UH Nurse Receives Lifesaving Immunotherapy Treatment

Rebecca Mullins, RN, ADN, was just 22 years old when she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic B-cell Leukemia in 2020. Rebecca had just started her career as a nurse at University Hospitals Elyria Medical Center and quickly had to transition from caregiver to patient.

Despite being an adult, Rebecca was treated at UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Angie Fowler Adolescent & Young Adult Cancer Institute, which specializes in treating patients under 30 years old. Under the care of Rachel Egler, MD, Fellowship Director, Pediatric Hematology Oncology, and Angie Fowler Chair in Adolescent & Young Adult Cancer Research, Rebecca received intense chemotherapy for two years.

“I rang the bell signaling the end of my treatment on July 15, 2022,” said Rebecca. “On July 18, I was feeling tired and not myself. I had labs done and the doctor called and told me I had relapsed and that I needed to come back to the hospital.”

After ruling out a bone marrow transplant, the transplant team, led by Jignesh Dalal, MD, found an immunotherapy clinical trial at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas. Rebecca qualified for the trial and underwent five rounds of an immunotherapy infusion.

“Thanks to the immunotherapy and an oral chemotherapy pill, which I will continue to take, I’m now in remission.

“Dr. Egler has been absolutely phenomenal. I can’t thank her enough. I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for her and Dr. Dalal.”

Today you’ll find Rebecca caring for patients on an observation cardiac telemetry unit at UH Elyria Medical Center.

“I don’t even have the words for how amazing it is that treatments like immunotherapy are available. I can’t imagine even in five years what we’re going to be able to do if this is what we’re doing now. I’m so happy that the research and the funding to support immunotherapy continues.”