Debi Weiss, a 72-year-old Pilates instructor from New Jersey, initially dismissed her growing weakness and breathlessness in January 2024 as the flu. However, the symptoms rapidly worsened, eventually preventing her from walking her dog and leaving her perpetually exhausted. A subsequent diagnosis revealed a far more serious condition: diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, a speedy-growing cancer of the lymphatic system.
Following the diagnosis, Weiss underwent chemotherapy, initially experiencing positive results with fatigue as her only side effect. But just one month after completing chemotherapy, imaging revealed the lymphoma had recurred, spreading to her brain. Dr. Charles Farber, a hematologist-oncologist at Atlantic Health Morristown Medical Center, described Weiss’s prognosis at that point as “dismal.”
Despite the grim outlook, Weiss was offered a chance at recovery through a personalized immunotherapy treatment. “I’m a bit naive,” Weiss told CBS News. “When I’m told something’s going to work, I believe it.” The treatment involved CAR T-cell immunotherapy, a process where a patient’s own T-cells are removed, genetically engineered to recognize and attack cancer cells, and then reintroduced into the body, akin to a blood transfusion, according to Dr. Mohamad Cherry, the medical director of hematology at Atlantic Health.
Weiss recalled the anticipation and apprehension surrounding the infusion day, noting the presence of a large medical team eager to witness the procedure. She described feeling as though her re-engineered cells were “Pac-Man” figures, actively seeking out and destroying the cancer within her body.
Remarkably, Weiss experienced no side effects from the CAR T-cell therapy. She was eventually able to resume her daily activities, including walking her dog. As of reports in early 2026, Weiss is in complete remission, though she will continue to undergo scans every four to six months to monitor for any potential recurrence of the cancer, Dr. Farber stated.
The experience prompted a significant shift in Weiss’s priorities. “Life is better than it was before in a lot of ways,” she said. “Your priorities change. Before, I would work and I would not do things because I needed to work… Now, if my family needs me, I don’t work. I will be where my family is at any given moment.” She added that she now feels empowered to decline commitments that don’t align with her values and to prioritize meaningful relationships.
Large diffuse B-cell lymphoma affects approximately 25,000 people in the United States each year, according to Dr. Lorenzo Falchi, a lymphoma specialist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. The disease is known for its rapid growth and diagnostic challenges.
Leave a Reply