Jameisha Brown, Burkitt’s Lymphoma Clinical Trial Participant

At just eight years old, Jameisha “Meisha” Brown faced a life-altering diagnosis: Burkitt’s lymphoma, a rare and aggressive form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma typically found in children. What might have been an incomprehensible battle for most children became an empowering experience for Meisha, thanks to the compassionate and clear communication of her care team.

An Introduction to Clinical Research

In June 1998, Meisha’s symptoms—vomiting and fatigue—prompted her pediatrician to investigate further, leading to a rapid diagnosis and emergency surgery at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Over the next three months, Meisha underwent surgeries and chemotherapy, but her cancer remained resistant to treatment.

Her doctor proposed a new chemotherapy regimen, R-CHOP, which had been successful in adults but was untested in children. Meisha vividly recalls her care team’s transparency about the experimental nature of the treatment.

“They weren’t saying, ‘We can expect this,’ but rather, ‘We hope,’” Meisha said. “That word, ‘hope,’ gave me a sense of fighting chance.”

The team’s efforts to keep her informed included demonstrations using teddy bears, Barney puppets, and even Clifford books. These creative explanations helped Meisha understand her condition and treatment on a deep level.

A Legacy of Perseverance

The R-CHOP regimen was grueling, causing Meisha to lose her hair and endure severe joint pain. A septic infection in her chemo port even led to a life-threatening stint in the ICU. Yet, she persevered. By 2000, Meisha was declared cancer-free.

Today, at 24, Meisha is a clinical research coordinator at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston and is pursuing a master’s degree in health sciences. She also participates in a long-term study on pediatric cancer survivors conducted by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The R-CHOP treatment she helped pioneer is now a standard therapy for Burkitt’s lymphoma and other B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas.

Living Proof of Research’s Impact

Meisha credits clinical research and the empathetic communication of her care team for saving her life. She encourages others to consider the broader impact of participating in research.

“Don’t just decide to participate because it might effectively treat your illness,” she advises. “Do it for the countless others who may face the same fight.”

Meisha’s story is a testament to the life-saving potential of clinical trials and the importance of patient-centered care in empowering individuals to overcome even the most formidable challenges.