Cancer Friends with Andrew Schorr & Esther Schorr
Andrew Schorr was a healthy runner when a rare cancer diagnosis in 1996 completely changed his life. His wife, Esther, had to learn how to be a care partner for him while also learning how to take care of herself.
The Patient’s Story’s new series, “Cancer Friends,” explores Andrew and Esther’s story of persevering through 2 rare chronic blood cancers (chronic lymphocytic leukemia and myelofibrosis), joining a clinical trial, finding a cancer community, reaching remission, and becoming patient advocates.
A new episode airs every Sunday on our video channel!
You have to say, ‘I’ve been given today. What am I going to do with it? What am I going to do that’s positive today?’ That’s how I approach every day.
Andrew Schorr
CLL and Myelofibrosis Timeline
- Name: Andrew Schorr
- Diagnosis:
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
- Myelofibrosis
- CLL Treatment:
- 2001: Clinical trial
- 2017: Gazyva (obinutuxumab) and steroids
- Myelofibrosis Treatment:
- 2011 – 2020: Jakafi (ruxolitinib)
- 2020 – Current: Inrebic (fedratinib)
- 2022: Reblozyl (luspatercept)
Cancer Friends Series (Every Sunday!)
Finding My Purpose After a Rare Brain Tumor | Cancer Friends
Feeling Loveable Again | Cancer Friends
Go With The Good | Cancer Friends
Loriana Hernandez-Aldama’s Cancer Story | Cancer Friends
Empowering Men with Cancer | Cancer Friends
What topics will you be covering in this series?
Andrew and Esther Schorr are experienced voices in cancer patient and care partner advocacy, who also co-founded Patient Power in 2005.
Andrew: I think there are some funny things that have happened along the way. First of all, meeting some great people. Fortunately, with my illnesses (which have been long term), I’ve gotten to know my providers pretty well — the nurses, the doctors — as people. I think that’s been pretty rich.
Andrew: There’ve been some episodes that have been screwy, fainting or just memorable moments, that you’ve had to work with your team. Also, just funny conversations you’ve even had with people trying to figure out, well, what’s going on with you?
Esther: I think a couple of topics off the top of my head is that it was very clear when we met with the special specialist that he was the right guy. There were a number of reasons for that. There was our local oncologist, and there was this subspecialist.
Esther: I think talking about what it takes to have a good relationship. When do you know you’ve got the right person taking care of you? That’s one. Another, I think, is for people like yourself and like us, how do you broach treatment and longevity and those things with children? With family?
Esther: I think relapse. Once somebody is through treatment, how do patient and care partner deal with the specter of relapse? What does that mean? How are the reactions different?
Andrew: How do you plan?
Esther: How do you plan your life knowing that there’s this thing out there that could or could not impact what you think is the ideal future?
Andrew: How do you travel? What if you get sick when you’re traveling? What are your resources? What’s the solution?
This incredible pair decided to put their own work in! Andrew and Esther created their own patient resource out of their many years of experience: PatientPower.
More CLL Stories
Michele N.
Symptoms: Slow healing, scalp infection, enlarged lymph nodes
Treatment: Clinical trial of ibrutinib, fludarabine, chlorambucil and rituximab; acalabrutinib
Tamsin W.
Symptoms: Out of breath, dizzy, nauseated, tiredness, palpitations
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Bill M.
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Treatment: EPOCH, clinical trial (DuoHexabody-CD37)