7/30/08 - I am not feeling so well today. My cough is bad and I have a constant nauseous feeling. My wife called Dr. Goy. He asked that we come in tomorrow for an appointment.
7/31/08 - I am feeling better, even before the appointment. I met with Dr. Goy and the research nurse (a very nice person). They reviewed the results from my PET and CT Scans. The cancer is only found in my upper chest area (the are about 6 areas where masses have been identified). The ones in the mediastinum are likely causing my cough. The fact that the Mantle Cell Lymphoma has not spread to other areas of my body is excellent news.
On a side note: The more I get to know Dr. Goy, the more I like him.
We now can get ready to begin treatment. Tomorrow I am have a dual porta cath put in as an out patient procedure. This will make it easier on me to receive the chemo treatments.
On Tuesday, August 5th I will check into the hospital for about 5 days to begin my treatments.
As I had said in an earlier post I am part of a clinical trial. The title of the study is as follows:
Phase I study bortezomib (VELCADE) plus rituximab-hyperCVAD alternating with bortezomib plus rituximab-high dose methotrexate/cytarabine in patients with untreated aggressive mantle cell lymphoma.
I can not believe I am saying this but I am looking forward to get the treatments going. I am told that soon after they begin my cough should go away.
More to come...
http://mantlecell.blogspot.com/
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
About me
In my first post I spent most of it describing my symptoms. What I failed to do was to was to give you a proper introduction of who I am.
As I said above, My name is Rich Franco. I am 47 years old, I am married (23 years), and I have two daughters (ages 18 and 15).
I am employed by a Fortune 500 company as a Director of Marketing and have been with them for 22 years.
I am a huge Jets and Mets fan. I would love to see them capture championships sometime in my lifetime (which I hope has many years to go).
My favorite past time is playing guitar. I have been playing in church for many years. Most recently I have been coordinating a Youth Music Ministry. I also have been teaching Religious Education for the past 12 years.
Between my family, friends, work and church; I have a fantastic support network.
My Pastor has given me a prayer to say when times get tough:
"Jesus, I believe in you and you will take care of me.
Jesus, I believe in you and you will give me peace"
Certainly, my faith will play a major role in helping me get through the next few months. I have every intention of putting up a good fight against Mantle Cell and emerging victorious.
I wait for my next appointment with Dr. Goy. My treatments should begin within the next week or so. Everyone says the key to my success is to KEEP POSITIVE.
More to come...
http://mantlecell.blogspot.com/
As I said above, My name is Rich Franco. I am 47 years old, I am married (23 years), and I have two daughters (ages 18 and 15).
I am employed by a Fortune 500 company as a Director of Marketing and have been with them for 22 years.
I am a huge Jets and Mets fan. I would love to see them capture championships sometime in my lifetime (which I hope has many years to go).
My favorite past time is playing guitar. I have been playing in church for many years. Most recently I have been coordinating a Youth Music Ministry. I also have been teaching Religious Education for the past 12 years.
Between my family, friends, work and church; I have a fantastic support network.
My Pastor has given me a prayer to say when times get tough:
"Jesus, I believe in you and you will take care of me.
Jesus, I believe in you and you will give me peace"
Certainly, my faith will play a major role in helping me get through the next few months. I have every intention of putting up a good fight against Mantle Cell and emerging victorious.
I wait for my next appointment with Dr. Goy. My treatments should begin within the next week or so. Everyone says the key to my success is to KEEP POSITIVE.
More to come...
http://mantlecell.blogspot.com/
Monday, July 28, 2008
Embarking on a Journey
Hi, My name is Rich Franco. On July 17th, 2008 I was diagnosed with Mantle Cell Lymphoma. I have created this blog to journal my experience.
It all began on June 2nd, 2008. I was feeling pain in my chest, shortness of breath, and I had a nagging cough. I went to my doctor (Dr. Eric Hansen) who sent me for a chest x-ray and blood work. The chest x-ray came back showing enlarged lymph nodes so my doctor sent me for a C.T. Scan on the same day. This verified that there were enlarged lymph nodes and possible pneumonia. It was not clear at the time if the enlarged lymph nodes were caused by the pneumonia or if the pneumonia was caused by the lymph nodes. I was put on an antibiotic to try and knock out the pneumonia. Another C.T. Scan will be performed in about a month to see if the lymph nodes reduce in size. I will always be thankful to Dr. Hansen for taking such quick action.
