Fortunat times

Todd W Franzen

February 14, 2019

They say that life is full of peaks and valleys, highs and lows.  After this last month, I am a complete believer in that!

July 25th, my dad and I went up to Charlotte Queen Adventures to do a little salmon fishing around the Queen Charlotte Island in BC and enjoy a little time away from phones and work.  Bruce Plankington who owned the boat took us up there as an All the talk was the fishing was the best since they started the boat.

In the first two hours on the boat!
It was good hanging out with dad and extra bonus on limiting out on the Chinook.  The rest of the boat was a group of gentleman that works in the oil and natural gas business.  They flew a Gulfstream 200 to sandspit where we all met up and took a chopper to the boat.  Awesome!
When we got back, Dad was having trouble breathing and on Tuesday we took him to the hospital.  He was dealing with the side effects of pneumonia.  He really started having issues on the boat, but when we got home, it had gotten worse.  So they shipped him down to St Anthony’s in Golden.  He ended up being ventilated for five days.  Due to his condition, he was not able to make it to my wedding.
Saturday the Sixth. Wedding Day!
We couldn’t have asked for a better day to get married.  The goal was to make it a happy hour arrangement and had ordurves and a cash bar.  The ceremony was out on the patio of the clubhouse at the Breckenridge Golf Course.  It was funny because people that went to the course to have lunch turned out to be in the middle of a wedding.  My bride was gorgeous and I couldn’t take my eyes off her!  I just want to say sorry to the friends that we couldn’t invite.  It would have been easier to elope!  hahaha
Sunday the 7th.
From a high to another low, My grandmother passed away Sunday morning, fortunately, Grandpa was at her side when she passed.  at 83, she lived a very full life and gave her family memories that
We ended up leaving for the honeymoon on Tuesday.  we decided that it would be best to take the girls and go to Orlando and hit the amusement parks. Universal Studios and Universal Adventure Island was the deal and both did not disappoint.

Related Posts

Mentorship

Mentorship

How to Keep Your Mind Off Cancer

How to Keep Your Mind Off Cancer

How Cancer Can Kill

How Cancer Can Kill

Change Your Path

Change Your Path

Cancer Survivor Meaning

Cancer Survivor Meaning

Life After Cancer Reality

Life After Cancer Reality

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

Your Signature

Leave a Reply


Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked

{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}