Waves of Life

Todd W Franzen

November 4, 2018

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(Talk about the ups and downs in life after cancer)

Waves of Life

Is really the best way to describe the emotional and physical roller coaster you go through after cancer.

From the highs of being optimistic about what life has in store and what the future will bring us, to the lows of being reminded of the side effects of treatment.

As survivors, we are reminded daily about our experience.

The little nuances we come across remind us of all the good and bad.

It’s all one big experience!

We live in a time where instant gratification and expectation has warped the wave. Seeing more anger within the wave has me question decisions where I want to spent my energy.

Who I want to be around,

The activities I want to be involved with.

And lately, where I want to live. Ive lived in the same town for 42 years.

That’s a long time!

The motivation to rebuild…

after cancer has morphed into many different goals and ideas of what it means to be alive. Helping others through this crazy journey ranks right up there towards the top.

Everything I’ve learned, the skills Ive been acquired can take me any where in the world.

What’s the best way to ride the wave?

Three parts to riding the wave of life.

1. Be mentally prepared for what life throws at you!

By reclaiming a huge chunk of my time wasted through social media, I’m able to read and write about things that are important to me. I don’t feel so quick to judge and assume that instant gratification will be best for me.

With all the anger in the world, I find it best to keep my opinion to myself and observe the reactions of others. Things happen quick so keep your answers short and sweet if asked.

It is perfectly ok to not know the answer!

2.It is said that Patience is a virtue!

That saying is absolutely correct. Everyone is so quick to judge, assume and blame based off feelings from instant information that we’ve lost sight in how outcomes might truly end up.

Maybe I’m just old school, but seeing how fast information is exchanged is frightening. And how easy decisions are made based of feelings is asinine.

3. Be Kind

We sure don’t see that any more these days. Our culture thrives off the pain and anguish of other people. Then throw on top the addictive need for acceptance and validation. It’s this melting pot of bullshit!

I truly believe there will be a small group of truly happy people that have removed them selves from the instant information world where they have found the best way to enjoy their wave and I believe us cancer survivors are on that path now!

Todd

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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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