It was 23 December 2013 when John walked into his GP’s office to discuss the results of a recent colonoscopy. His GP, Frank, had been his doctor, and mate, since the early 1980s. What was meant to be a routine appointment quickly became life-changing.
“I think Frank was more concerned than I was,” John says with a smile.“He looked at me and said,‘You’re going to lose some weight!’”
John’s first thought wasn’t fear. It was determination. I can beat this, he told himself. I need to act while I’ve still got strength.
But then came the hardest question: How do I tell my wife? And worse, how do I tell my kids?
“I went home and told Christine. We were both stunned. There weren’t many words, just a few big hugs and some tears. She’s a nurse, so she put her game face on and said,‘We’ll get on top of this.’”
They chose not to tell anyone else over Christmas, instead quietly processing the news and arranging appointments before the new year began.
A Decade of Treatment—and of Perseverance
John was diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma, a rare and aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Since January 2014, he’s been through seven lines of treatment:
R-DAP chemotherapy
R-CHOP chemotherapy
Attempted stem cell transplant 18 months of maintenance Rituximab
Ibrutinib trial (with severe reactions) Loxo 305 clinical trial at Linear (2019) One year of immunotherapy at Midland Hospital
While the physical side effects were challenging, John says the emotional toll on his family was the hardest part of all.
“Watching the effect on my wife and kids, that’s what hit me hardest. If I’m having a tough time, it’s like they’re suffering for me. I can see it in their eyes.”
Still, amidst the difficulty, John found something unexpected: gratitude.
“This journey opened my eyes to another dimension. The brilliant work of the medical teams, the science behind the treatments, and the sincere kindness of every person involved, it’s been truly moving.”
A Final Hope: The Clinical Trial That Changed Everything
By 2019, options were running out. Having previously suffered serious complications from a targeted cancer therapy, John was hesitant to try another.“This trial was my last hope,” he says.
With trust in the team at Linear Clinical Research, John began a new chapter, joining a clinical trial for an investigational drug. It was a leap of faith, and it paid off.
“You’re treated with the most advanced science, under the strictest monitoring. Everyone is invested in your success. Even when things don’t go perfectly, like with my Ibrutinib reaction, they learned from it. That knowledge could help future patients.”
The Gift of More Time—and New Life
For John, joining a clinical trial hasn’t just meant access to new treatment. It’s meant everything.“It’s given my family peace of mind, knowing I’m getting the best care possible. And for all of us, this trial’s success has brought incredible hope and joy.”
In fact, John now has two grandchildren, something he once thought he’d never live to see. A Message to Others: Go For It
If someone with cancer asked John about clinical trials, his answer is simple: “Go for it.”
“The power of positive thinking is real medicine, not just for you, but for everyone around you. A soft voice, a kind smile, the smallest act of kindness… it means the world when life feels fragile.”