Final results

I was diagnosed with stage IVB HD in 12/00, have been treated twice and relapsed twice. My diagnosis and first relapse involved tumors in my lungs. My first treatment was Stanford V (which includes radiation), first relapse was treated with high dose chemo and an auto transplant. My second relapse (3 small tumors in my liver found 12/02) was treated with an experimental chemo combo for relapsed HD, gemcitabine/navelbine/doxil. It worked very well for me, got me back into remission and in May I had an allogeneic bone marrow transplant. If your son has already had an auto transplant, a next possible step would be an allogeneic transplant. But his best chances of that succeeding require him to get into remission and finding a matched donor. I would suggest you go to the nearest major cancer center and consult with a Hodgkin's specialist, or at least a lymphoma specialist. I consulted with Dr. Arnold Freedman at Dana Farber Cancer Inst. in Boston about the gencitabine combo. Another doctor I previously saw was Dr. Jonathan Friedberg who is now at the Univ. of Rochester Cancer Center. As far as PET scans are concerned, I've had a number of them and it's my understanding they're pretty accurate. I'm no shrink, but it sounds to me like you're in denial. Before I was first diagnosed, in between fevers, I felt fine. Regularly rode my bike, worked on my house, but after a while it caught up to me. How could this be happening to your son? That is a question as old as cancer itself. If I had the answer, I'd be able to sell enough books to make enough money to fund enough research to cure cancer. My advice is to see a specialist, educate yourself, make the best decisions you can and hope for the best. Good luck to you and your son.

I agree with Allo Man...find a specialist. Not sure where you are, but Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, California is leading hospital for the treatment of HD. I should know, I've spent the last 3 years of my life there. I wish you both the best!