Brandon, a Stage 4 Hodgkin lymphoma patient, discusses how he navigated diagnosis, treatment and support. Life can come at you fast, like a game of basketball. When the ball comes your way, you have to catch it, consider your options and make a decision to get the best shot at scoring. Sometimes your next step is clear, and other times, you get the ball and feel overwhelmed, as if the opposing team is running straight toward you. For me, being diagnosed with cancer felt like the latter; the ball was in my hands, and I had important decisions to make in a critical window of time, but I didn’t know exactly which way to turn. That’s why I am sharing my story, so that anyone out there who may be facing a similar diagnosis can learn from my experience and find ways to decide on their own plan. Catching the Ball I was working long hours and enjoyed a busy, active lifestyle. I had some symptoms like lower back pain, but it didn’t occur to me that they could be connected to something more serious. When I began feeling fatigued, however, I started paying closer attention to my health. One morning I woke up feeling like my entire body was swollen. I met with my doctor, and soon after, found out that I had stage 4 classical Hodgkin lymphoma. Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer that starts in white blood cells called lymphocytes, which are part of the body’s immune system. It is most common in early adulthood (a person’s 20s), and the risk rises again in late adulthood (after age 55). According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 8,830 patients in the U.S. will be diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2021. 1,2,3 I realized that I needed to approach this like any other challenge or decision I had previously made in my life. I researched and visited resources online, watched testimonials from other patients and collected questions for my doctor to inform my next move. Keeping My Head in the Game The positive relationship I had with my doctor was incredibly important. Following my diagnosis, we spent over two hours discussing all my treatment options and next steps. At first, my mind was racing, but with the support of my doctor, I started to feel more assured on our approach, particularly when it was time to make a decision about treatment. Many people with Hodgkin lymphoma receive a traditional chemotherapy regimen of adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine (ABVD). My doctor and I reviewed my entire medical history, and also took my history of asthma into consideration when selecting my treatment regimen. Making the Right Play for Me We decided on treatment with ADCETRIS ® (brentuximab vedotin) for injection in combination with chemotherapy: adriamycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine (AVD), which is approved for the treatment of adults newly diagnosed with Stage 3 or 4 classical Hodgkin lymphoma. ADCETRIS has an IMPORTANT WARNING for PROGESSIVE MULTIFOCAL LEUKOENCEPHAOPATHY (PML), patients treated with ADCETRIS can have a rare, serious brain infection called PML. It can cause death. See additional Important Safety Information below. In a large clinical study of 1,334 people, ADCETRIS was studied in combination with AVD for stage 3 or 4 classical Hodgkin lymphoma against a standard chemotherapy regimen of ABVD. 664 people were treated with ADCETRIS plus AVD, and 670 people were treated with ABVD. The median follow-up time was a little more than 2.5 years. The main results of this study showed that patients treated with ADCETRIS plus AVD were 23 percent less likely to have their cancer grow or spread, to receive additional treatment because the cancer was still detected, or die from cancer or another cause compared to ABVD. 4 In addition, fewer people treated with ADCETRIS plus AVD needed more chemotherapy (36 vs 54 people) or a stem cell transplant (66 vs 99 people) compared to those treated with ABVD (please note this information was evaluated in the study, but it was not planned for when the study started, nor was it included in the Prescribing Information). Investigators continued to monitor people in the study and performed an assessment after 5 years after the start of treatment, which showed that people treated with ADCETRIS plus AVD were 32 percent less likely to have their cancer grow or spread, or die from cancer or another cause compared to people treated with ABVD. The results from this assessment are from an exploratory analysis and were not part of the main study. This means that the study was not designed to find differences between the 2 treatment groups after 5 years. Brandon did not participate in the ECHELON-1 clinical trial and five year-assessment, and has not reached five-year remission. ADCETRIS has side effects, and the most common