In 2016, blood tests performed as part of an annual physical revealed that Bill Bivens had an elevated white blood cell count. After additional testing, he was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow that typically progresses more slowly than other types of leukemia. “My wife Carolyn and I were living in Newport Beach, California, at the time and sought out the best care possible,” Bill says.
Because Bill’s cancer was slow growing, his oncologist determined that no treatment was called for at the time. Instead, she recommended keeping a close watch on his blood counts through regular monitoring. His condition remained stable.
Then in November 2019, the Bivens moved to Fairfax, Virginia, to be closer to their family. “Bill’s doctor referred us to the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, which is a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center,” Carolyn says. “We are so glad she did.”
Bill resumed his cancer care at MedStar Georgetown under the care of Catherine Broome, MD, a hematologist and oncologist, who continued to monitor his blood counts. When he was ready for treatment, she recommended a new therapy for CLL which targets proteins that control how cancer cells grow, divide, and spread…thus delaying or even preventing their growth. Prior to the approval of the new therapy, his only treatment option would have been chemotherapy administered intravenously.
“I started taking one pill every 12 hours, and after a year and a half, my blood counts started to go down,” Bill explains. “It was amazing. We really appreciated the fact that the therapy simply involved taking a pill; it did not involve any infusion treatments.”
Today, at the age of 82, Bill continues to take his CLL therapy daily. His blood counts are nearly normal, and he lives an active life.
“We were fortunate. The doctors in California knew where he would get the best care…and that was at another comprehensive cancer center,” says Carolyn. “We are so grateful for this treatment, but it wouldn’t have been available to Bill if someone hadn’t come forward before us to help fund the research that led to its discovery. Because of this medication, he is nearly cancer free.”
To express their gratitude for the care Bill has received at MedStar Georgetown, the Bivens recently made a generous philanthropic gift to the cancer program there. “Hopefully, our gift will help another cancer patient in the future,” Carolyn adds.