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Doctor Discussion Guide
Prepare for discussions with your treatment team about KYMRIAH
Getting to know your treatment team
It is important to know who is on your KYMRIAH® (tisagenlecleucel) treatment team and how to get in touch with them. Your treatment team may include oncologists, hematologists, clinical nurse specialists, as well as other health care professionals such as dieticians and counselors. Remember to ask for names, telephone numbers, and email addresses – it's a good idea to share this information with your caregiver. Bring your written questions to the meeting and be prepared to record the doctor's or treatment team's answers.
What questions should I ask about my follicular lymphoma treatment?
Before your appointment, consider all questions you might have for your doctor or treatment team and make a note of them. Bring a pencil and some paper to jot down answers or ask your caregiver to take notes. Here are some ideas for questions, to get you started.
Initial Discussion
Your first discussion with your doctor is a good opportunity to ask all of those initial questions you might have before treatment starts. For example:
- How does my treatment history affect my eligibility for KYMRIAH?
- Can you explain what a stem cell transplant is and how it might help me?
- Can I receive KYMRIAH if I've already received a stem cell transplant?
- Can I receive a stem cell transplant if I've already received KYMRIAH?
- What if I have other health conditions?
- How will I feel throughout the treatment process?
- Where can I receive KYMRIAH therapy?
- How long will I need to stay near the treatment center?
- Will my insurance cover KYMRIAH therapy?
T Cell Collection
The KYMRIAH treatment process begins with your T cells being collected. Ask for an appointment with your doctor who can help answer any questions you might have about the procedure. Some questions you can ask include:
- How should I prepare for my T cells to be collected?
- How long will it take?
- What can I do during collection?
- When my T cells have been collected, is there anything I should avoid doing or will there be any side effects?
- How soon after collection will my KYMRIAH CAR-T cells be ready for infusion?
Pre-infusion Lymphodepleting Chemotherapy
Before your infusion, your doctor will decide if you need a short course of chemotherapy to help prepare your body for CAR-T cells. Here are some questions you might want to ask your doctor about the chemotherapy at your next appointment:
- How is this chemotherapy different from the chemotherapy I previously received?
- How long will it take?
- Will there be side effects?
- How long before my infusion do I receive chemotherapy?
KYMRIAH Infusion
Once your treatment team decides you are ready, you will receive your CAR-T cells through a single infusion. Here’s some questions you can ask your treatment team about the infusion process:
- How should I prepare for infusion?
- What will infusion be like?
- How long will it take?
KYMRIAH side effects and monitoring post-infusion
Like all medicines, KYMRIAH can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Below are some questions you might want to ask your treatment team if you have any concerns about side effects.
Learn more about KYMRIAH side effects, what to expect and when to seek further medical attention.
- What precautions do I need to take after treatment?
- What side effects should I expect after infusion?
- If I experience any serious side effects after treatment, how will they be managed?
- How will I know KYMRIAH is working?
- What will be my monitoring plan after treatment?
- When do I need to check in with my treatment team?
- How long do I need to stay near my treatment center?
- After returning home, what kind of side effects require a hospital visit?
- How quickly can I get back to my daily routine?
Downloadable Doctor Discussion Guide
Not sure what to ask your doctor? Download the Doctor Discussion Guide and bring it with you to your next appointment. You can also share it with your caregiver.
Additional resources on KYMRIAH treatment are available to download. Visit the Downloadable Resources page to discover more.
When to seek a second opinion
If you’re at all unsure about your treatment plan, you can ask for a second opinion from another doctor. Speak to your primary oncologist who will be happy to refer you.