serious adverse reactions are: low numbers of white blood cells accompanied by a fever, fever, low numbers of white blood cells and pneumonia. The most common side effects were: nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy) thatmostly involves numbness or tingling in thehands or feet (sensory) and/or weakness inthe arms or legs (motor) a low number of white blood cells nausea constipation vomiting feeling tired diarrhea fever hair loss weight loss stomach pain a low number of red blood cells sores or swelling in the mouth I experienced hair loss, some sensitivity in my fingertips and some issues going to the bathroom. For additional safety information, please see the Important Safety Information below and Important Facts about ADCETRIS including IMPORTANT WARNING. Every Hodgkin lymphoma experience is different, and patients should speak with their doctor about all treatment options and side effects, just like I did. During my treatment, I wanted to live my life as I did before but knew that I would have to make some changes. Someone gifted me a shirt that said, “Make this shot look easy,” which I adopted as my motto to keep a positive mindset during my cancer treatment. I still wanted to feel like myself, so I kept to my normal routine as much as I could, continuing to work when able and finding time for my hobbies. My outstanding care team helped keep my spirits up, and I was ecstatic to ring an “end of treatment bell” once my scans were clear. Leaning on My Teammates & Reflecting on the Game Looking back, I learned a great deal from my Hodgkin lymphoma experience. Most importantly, I realize now how important it was to have a strong support system around me from the time of my diagnosis, through the highs and lows of treatment and eventually celebrating and relief of having a clear scan. I couldn’t have faced this disease without that strong support. Today, I’m focused on looking forward, and while I can’t anticipate every (curve) ball that may come my way, I am excited about what is yet to come and the future that lies ahead. Please see the Important Safety Information below and Important Facts about ADCETRIS including IMPORTANT WARNING. For more information on ADCETRIS, please visit ADCETRIS.com . Indications ADCETRIS ® (brentuximab vedotin) for injection is approved for the treatment of: Adult patients with newly diagnosed Stage 3 or 4 classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) in combination with chemotherapy (adriamycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine) Important Safety Information What is the most important serious safety information I should know about ADCETRIS? PROGRESSIVE MULTIFOCAL LEUKOENCEPHALOPATHY (PML): Patients treated with ADCETRIS can have a rare, serious brain infection called PML. It can cause death. Symptoms can begin at different times after starting ADCETRIS treatment, some within 3 months after the first dose. Call your doctor if you have mood changes, confusion, dizziness or loss of balance, trouble talking or walking, vision changes, or if you feel weak or have weakness on one side of the body. PML could also be caused by other treatments or diseases that made your immune system weaker. What should I avoid when receiving ADCETRIS? Do not take ADCETRIS with bleomycin because of possible serious side effects to the lungs. What are the other possible serious side effects of ADCETRIS? A serious side effect can be life-threatening or can lead to death. They may happen during treatment or after your treatment has ended. Call your doctor right away if you have symptoms of a serious side effect or if your symptoms get worse. If you have a serious side effect, your doctor may delay or stop your ADCETRIS treatment. Nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy) that is mostly numbness or tingling in the hands or feet (sensory) and/or weakness in the arms or legs (motor). The nerve damage can get worse with more doses of ADCETRIS. Call your doctor if you have tingling, burning, or numbness in your hands or feet, changes in your sense of touch, or trouble moving your hands or feet. Allergic and infusion reactions during infusion or up to 24 hours after your ADCETRIS infusion. Call your doctor if you have fever, chills, rash, or breathing problems within 24 hours of your infusion. Blood problems such as a low number of white blood cells with or without fever, a low number of platelets, or a low number of red blood cells. Your doctor will do blood tests to check your blood cell levels during ADCETRIS treatment. If your levels are too low, your doctor may lower or delay your dose, stop your ADCETRIS treatment, or give you a medicine called G-CSF. G-CSF is meant to prevent you from having a low number of white blood cells. Infections such as pneumonia, bacteremia, and