In the meantime, I was sent to a pulmonary doctor who performed a bronchoscopy on June 9th, 2008. The results came back clear.
On June 27th, 2008 I had a C.T. Scan performed. My lymph nodes did not reduce in size.
On July 10th, 2008 I had a GI Series performed.
On July 11th I had a mediastinoscopy and endoscopy performed.
The GI Series and endoscopy were clear.
On July 17th, I met with the surgeon to get the results of the mediastinoscopy. This is when I was given the news that I had Mantle Cell Lymphoma. The surgeon immediately sent me to an oncologist (Dr. Michael Scola of Morristown Hospital). He was very reassuring. He did suggest that I get a second opinion with Dr. Andre Goy of Hackensack University Medical Center. I soon learned that Dr. Goy is one of the top experts on Mantle Cell in the country.
The morning of July 21st, Dr Scola performed a bone marow biopsy and a muga scan. Both came back clear.
On the afternoon of July 21st, I met with Dr. Goy. He offered me a place in one of his clinical trials. I discussed this with Dr Scola and he agreed that the clinical trial would be best for me. I will always be thankful to Dr. Scola for his compassion, advice and overall kindness. He was there for me on a day that was very difficult and he put the needs of me and my family first.
On July, 28th I had a PET Scan and another C.T. Scan. I am still awaiting the results.
My next appointment with Dr. Goy is August 1st, 2008.
I have officially embarked on my journey to fight Mantle Cell Lymphoma.
I continue to have a bad cough that is worse when I am talking or right after I eat. The doctors feel that the cough is caused by the lymphoma pressing against my pulmonary artery and/or esophagus
More to come...
http://mantlecell.blogspot.com/
It all began on June 2nd, 2008. I was feeling pain in my chest, shortness of breath, and I had a nagging cough. I went to my doctor (Dr. Eric Hansen) who sent me for a chest x-ray and blood work. The chest x-ray came back showing enlarged lymph nodes so my doctor sent me for a C.T. Scan on the same day. This verified that there were enlarged lymph nodes and possible pneumonia. It was not clear at the time if the enlarged lymph nodes were caused by the pneumonia or if the pneumonia was caused by the lymph nodes. I was put on an antibiotic to try and knock out the pneumonia. Another C.T. Scan will be performed in about a month to see if the lymph nodes reduce in size. I will always be thankful to Dr. Hansen for taking such quick action.
In the meantime, I was sent to a pulmonary doctor who performed a bronchoscopy on June 9th, 2008. The results came back clear.
On June 27th, 2008 I had a C.T. Scan performed. My lymph nodes did not reduce in size.
On July 10th, 2008 I had a GI Series performed.
On July 11th I had a mediastinoscopy and endoscopy performed.
The GI Series and endoscopy were clear.
On July 17th, I met with the surgeon to get the results of the mediastinoscopy. This is when I was given the news that I had Mantle Cell Lymphoma. The surgeon immediately sent me to an oncologist (Dr. Michael Scola of Morristown Hospital). He was very reassuring. He did suggest that I get a second opinion with Dr. Andre Goy of Hackensack University Medical Center. I soon learned that Dr. Goy is one of the top experts on Mantle Cell in the country.
The morning of July 21st, Dr Scola performed a bone marow biopsy and a muga scan. Both came back clear.
On the afternoon of July 21st, I met with Dr. Goy. He offered me a place in one of his clinical trials. I discussed this with Dr Scola and he agreed that the clinical trial would be best for me. I will always be thankful to Dr. Scola for his compassion, advice and overall kindness. He was there for me on a day that was very difficult and he put the needs of me and my family first.
On July, 28th I had a PET Scan and another C.T. Scan. I am still awaiting the results.
My next appointment with Dr. Goy is August 1st, 2008.
I have officially embarked on my journey to fight Mantle Cell Lymphoma.
I continue to have a bad cough that is worse when I am talking or right after I eat. The doctors feel that the cough is caused by the lymphoma pressing against my pulmonary artery and/or esophagus
More to come...
http://mantlecell.blogspot.com/
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