Survivor Reflects as FDA Approves Monjuvi Combo for Follicular Lymphoma

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Monjuvi (tafasitamab) in combination with Revlimid (lenalidomide) and Rituxan (rituximab) for adults with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma, a decision based on the same clinical trial that gave Troy Anderson his first lasting response after years of treatment.

Anderson, a survivor treated at Fred Hutch in Seattle, recalled that by his second round of Monjuvi he noticed swollen lymph nodes shrinking in his neck, armpits and groin, all without significant side effects, and described the response as both faster and gentler than his previous therapies.

Anderson sat down for an interview with CURE.

CURE: Can you start by sharing how you were first diagnosed with follicular lymphoma and what that moment was like for you and your loved ones?

Anderson: It was back in November 2019. I was going to my sports chiropractor for some back and shoulder tightness. He was working on me and said, “Oh, that’s not a knot, that’s a lymph node.” Right away I thought, “That doesn’t sound good.” He told me I should probably get it checked out.

I didn’t waste any time — my attitude has always been, when in doubt, there is no doubt. Better to get it checked and have it be nothing than ignore it. I got it checked, had a biopsy, and right around Thanksgiving I was diagnosed with follicular lymphoma — non-Hodgkin type 1/2, which is a slower-growing type.

I was referred to Evergreen Medical, where I had primary care, but then transitioned to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. When you’ve got Fred Hutch in your backyard, why not go there?

It was definitely a shock. I’d had no other symptoms, but it turned out I had at least six lymph nodes lit up. For the first few months, I almost questioned if I really had cancer, because I felt fine. Still, it was hard for me, my wife — we’ve been married 25 years — and my extended family. We’ve had cancer in the family before, but not lymphoma, so that was new.

It was also a big transition because follicular lymphoma isn’t curable at this point — but it is highly treatable. That was one of the first things my doctors explained, which helped, but it was still a big adjustment.

What treatment options were discussed with you when you were first diagnosed?

I met with Dr. Gopal at Fred Hutch — he’s fantastic, both a doctor and researcher. At the time I was in my mid-40s, and he said there were many treatment options, including doing nothing and just monitoring. Chemo might be needed eventually, but the goal was to delay that because of long-term side effects.

That was part of why I wanted to be at Fred Hutch — more opportunities for clinical trials. I wasn’t eager to be a guinea pig, but I wanted to contribute to research, benefit myself and ideally help others too.

We decided to start with Keytruda. Monitoring didn’t sit well with me — I wanted to do something. Keytruda actually had a strong effect, shrinking things by about 25% to 30% after one treatment, but my immune system overreacted, so I had to stop.

From February 2020 to May 2024, I tried six different treatments, but the one that really worked was Monjuvi, which I received through a clinical trial. That treatment melted the cancer away after others had only stabilized it or made small improvements.

Before starting Monjuvi, I’d developed pleural effusion in my left lung because the lymphoma had spread there. I was getting chest taps every other week — not fun. Dr. Gopal said we needed a treatment that would really push the cancer back. I had Rituxan before with no effect, and my lymphoma turned out to be resistant to it. So he recommended a trial with lenalidomide, Rituxan and possibly Monjuvi.

After my first round of Monjuvi, I landed in the hospital for 10 days due to a bad lung infection — unrelated to the treatment — which delayed the next rounds. But even after missing the intensive early cycles, I could feel tumors shrinking quickly, with minimal side effects. That gave me confidence I was on Monjuvi. When the trial unblinded later, I learned I was right.

By the end, I had about an 85% reduction in lymph nodes. I can’t feel any now, and my most recent scan shows everything is small and stable. It’s been amazing.

What kind of support has made the biggest difference during your experience?

Absolutely my wife. We’ve gone through this together — it hasn’t been easy, but having a partner to share both the good and the hard moments with has been huge. My extended family has also been really supportive.

In 2022, I started therapy with a counselor, and I wish I’d done it sooner. That’s one of my biggest pieces of advice: get therapy. Cancer takes an emotional, physical and social toll, and therapy helped me process everything in a healthier way. My wife started therapy too, which also helped.

I also added acupuncture early on, especially when I had negative side effects from Keytruda. It helped with inflammation, stress and overall balance. Later I worked with a naturopathic oncologist on nutrition and side effect management, which I’d definitely use again if I ever need more traditional chemo.

Do you have any advice or a message for someone newly diagnosed with follicular lymphoma?

When I was diagnosed, I actually met several people who had just been diagnosed with lymphoma too. For me, I chose not to make it a core part of my identity. I’m open about it — I’ve shared my journey on social media and with my students, who’ve been incredibly supportive — but I don’t let it define me.

My advice is to be intentional about how you approach it. Seek support — whether that’s a spouse, therapy, family, friends or a community. And try to stay optimistic, even though it sounds cliché.

For me, optimism meant focusing on what I could control and not projecting too far into the future. When I did, anxiety crept in. Instead, I asked: What’s my next step? How do I get through today? That mindset, along with recognizing when you can’t control things, has been key.

A friend of mine who went through Hodgkin lymphoma used to say, “Ride the lightning.” That became a reminder for me too — even in the hardest moments, you can keep going.

Transcript has been edited for clarity and conciseness.

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