What you're feeling right now — the exhaustion, the isolation, the fear — is completely understandable. Living with WM while managing treatment side effects and feeling disconnected from the people you love is genuinely hard. You are not alone in feeling this way, even if it feels that way right now.
Brukinsa (zanubrutinib) Show Full Answer
What you're feeling right now — the exhaustion, the isolation, the fear — is completely understandable. Living with WM while managing treatment side effects and feeling disconnected from the people you love is genuinely hard. You are not alone in feeling this way, even if it feels that way right now.
Brukinsa (zanubrutinib) is a BTK inhibitor, similar in class to ibrutinib, and dose reductions are actually a normal part of managing side effects. The goal is always to find the right balance between controlling the cancer and keeping quality of life as livable as possible. Feeling worse during this adjustment period doesn't mean things won't improve. The weakness and fatigue you're experiencing may also be connected to low blood cell counts, which is common with WM. It's worth asking your doctor to check for this, as there are ways to manage it, including supplements, dietary changes, or other interventions. On the mental health side, what you're describing — hopelessness, isolation, and declining wellbeing — deserves just as much attention as your physical symptoms. Research shows that people with lymphoma who take care of their mental health tend to do better overall. Please consider telling your care team how you're feeling emotionally. Options that may help include:
- Talk therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Antidepressant medication if recommended by your doctor
- Reaching out to a mental health professional who has experience with cancer patients As for the future — WM is slow-growing, and survival rates have been improving significantly as treatments advance. Many people live for years, even decades, with WM. A MyLymphomaTeam member once shared that even through the fear, they try to keep their spirits up and use humor to get through it — while also being honest that it's scary. That kind of honesty with yourself and your care team is actually a strength.
You deserve support — both medically and emotionally. Please don't hesitate to tell your doctor everything you've shared here.
6 days ago
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