while playing tennis at age 49, she never imagined it would mark the beginning of a 15-year battle with a rare form of blood cancer.
“I always brushed off my back pain,” she recalled. “Then one day I tried to return a serve and felt a crack. Once I sat down, I couldn’t get back up.”
Testing ultimately revealed a solitary plasmacytoma in her spine. Plasmacytoma happens when plasma cells turn into cancer cells. Amal was successfully treated with radiation and returned to the life she loved – raising her three children, playing tennis and enjoying more than a decade of normalcy.
“I was able to enjoy my routine living for about 12 years,” said Amal.
When a follow up scan showed the disease had returned and spread, Amal learned she would now need an autologous stem cell transplant, a highly specialized therapy using her own cells. She considered other nationally recognized cancer centers like Johns Hopkins and MD Anderson but chose Inova Schar Cancer, knowing she would receive the most advanced treatment – plus a whole team to support her through it all.
“We evaluate all aspects of a patient’s disease as well as their support system,” said Stephen Medlin, DO, Chair, Cellular Therapies, Inova Schar Cancer. “This allows us to care for the whole patient. We can offer social and financial support if needed, along with education and wellness through Inova Peterson Life with Cancer.”
Choosing the right team
Inova’s Stem Cell Transplant and Immunotherapy Program brings together transplant physicians, hematologists, nurses, immunotherapy specialists, and support care professionals who work together to personalize treatment. Its collocated hospital, cancer program and cellular processing laboratory simplifies care and reduces the burden patients often experience in complex health situations.
Kathy Zimmerman, a registered nurse and senior director of transplants with Inova, helped match her with Dr. Medlin, who would lead her care.
“When we met Dr. Medlin, both my husband and I were very comfortable and impressed,” Amal said. “He is such a reassuring, caring physician. He explained everything thoroughly and I trusted him.”
“Amal’s treatment involved high-dose chemotherapy followed by an infusion of her own stem cells that were collected beforehand to help her bone marrow recover after treatment,” Dr. Medlin explained.
Care through every step
For nearly a month, Amal came to Inova Schar Cancer every day for close monitoring and care including testing, medications, transfusions and support. Her husband, a pediatrician, took the month off from work to serve as her caregiver.
“Amal and her husband were great partners. With our multidisciplinary team and onsite facilities, we were able to deliver the therapy she needed efficiently while helping her recover and maintain her quality of life,” said Dr. Medlin.
Sue Zhen, BSN, RN, a transplant coordinator nurse, guided her from preparation for transplant through recovery.
“Sue was extremely thorough, responsive and positive at all times,” Amal said. “I have so much respect and appreciation for everything she did to support my treatment.”
When Amal developed atrial fibrillation and needed several days of hospitalization, her care team, including Zartash Gul, MD, Hematologist and Medical Oncologist, Inova Schar Cancer, Jenna Smith, FNP, and Grace Duplantier, FNP, also made a lasting impression.
“I kept telling Dr. Medlin, ‘You have an amazing team!’” Amal said. “Every single person made me feel cared for.”
Looking ahead
Today, Amal is back on the tennis court and steadily rebuilding her strength.
Grateful for the treatment that helped her get there and the people who supported her along the way, she hopes sharing her experience can help others facing difficult treatment decisions.
“Inova made one of the hardest experiences of my life something I knew I could get through.”
Learn more about the Inova Stem Cell Transplant and Immunotherapy Program.