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By Karen Trichell | Special to the L’Observateur

As Steve Trichell was getting ready to complete his twenty-first year of teaching at Delgado
Community College, he felt that something was not quite right.

“The first thing I noticed was a bump underneath my left armpit, and I’m thinking, ‘what is that?’”
said Trichell. “So, I read online trying to find reasons why I could have a swollen lymph node
under my left arm. Then, about a week or two later, another bump popped up underneath my
right arm.”

In May 2022, Trichell set up an appointment with his primary care doctor to understand what was happening.

Although it took a few weeks, Trichell finally met with his doctor and scheduled a biopsy. During
this waiting period, he experienced tremendous pain and many sleepless nights. One month
after this procedure, Trichell was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Mantle Cell Lymphoma, an
aggressive and rare form of cancer.

This news was not what Trichell was expecting. However, his resilient strength and determined spirit prepared him for this fight.

After coming to terms with this diagnosis, Trichell began sharing the news with his family and friends. Upon finding out, his loved ones were shocked and devastated.

“I was deeply concerned,” said Susan Major, Trichell’s sister. “What would this mean for his family, his career, his finances, his health, his mental well-being? So many questions, it was easy to get overwhelmed.”

To begin treating his cancer, Trichell endured four rounds of inpatient chemotherapy at Tulane
Medical Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. During this time, he experienced several side effects, including digestive issues, fatigue, and anemia. His wife and caregiver, Tammy Trichell,
remembers his joyful personality in the face of these hardships.

“When he was sick or hurting during his treatments, Steve never failed to find the positive in the
situation,” said Tammy Trichell. “He has kept an optimistic and hopeful mindset through this
entire journey.”

Following his chemotherapy, Trichell was not able to put his cancer in remission. Therefore, he was instructed by his doctor to undergo a stem cell transplant in October 2022.

Before this procedure could take place, Trichell had to pass several preliminary tests. These
examinations included visits with a psychologist, a nutritionist and a social worker. Once he
passed these evaluations, he was ready to begin this treatment.

During the transplant, Trichell’s stem cells were removed and then infused back into his body
throughout an 18-day hospital stay. This treatment seemed promising. However, in January
2023, he received news that the cancer had returned.

For the next eight months, Trichell was put on a Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor called
Ibrutinib. Unfortunately, this medication also did not keep his cancer in remission. After a second
biopsy in September 2023, he turned to Jaypirca, a non-covalent inhibitor.

“Luckily, this medicine was newly approved by the Food and Drug Administration in early 2023,”
Trichell said. “This was the medicine that I needed to survive.”

Although Jaypirca limited the growth of Trichell’s cancer, he still did not have successful scans. His doctor informed him that he should begin considering other treatments or clinical trials. After
weighing different options, Trichell decided to visit MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston,
Texas.

Once he arrived, Trichell met with Dr. Michael Wang, the world’s leading physician who
specializes in Mantle Cell Lymphoma. Following several appointments, scans and tests, Dr. Wang decided that Trichell should receive chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR T-cell).

Prior to receiving this innovative treatment, Trichell’s blood was drawn, and his T-cells were
altered in a laboratory to fight the cancer. Before this treatment took place, Trichell also was
concerned about the costs of CAR T. However, his insurance company approved the therapy.

His friends and family organized fundraisers in order to help with other travel expenses. Trichell
is profoundly grateful for the support from his community.

On Nov. 22, 2023, Trichell’s T-cells were infused back into his body. The infusion is relatively simple; however, there are serious side effects that can occur. Patients can experience seizures, speech impairments, low blood pressure, and fevers.

Although he and his wife were concerned about what may happen, Trichell was fortunate enough to not have any complications.

“It was scary going into this new form of therapy,” said Tammy Trichell. “There were so many
things that could go wrong, so it was hard to feel hopeful at times.”

Looking back on this experience, Trichell now understands the importance of having a strong
support system. CAR T-cell therapy was an immense obstacle for Trichell to overcome, but his
loved ones’ support and care allowed him to remain courageous.

After a 38-day stay at MD Anderson Cancer Center, Trichell arrived back home to his family at the end of December 2023. He is returning to his normal life and is about to start his next semester as a professor. At his eight-month follow-up appointment, Dr. Wang notified Trichell that he is in partial remission. Although his cancer journey is not over, Trichell is determined to fight for his life.

“I try to enjoy the beauty of life and everything that it offers,” Trichell said. “I take it one day at a
time.”