ANDREA

From patient to partner in research: Andrea Spica’s journey with MPNs 

Andrea Spica, an avid cyclist with an active lifestyle, never planned on becoming a research advocate. But when a routine, yearly doctor’s checkup revealed elevated platelet counts, her world shifted. 

At the time, she felt fine — no symptoms, no warning signs. Yet that appointment led to a diagnosis of essential thrombocythemia (ET). Fortunately, Andrea responded well to anagrelide, a medication prescribed by her hematologist, that stabilized her condition. For the next 10 years, she remained largely symptom-free, maintaining her fitness routine and staying active.  

“No symptoms — I’m a pretty avid bike rider so I would have noticed them.” 

When Andrea spent time in the Galapagos Islands on vacation, she began to notice something was off. “I thought, well, maybe it was the travel — or this and that,” she recalled, brushing off the fatigue. But the feeling persisted. Back home, her hematologist noted irregularities in her bloodwork again. Still, there were no clear answers — until Andrea turned to the barometer she trusted most: her bike. 

“We have a ride every Sunday. I said to the woman I ride with, ‘My goodness, they’re picking up the pace!’ And she said, ‘No, Andrea — I think it’s you.’” 

Her hematologist suggested she see an MPN Specialist to do a bone marrow biopsy at MD Anderson Cancer Center, where she officially got diagnosed with secondary myelofibrosis (sMF) in 2009 — and a new chapter began that would position Andrea as not only a patient, but as a partner in research.  

She learned about clinical trial options that could potentially calm her symptoms and keep her blood count up. She tried 3 different therapeutic treatments from clinical trials with little success, but Andrea wasn’t discouraged. Being analytical when it came to advocating for her own health, she continued to research.  

She read about a drug which, at the time, was called CYT 387 and asked her doctor about it. As her condition worsened and other treatments failed, Andrea became transfusion dependent every 3 weeks — a grueling routine that added urgency to her research. When she received CYT 387 6 months later with the support of her doctor, it worked.  

The FDA ultimately approved the drug in Andrea’s third trial as momelotinib.   

For 6 years, the drug stabilized Andrea’s health. But when her counts began to drop and fatigue returned, it signaled that even this promising treatment had limits — and she would soon face one of the hardest decisions of her life, does she get a stem cell transplant? 

“That was the last thing I wanted to do,” Andrea recalled. “But there were no alternatives.” 

The turning point came after she experienced a pulmonary embolism — a serious, unexpected event that made the risks of waiting even clearer. “I did as much research and talked to as many people as I could,” she said. “It was the hardest decision I’ve ever made.” 

The transplant process took Andrea to Houston, where she spent nearly 4 months in recovery. To be close to MD Anderson, she rented an apartment near the cancer center, with her wife and sister (who was also her donor) by her side. 

“The first 100 days are the hardest part,” she said. For Andrea, the most difficult aspects weren’t just physical — it was the solitude and the need for round-the-clock care from 1 or 2 fully dedicated caregivers. “The fatigue was amazingly difficult,” she shared.  

Her care team — both at home and in the hospital — kept her moving, literally. Her sister and wife encouraged her to walk, and she relied on her recumbent bike for a sense of normalcy. 

“It really helped me,” Andrea reflected. “Between my attitude, my sister’s and wife’s attitude, and the need to get back doing something — you know, being athletic — really drove me.” 

Full recovery took time, but staying active and being surrounded by support helped Andrea reclaim her life. She is in her seventh healthy year since her transplant in 2018.  

Today, Andrea channels her lived experience into patient advocacy through her work with MPN Research Foundation’s Patient Impact Council. With more than 30 years of experience in marketing and business leadership — including roles at American Airlines, Sabre Holdings, and Apple — she brings both strategic insight and personal perspective to the table.  

She reviews clinical trial protocols and research proposals through a patient lens, helping ensure that what’s being studied reflects what truly matters to people living with MPNs. “I think it’s very important to have patient input because doctors, particularly researchers, don’t have a grasp on how we feel or what we need.” she explains, “They look very scientifically, where we look very practically.” 

She’s especially passionate about improving communication between physicians and patients and expanding access to reliable, patient-centered information. Drawing from her background in marketing and advertising, Andrea is focused on reaching decision-makers within oncology practices — and arming them with resources that reflect patient realities. From powering through her Sunday rides to powering forward in research, Andrea remains driven by a deep belief in progress — not just for herself, but for the entire MPN community.