(BPT) - Meet Chris Wright, a professional basketball player and father of three who has played for teams across the world. Chris never imagined relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS), a chronic and unpredictable disease where the immune system attacks healthy tissues in the central nervous system (CNS), would be part of his story. He was completely shocked when he was diagnosed with this lifelong condition while playing in Turkey in 2012.
One day after practice, Chris noticed a tingling in his right foot, but he quickly chalked it up to overuse. However, within a day, the sensation spread to his right arm, hand, and leg. Suddenly, Chris couldn’t get out of bed or walk and fell to the floor. After being taken to the hospital and confined to a wheelchair, he was diagnosed with RMS by a specialist in Istanbul, Turkey.
“I was heartbroken when I was diagnosed with RMS,” Chris said. “I didn’t know much about RMS and was completely overwhelmed. I was just trying to learn as much as possible about it and knew I had to go home and figure this out the best I could with my family,” he said.
Chris was suddenly faced with the uncertainty that many in the RMS community know too well. His hard work, well-being, and identity had changed overnight.
The Support of His Family, Friends, Coaches, and Doctor
Immediately after receiving his diagnosis, Chris returned home to the United States to be surrounded by his support network. While several doctors told him to retire, his current neurologist, MS specialist Heidi Crayton, MD, was more positive about Chris’s future.
“Your relationship with your neurologist is extremely vital,” Chris said. “When I met Dr. Crayton, I was really down, but she was extremely optimistic. You have to find a doctor who will be supportive and honest with you. Dr. Crayton helped me develop a game plan that has led me to where I am now,” he said.
Dr. Crayton encouraged Chris to express his feelings and concerns, which in turn, helped her recommend treatment options to help manage his RMS symptoms throughout his disease journey. “I encourage my patients to feel empowered to express themselves during an appointment so we can talk through their concerns and make sure they are on a treatment plan that is right for them,” Dr. Crayton said.
“In addition to what testing reveals, there are other factors to consider when deciding what RMS medication to recommend, including lifestyle, which is why it’s so important to get to know the patient,” she added.
Choosing the Right RMS Treatment
After almost a decade on therapy, Chris’s treatment was no longer working well for him, and he voiced to his neurologist that he wanted a change. As a result, Dr. Crayton suggested MAVENCLAD® (cladribine tablets), which consisted of 10 days of treatment per year for a two-year period.
MAVENCLAD is a prescription medicine used to treat relapsing forms of RMS, to include relapsing-remitting disease and active secondary progressive disease, in adults. Because of its safety profile, MAVENCLAD is generally used in people who have tried another RMS medicine that they could not tolerate or that has not worked well enough. MAVENCLAD is not recommended for use in people with clinically isolated syndrome.
MAVENCLAD can cause serious side effects including the risk of cancer (malignancies) and risk of birth defects if used during pregnancy. Females must not be pregnant when they start treatment with MAVENCLAD or become pregnant during MAVENCLAD dosing and within six months after the last dose of each yearly treatment course. For males with female partners who are able to become pregnant, effective birth control should be used during the days on which MAVENCLAD is taken and for at least 6 months after the last dose of each yearly treatment course. Additional serious side effects can include low blood cell counts, serious infections such as TB, hepatitis B or C, shingles, or progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, liver problems, allergic reactions, and heart failure. The most common side effects of MAVENCLAD include upper respiratory infection, headache, and low white blood cell count.
Before starting treatment, Dr. Crayton explained the serious side effects of MAVENCLAD, including the risk of cancer and birth defects. Other side effects include low white blood cell counts, serious infections, and liver problems. Following discussion of the treatment’s dosing and safety information with Dr. Crayton, Chris was ready to try MAVENCLAD. After completing initial screening and education, including using effective contraception and the need for ongoing monitoring and doctor visits, Chris began treatment with MAVENCLAD.
Chris finished his second year of treatment with MAVENCLAD, and so far, the treatment has worked well for him. Several factors, including, a healthy lifestyle, MAVENCLAD, and strong communication with Dr. Crayton have thus far allowed Chris to continue playing the sport he loves.
However, each individual is different, and results may vary. It’s important for patients to talk thoroughly with their healthcare provider about their symptoms and treatment plan for the best possible outcome.
Express4MS and the Importance of Expressing Yourself
In 2022, Chris joined forces with EMD Serono to take part in their Express4MS initiative, where he shared his story about living with RMS. Express4MS gives visibility to the journeys of people living with RMS and encourages them to express themselves, not only within their community but also with their healthcare providers. This allows for their voices to be heard when it comes to managing their condition.
Chris admitted that it took him some time to realize that RMS doesn’t define him after receiving the diagnosis. He emphasized that the support of family, friends, and his doctor was the “lifeline” that helped him continue to express himself.
“As someone who has been living with RMS for ten years, I know first-hand the impact it can have on all aspects of a person’s life,” Chris said. “I hope by sharing my experience, I can help empower others living with RMS to express themselves too, with their friends, family, and even their healthcare providers,” he added.
To hear stories from a diverse group of people about their experiences living with RMS and how they’ve learned to express themselves with their loved ones, the RMS community, their healthcare providers, and the world, visit Express4MS.com.
What is MAVENCLAD?
MAVENCLAD is a prescription medicine used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), to include relapsing-remitting disease and active secondary progressive disease, in adults. Because of its safety profile, MAVENCLAD is generally used in people who have tried another MS medicine that they could not tolerate or that has not worked well enough.
MAVENCLAD is not recommended for use in people with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS).
It is not known if MAVENCLAD is safe and effective in children under 18 years of age and is therefore not recommended.
MAVENCLAD may cause serious side effects, including:
Do not take MAVENCLAD if you:
Before you take MAVENCLAD, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
How should I take MAVENCLAD?
Your healthcare provider will continue to monitor your health during the 2 yearly treatment courses, and for at least another 2 years during which you do not need to take MAVENCLAD. It is not known if MAVENCLAD is safe and effective in people who restart MAVENCLAD treatment more than 2 years after completing 2 yearly treatment courses.
MAVENCLAD can cause serious side effects. If you have any of these symptoms listed below, call your healthcare provider right away:
The most common side effects of MAVENCLAD include: upper respiratory infection, headache, and low white blood cell counts.
These are not all the possible side effects of MAVENCLAD. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see the full Prescribing Information/Medication Guide, including serious side effects, for additional Important Safety Information.
Chris and Dr. Crayton are sponsored by EMD Serono, Inc.
EMD Serono is the Healthcare business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany in the U.S. and Canada.
MAVENCLAD is a registered trademark of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany or its affiliates.
US-MAV-02045 May 2023 Intended for US only