NEED TO KNOW
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A woman was diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma after initially believing she had the flu.
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Following chemotherapy, Debi Weiss’ cancer returned, prompting her to undergo CAR-T immunotherapy, leading to complete remission.
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Weiss, 72, expressed that her battle with cancer has shifted her focus towards family over work.
Debi Weiss, a pilates instructor, thought she was dealing with a typical flu, but soon realized it was something far more severe.
Feeling increasingly unwell and struggling to breathe or walk her dog, she consulted her doctor. Blood tests and a biopsy confirmed the diagnosis: diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, which the Mayo Clinic classifies as a “fast-growing cancer” affecting the lymphatic system.
Weiss, 72, described her shock upon receiving this diagnosis, recalling it felt like an “out-of-body experience,” in a talk with CBS News.
Weiss began chemotherapy shortly after her diagnosis, but a month later, doctors discovered the lymphoma had returned and spread to her brain. Hematologist-oncologist Dr. Charles Farber noted that her prognosis was “dismal.”
“I might have been a little naive,” Weiss remarked. “When I’m told something’s going to work, I tend to believe it.”
In January 2025, she underwent CAR-T immunotherapy, a process where her T-cells were removed, genetically altered to target cancer cells, and ultimately reintroduced into her body. Dr. Mohamad Cherry explained it like receiving a blood transfusion.
Reflecting on her experience during the treatment, Weiss shared a light-hearted moment: “One of the nurses drew Pac-Man on the whiteboard across from my bed, and I imagined my cells behaving like Pac-Man, munching through the cancer cells,” she said.
After the CAR-T procedure, Weiss experienced no side effects and was relieved to resume her normal activities, like walking her dog. “I consider myself quite lucky,” she stated.
Now in “complete remission,” she will continue to undergo follow-up scans every four to six months to monitor for any signs of the cancer’s return, according to Farber.
Weiss reflected on the changes in her life post-diagnosis, stating, “Life is better than it was before in many ways. My priorities have shifted. I used to be all about work, often at the expense of personal time.”
“Now, if family needs me, work takes a backseat,” she added. “I’ve become more honest with myself about my time and more willing to say ‘no.’ It’s been a positive transformation, really.”
