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William Bensinger, MD
WilliamBensingerMD (Physician - Oncology - Hematology/Oncology (Verified) )| Communities: Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma | Answers: 8 |
| Member Since: Mar. 2012 |
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Professional Statement
Dr. William I. Bensinger is a Professor of Medicine of the Division of Oncology at the University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington. Dr. Bensinger earned his medical degree at Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois. His postdoctorate training included a fellowship in Oncology at the University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA.
Dr. Bensinger is the Director of the Autologous Stem Cell Transplant Program of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA. His previous appointments include editorial board membership to the Journal of Clinical Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation.
Dr. Bensinger is the Director of the Autologous Stem Cell Transplant Program of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA. His previous appointments include editorial board membership to the Journal of Clinical Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation.
Professional Info
Credential: MD
Primary specialty: Oncology - Hematology/Oncology
Medical school: Northwestern University The Feinberg School Of Medicine
Residency: University of Washington School of Medicine
Internship: Barnes Jewish Hospital
Fellowship: University of Washington School of Medicine
Hospital affiliation: Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
Practice name: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Practice address:
1354 Aloha St.
Seattle, WA
98109
Practice phone number: (800) 804-8824
Personal Bio (My story)
I think it is important to understand patients' needs and goals during the management of their disease. Once I understand this, I feel I am better able to suggest appropriate therapies designed to minimize symptoms and achieve their wishes. Above all I value a patient's autonomy with regard to the management of their illness; the patient has to undergo any proposed treatments and thus must have the last word with regard to therapy choices.
WilliamBensingerMD Activities
Similar to a previous answer (http://talkabouthealth.com/for-what-types-of-non-hodgkin-lymphoma-is-rituxan-a-typical-treatment-option), the B cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas are usually treated with Rituxan. This is because all but a few of these lymphomas express CD20, the target antigen that Rituxan binds to. Rituxan has been shown the be beneficial a single agent therapy in indolent lymphomas, when combined with chemotherapy (R-CHOP or R-CVP are two examples) and for maintenance after initial treatment in the case of indolent lymphomas.
New answer by WilliamBensingerMD (Physician - Oncology - Hematology/Oncology (Verified)) in topic(s) Lymphoma Treatment, Monoclonal Antibody Therapy, Medications, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment, Targeted Therapy, Treatment Options, Lymphoma Treatment Options, Lymphoma, Non-hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment Options, Immunotherapy, Monoclonal Antibody, Treatment, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, Cancer Treatments
1
Answer |
1 year ago
Watchful waiting is most often utilized for indolent lymphomas such as follicular lymphoma. As such, patients may have enlarged lymph nodes that are not causing symptoms and patients may feel well without significant anemia or other signs of disease. Patients may be monitored monthly of every other month with blood testing, symptom survey and physical exams to determine the need for treatment.
New answer by WilliamBensingerMD (Physician - Oncology - Hematology/Oncology (Verified)) in topic(s) Watchful Waiting, Lymphoma Options, Symptoms, Non-hodgkin Lymphoma Options, Treatment Options, Lymphoma Treatment Options, Monitoring, Lymphoma, Patient Monitoring, Non-hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment Options, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, Lymphoma Symptoms, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Symptoms
1
Answer |
1 year ago
R-CHOP (cycophosphamide, adriamycin, vincristine and prednisone, with rituximab) is the standard front-line therapy for diffuse large cell lymphoma and older patients with mantle cell lymphoma. Hyper-CVAD ( a more intensive regimen of cyclophophamide, vincristine, and doxorubicin, alternating with cytosine arabinoside and methotrexate) is often used for younger patients who have mantle cell lymphoma or Burkitts lymphomas. Patients with follicular lyphomas may receive CVP (a gentler form of cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisone) with rituximab or receive single agent rituximab.
