Beth Primm

Diagnosed with Synovial Sarcoma in December 2016 after a 10 cm tumor was found in her pelvic wall during a routine OB-GYN appointment. Thinking it was a fibroid, surgery was performed to remove it. Upon opening her up, the doctor realized it was more than just a fibroid, took a biopsy, and sewed her back up, leaving the tumor in her and possibly saving her life. The tumor was surrounding her femoral artery and a major nerve to the right leg. She was referred to MD Anderson, where it was determined to be Synovial Sarcoma.

Over the next five months, she completed six rounds of AIM before undergoing a nine-hour surgery to remove the tumor in July 2017 with clear margins (R0). Beth had to relearn to use her right leg again, but after a year of physical therapy, she was able to walk normally.

She remained NED (No Evidence of Disease) for 20 months until April 2019, when a spot was discovered in her right lung via a follow-up CT scan. A biopsy was performed, and a thoracotomy was scheduled via a wedge resection in July 2019. She was NED for 10 months until March 2020, when a mass was discovered in her spine. She completed one episode of stereotactic radiation therapy, which killed the tumor.

In January 2021, a mass was discovered in her abdominal wall and several in her left lung. She entered the Adaptimmune Spearhead T-cell trial. Her cells were extracted in April 2021, engineered, and reinserted in June 2021. As of April 2023, the tumors in her lungs have disappeared, and the one in her abdominal wall continues to shrink. Overall, the tumors have been reduced by 74% and continue to shrink slowly.

She visits MD Anderson for follow-ups every two months. Her oncologist is Dr. Conley.