sepsis or septic shock can happen with ADCETRIS treatment. Call your doctor if you have a fever of 100.5°F or higher, chills, cough, or pain when you urinate. Tumor lysis syndrome can happen if you have a tumor that grows quickly or have many tumor cells in your body. Patients with severe kidney disease may have more side effects and deaths than patients with normal kidney function and should avoid treatment with ADCETRIS. Patients with moderate or severe liver disease may have more side effects and deaths than patients with normal liver function and should avoid treatment with ADCETRIS. Liver injury can happen after the first dose of ADCETRIS or after ADCETRIS treatment is stopped and started again. Call your doctor if you feel tired, do not feel like eating, have upper stomach pain, dark urine, or yellow skin and eyes (jaundice). Lung problems. Call your doctor if you have a new cough, a cough that gets worse, or feel out of breath. Skin problems called Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis can happen. Call your doctor if you have rash, hives, sores in your mouth, or blistering or peeling skin. Gastrointestinal (GI) problems related to the pancreas, stomach, intestine, and colon can happen. If you have lymphoma that involves your stomach or intestine, you could have a higher risk of GI perforation (a hole in your stomach or intestine). Call your doctor if you have severe stomach pain, chills, fever, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. High blood sugar. Your doctor will test your blood during ADCETRIS treatment. If your blood sugar is high, your doctor may give you medicine to control it. Call your doctor if you need to urinate more often, are very thirsty, or have blurry vision. What were the most common side effects in patients treated with ADCETRIS? When used alone or together with chemotherapy, the most common side effects were: nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy) feeling tired nausea diarrhea a low number of white blood cells infection in the nose or sinuses fever constipation vomiting hair loss weight loss upper stomach pain a low number of red blood cells sores or swelling in the mouth and/or in the digestive tract Contact your doctor if you have any other side effects that bother you or do not go away. What should I tell my doctor before I start treatment with ADCETRIS? All your medical conditions, including if you have kidney, liver, or lung problems, an infection, or diabetes. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. ADCETRIS may harm your unborn baby. If you can get pregnant, you should have a pregnancy test before starting ADCETRIS treatment. You should use effective birth control (contraception) during ADCETRIS treatment and for at least 6 months after your last dose of ADCETRIS. Talk to your doctor about birth control methods. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant or think you are pregnant during ADCETRIS treatment. Men with female partners who can get pregnant should use effective birth control during ADCETRIS treatment and for 6 months after the last dose If you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed during your ADCETRIS treatment. All the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. ADCETRIS and certain other medicines can affect each other. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Please see Important Facts about ADCETRIS including IMPORTANT WARNING . See ‘Questions to ask your doctor’ and download the guide to help you talk to your doctor about the best treatment option for your diagnosis. This content is brought to you by Seagen Inc., the maker of ADCETRIS (brentuximab vedotin). ADCETRIS will not work for everyone and individual experiences may vary and information shared in this article is not intended to replace discussions with your doctor. Talk to your doctor to see if ADCETRIS may be right for you. Participant was compensated by Seagen for their time. ADCETRIS , Seagen and its logo are registered trademarks of Seagen Inc. © 2021 Seagen Inc. Bothell, WA 98021 All rights reserved US-BVP-20-375-MT ___________ 1. American Cancer Society Journals. Cancer Statistics, 2021. Available at https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.3322/caac.21654. Accessed January 13, 2021.2. American Cancer Society. What is Hodgkin Lymphoma? Available at https://www.cancer.org/cancer/hodgkin-lymphoma/about/what-is-hodgkin-disease.html. Accessed January 13, 2021.3. American Cancer Society. Key Statistics for Hodgkin Lymphoma. Available at https://www.cancer.org/cancer/hodgkin-lymphoma/about/key-statistics.html. Accessed January 13, 2021.4. Connors JM, et al. Brentuximab Vedotin with Chemotherapy for Stage III or IV Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. N Engl J Med 2018; 378:331-344.