New answer by WilliamBensingerMD (Physician - Oncology - Hematology/Oncology (Verified)) in topic(s) Immunotherapy, Lymphoma Treatment, Lymphoma Medications, Non-hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment, Non-hodgkin Lymphoma Medications, Medications, Treatment, Treatment Options, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, Lymphoma, Chemotherapy
1
Answer |
1 year ago
Stem cell transplants can be performed as part of the initial therapy, at the time of first relapse and later in the course of the disease. Following initial induction therapy, autologous transplants are being used in first remission for patients with mantle cell lymphoma and T cell lymphomas; although there is not uniform agreement on this practice. Patients with diffuse large cell lymphoma are generally offered autologous transplant when relapse occurs following a first remission. Patients with follicular lymphoma are not offered transplant until the have relapsed 2 or more times or when their disease has transformed to a more aggressive subtype.
New answer by WilliamBensingerMD (Physician - Oncology - Hematology/Oncology (Verified)) in topic(s) Lymphoma Treatment, Relapse, Treatment Plan, Treatment Options, Lymphoma Treatment Options, Treatment Decisions, Lymphoma, Non-hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment Options, Stem Cell Transplant, Non-hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment, Treatment, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, Bone Marrow Transplant
1
Answer |
1 year ago
Lymphoma subtyping is very important as the often predicts the biology and clinical disease course. For example most follicular lymphomas tend to be very slow growing or “indolent”. This means that patients with enlarged nodes who are asymptomatic may not necessarily need urgent treatment. On the other hand Burkitt’s type lymphoma is fast growing, leading rapidly to symptoms and requires urgent chemotherapy to obtain disease control. The subtype also indicates the type of chemotherapy to be used when treatment is initiated.
New answer by WilliamBensingerMD (Physician - Oncology - Hematology/Oncology (Verified)) in topic(s) Subtype, Pathology, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, Lymphoma, Lymphoma Subtype, Diagnosis, Cancer Subtype, Non-hodgkin Lymphoma Subtype
1
Answer |
1 year ago
Rituxan is a useful drug for B-cell lymphomas. Most B-cell lymphomas express the B-cell marker protein CD20. Rituxan is a monoclonal antibody with specificity for B cell lymphomas expressing CD20. These include follicular, diffuse large cell, mantle cell and several other types.
New answer by WilliamBensingerMD (Physician - Oncology - Hematology/Oncology (Verified)) in topic(s) Non-hodgkin Lymphoma Targeted Therapy, Lymphoma Treatment, Lymphoma Medications, Non-hodgkin Lymphoma Medications, Lymphoma Targeted Therapy, Medications, Treatment Options, Targeted Therapy, Lymphoma, Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy, Monoclonal Antibody, Non-hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment, Rituximab (rituxan), Treatment, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
1
Answer |
1 year ago
Initially your oncologist will want to talk with you to gain a history of your disease and symptoms that led to the diagnosis. He will perform a thorough physical examination and review the laboratory studies and xrays that have been done. He will then discuss any additional tests that may be needed to complete your evaluation. If all of the studies and tests have already been done, he will discuss the treatment plan, side effects and expectations to the therapy he recommends.
New answer by WilliamBensingerMD (Physician - Oncology - Hematology/Oncology (Verified))
1
Answer |
1 year ago
Patients with newly diagnosed non-Hodgkins lymphoma can have an excellent prognosis, but it depends on a number of factors. The most important piece of information is to obtain an adequate biopsy so that a correct diagnosis can be made. Small needle or fine needle aspiration biopsies are inadequate and it is strongly recommended than a excisional biopsy be obtained. Second, is to complete staging to determine the extent of disease. This includes CT scan of the chest, abdomen and pelvis and more frequently, a PET scan. Bone marrow aspiration, blood and urine tests are require to judge the extent of disease. Once these tests are obtained, it will be possible to develop a treatment plan based on lymphoma type, staging of disease, prognosis and the patients symptoms. The treatment could range from watchful waiting without immediate treatment to aggressive chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplant.
New answer by WilliamBensingerMD (Physician - Oncology - Hematology/Oncology (Verified)) in topic(s) Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment Plan, Lymphoma Treatment, Determine Treatment Plan Options, Non-hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment, Treatment Plan, Treatment, Lymphoma Treatment Plan, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, Lymphoma, Diagnosis
1
Answer |
1 year ago
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