DJ is a guy who always marches to his own beat. Maybe that’s why drums are his instrument of choice. As for his Hemophilia A therapy, DJ chose ELOCTATE.
*ELOCTATE has been proven to help patients prevent bleeding episodes using a prophylaxis regimen.
See TranscriptSo your name’s DJ but you play the drums?
Exactly. I like to keep people on their toes.
Any other hobbies?
I love comic books and I’m learning how to illustrate my own characters. It’s a great creative outlet.
What would your superpower be?
Supersonic speed. Or maybe flight. I haven’t decided.
Speaking of decisions, how did you and your doctor decide on your current dosing regimen?
I have great communication with my healthcare team. We worked together and my doctor helped me start an every-4-day infusion routine for bleed and joint bleed protection* I can count on. It’s been a great fit so far.
What’s next for you?
Right now, I’m going with the flow. I may have hemophilia, but that does not mean I have to play quietly.
Note: Patient stories reflect the real-life experiences of persons diagnosed with hemophilia A who have been prescribed ELOCTATE. However, individual experiences may vary. Patient stories are not necessarily representative of what another person using ELOCTATE may experience. Talk to your healthcare provider about what's right for you. ELOCTATE Peers™ have been compensated for sharing their stories.
The recommended starting regimen is 50 IU/kg every 4 days as directed by your doctor. In children under 6 years of age, the recommended starting regimen is 50 IU/kg administered twice weekly. The regimen can be adjusted based on your body's individual response
Narrator:
ELOCTATE antihemophilic factor recombinant FC fusion protein. Please stay tuned for important safety information at the end of this video.
DJ:
The first time I ever got on the drum set I fell in love with it. When I'm in the groove, I feel great. I feel alive. I feel like everything is going to be alright. It's pretty remarkable, I think. My name is DJ. I'm from Indianapolis and I have hemophilia A.
I was diagnosed at birth. My grandfather also had Hemophilia A and so did my older brother. When people would ask me about hemophilia, I would always say “oh, it's a long story” because I felt like it would make me a weirdo in their eyes. My family is very important to me — my sister, Whitney and my girlfriend, Christina. They’ve been 1000% supportive of me and I'm making sure that I'm doing right by myself and my hemophilia.
Another passion of mine is comic books. Regular people who put on masks to save the world — they were dealing with the same kind of idea that I was. They lived their lives as two people. Those superheroes wanted people to know who they were. That's kind of how I thought about my hemophilia as I wanted to be, you know, myself. I didn't want to be defined by something that I did when I had on a mask.
I was approached about ELOCTATE through my doctors and HTC team about it having a prolonged half-life. When talking to my doctor about making the transition to ELOCTATE, we discussed the potential benefits and risks, and when I felt like he answered all the questions I had, I decided to make the transition. What I like about ELOCTATE is the fact that I can have those options to find a schedule that works. Since making the transition to ELOCTATE, I haven't had any bleeds, but I encourage everyone to talk to their doctors to find what works best for them.
Common side effects of ELOCTATE are joint pain and general discomfort. When I stop hiding my hemophilia with my friends and the world really, is an uplifting feeling. It put everything in perspective for me — like there's only one you. You define yourself because now, when people ask me what hemophilia is I don't tell them “it's a long story.” I tell them exactly what hemophilia is, and like “I'm DJ.” That's, that's the end of the story you know.
ELOCTATE® [Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant), Fc Fusion Protein] is an injectable medicine that is used to help control and prevent bleeding in people with Hemophilia A (congenital Factor VIII deficiency). Your healthcare provider may give you ELOCTATE when you have surgery.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION AND INDICATIONS
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IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Do not use ELOCTATE if you have had an allergic reaction to it in the past.
Tell your healthcare provider if you have or have had any medical problems, take any medicines, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, supplements, or herbal medicines, have any allergies, are breastfeeding, are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, or have been told you have inhibitors (antibodies) to Factor VIII.
Allergic reactions may occur with ELOCTATE. Call your healthcare provider or get emergency treatment right away if you have any of the following symptoms: difficulty breathing, chest tightness, swelling of the face, rash, or hives.
Your body can also make antibodies called "inhibitors" against ELOCTATE, which may stop ELOCTATE from working properly.
Additional common side effects of ELOCTATE are headache, rash, joint pain, muscle pain and general discomfort.
If you have risk factors for developing abnormal blood clots in your body, such as an indwelling venous catheter, treatment with Factor VIII may increase this risk.
These are not all the possible side effects of ELOCTATE. Talk to your healthcare provider right away about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away, or if bleeding is not controlled after using ELOCTATE.
INDICATIONS
ELOCTATE® [Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant), Fc Fusion Protein] is an injectable medicine that is used to help control and prevent bleeding in people with Hemophilia A (congenital Factor VIII deficiency). Your healthcare provider may give you ELOCTATE when you have surgery.
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INDICATIONS
ELOCTATE® [Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant), Fc Fusion Protein] is an injectable medicine that is used to help control and prevent bleeding in people with Hemophilia A (congenital Factor VIII deficiency). Your healthcare provider may give you ELOCTATE when you have surgery.