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Patient Story 1
Giving Hope to Cancer Patients
Rachel has chronic myelogenous leukemia, or CML, a disease in which the bone marrow produces too many white blood cells. The only reliable therapy is a bone marrow transplant. While Rachel received a transplant from her sister Jennifer, her cancer relapsed a year later and her body wouldn't respond to another infusion of bone marrow. The unique situation made Rachel a candidate for the Phase I Chemotherapy Program at Riley Hospital. "Thankfully, the majority of children do well with traditional cancer treatments and do not need to try a new agent," said Dr. James Croop, director of the Phase I Chemotherapy Program. For some children, however, innovative therapies are the only hope. Riley Hospital is one of only 20 children's hospitals in the nation with access to the latest advances in cancer treatment. "Unless you're doing clinical trials, you'll never improve medicine," said Dr. Robert Fallon, director of pediatric hematology and oncology at IU School of Medicine and Riley Hospital. "Today's cancer patients are benefiting from clinical trials done 10 years ago." When traditional forms of treatment don't work for patients, and if other medical factors are right, experimental therapies can send cancer into remission and save lives. The FDA approved a drug called Gleevec in February 2001 - ideal timing for Rachel, who started treatment in August of the same year. "The drug came out at the exact time that Rachel needed it," said Julie Workman, her mother. Gleevec is different from other cancer treatment drugs in that it seems to kill only the cancerous cells. Traditional cancer treatment such as chemotherapy attacks all cells, both cancerous and healthy. Understandably, the side effects of chemotherapy can be devastating. Rachel has minimal side effects from Gleevec. She experiences slight cramping in her hands but combats the pain with lots of water. Due to some pigment loss, Rachel also has to limit her time in the sun. All are small side effects from a medicine that is keeping her cancer in check and slowly taking her into remission. "Our experience at Riley has been very good. Riley kept us well informed during each transplant," said Workman. Taking time to learn about Rachel's cancer is what Workman credits for helping calm her fears. She finds comfort in knowing and understanding her daughter's cancer. "I know what's happening to Rachel and what she's going through." Now age 12, Rachel is very active in school, plays sports and works a paper route. She still visits Riley once a month for checkups and will continue to take her medicine. "She's living a normal, healthy, happy life," said Workman. "If you met Rachel today, you wouldn't know that she has cancer until someone told you." |
Halloween brought an unexpected scare to one Fort Wayne, Ind., family in 1999. Rachel Workman, then 9 years old, received news that would both challenge and strengthen her family. During a routine doctor's visit, Rachel was diagnosed with cancer and instructed to seek specialized care immediately at Riley Hospital. As Rachel and her mother drove from their Fort Wayne home, they never anticipated one sister's initial sacrifice to save the life of another would lead them to groundbreaking cancer treatment.
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