My Journey 2/22/10

Todd W Franzen

February 22, 2010

Wow, where to begin….the PET scan! I finally got
that bastard done last Monday (feb 15th) and there was a moment that I didn’t think that it was going to happen. The week before, the scanning machine was broken and I had to reschedule the following week. It turns out that there was a software issue that almost blew it again. That’s the thing about cancer is the tests and machines are so complicated that when something goes wrong, it goes horably wrong . Well it turns out that after a two hour wait, and a little software updating, I was able to get the scan done and see for the first time what these treatments are doing!

I grabbed my mom and dad and went into the tech’s control room to see the side by side comparison of the two images. One was before I started my chemo treatments and the other was my half way point. It was amazing to see the difference. If I could put a number on it, I would say 70-80% gone. Leaving Advanced Medical Imaging, its safe to say that all three of us broke down! I was so thankful that I was speechless…..

Tuesday the 16th was the day that friends had put together a fundraiser for me. I spent the morning getting gift certificates printed out and ready for the event. i ended up getting to the Clubhouse a little early and helped set up. around 5:30pm, people started showing up. It turns out that people had to park on Tiger Run Rd. The Fire Dept showed up and I thought that we were going to get shut down. They came for support and dinner. The RWB Fire Dept Rules! There were so many people that came, it was standing room only. Jerry Cooney did a great job doing a Live Auction. So every one knows, I was completely shocked and overwhelmed that so many people showed up. A week or so earlier, I was just hoping that people would show up. The amount of love and support was amazing and there are so many people that I want to thank. Kelly Cummings @ Burton Snowboards, Bryan Knox @ Four Square,
Bobby Meeks @ Nike, Ron Buretta @ Solid, Brad and Rian @ Bonfire, AaronDoddsPhotography, John George @ Mountain Wave, Alex Pashley @ Dragon, Matty Swanson @ Oakley, Nikki DeFord and Amy Sabreen @ Vail Resorts, CJ Covarrubias @ Powell Perelta, Mike McGill @ McGill Skateshop. Roe Schardt and Fae Reynolds, Joney Cooney and everyone that helped put the event together. Mark Burke and Jack Riley, you guys rule. All the local businesses and friends that donated there time and services during such crazy economic times. I am forever thankful! Here are a few photos from the party…….

Thursday the 18th was my 7th chemo treatment. Dr Kantor (My Oncologist) reaffirmed what we saw on the scans. You know its cool to see a doctor going around and showing the staff the progress. Needless to say it was a damn good week! Good news has been a little elusive over the past few months. This has been a good wave!

 

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Todd W Franzen


I am a two-time Hodgkin's lymphoma survivor with 17 years of documented cancer survivorship experience that spans multiple treatment eras. My journey began in November 2009 with a Stage 4B diagnosis at age 33, and continued through recurrence and treatment in 2019-2021. This rare longitudinal perspective—living through two complete treatment cycles a decade apart—gives me comparative insight into cancer care evolution that no single medical professional can replicate.

MY TREATMENT EXPERIENCE

First Treatment Cycle (2009-2010)
• 12 infusions of ABVD Chemotherapy over 6 months
• 2 infusions of ICE Chemotherapy (4-day infusions)
• 1 infusion of BEAM Chemotherapy
• 1 Autologous Stem-Cell Transplant
• 8 PET Scans
• 6 CT Scans

Second Treatment Cycle (2019-2021)
• 2 infusions of Brentuximab and Bendamustine
(Severe allergic reaction to Brentuximab — hives)
• 25 rounds of Radiation to Mediastinum (46RAD combined)
• 4 infusions of Keytruda Immunotherapy
• 2 infusions of IGEV Chemotherapy (5-day infusions)
• 1 Total Body Radiation (2RAD)
• 1 Sibling Allogeneic Stem-Cell Transplant
• 6 PET Scans
• 6 CT Scans

COMPARATIVE EXPERTISE

Surviving two stem-cell transplants—one autologous, one sibling allogeneic—across different decades of cancer treatment has given me firsthand experience with nearly every major modality in lymphoma care: combination chemotherapy, salvage chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation protocols, and both types of stem-cell transplantation. I've experienced treatment side effects from the "standard" ABVD era through the modern immunotherapy period.

This comparative expertise matters for survivors. Treatment protocols in 2009 looked very different from 2019, and the long-term survivorship implications are still emerging. Doctors treat; survivors live with the aftermath. I've done both—twice.

CREDENTIALS & PROJECTS

• Founder: Strap In For Life 501(c)(3) nonprofit
• Author: Internal Architect: A Cancer Survivor's Memoir
• Licensed Insurance Agent (practical healthcare system navigation)
• 17-year cancer survivor documenting the journey since 2008

WHAT I WRITE ABOUT

Cancer survivorship doesn't end when treatment stops—it's when the real reconstruction begins. My blog covers:
• Practical survivorship (relationships, careers, identity)
• Treatment experience insights (what they don't tell you)
• Long-term effects and secondary health considerations
• Mental health and emotional reconstruction
• Healthcare system navigation

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