Stories of Hope

Steven, Non-Hodgkin Follicular B-Cell Lymphoma

Steven, Non-Hodgkin Follicular B-Cell Lymphoma

It was the end of May 2012 when I discovered a lump in my groin and my journey began.  Thinking it might be a hernia, I drove to see my internist in New York, where he examined me and then came back in the office with a couple of names of general surgeons in New Jersey where I was living at the time.  Within a week, I had surgery and then on June 6th I went to see the surgeon where he informed me, I had lymphoma and should see an oncologist. 

That was about all he told me, so after researching some basic information, I was able to make a couple of appointments in New York City, where I had my first PET Scan and they were able to look at the biopsy samples, which confirmed I had non-Hodgkin follicular B-cell lymphoma.

Over the next 2 years, I was in watch and wait, getting blood taken and scans every 6 months, until I moved to Massachusetts and transferred my care to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.  It was in 2014 that I discovered additional lumps in my groin area and proceeded to have radiation, which worked.

But in 2015, my lymphoma moved to my clavicle and after a biopsy, with my medical team, decided to be treated with Rituximab for a 6 month cycle, followed by a year of maintenance.  All was good, in remission, until 2018 when we discovered a very large mass on my psoas muscle and found that the treatment had not worked.

Radiation did not really move the needle, so after a cautious biopsy, we discovered that the lymphoma had transformed into a diffused large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).  That led to a 6-month protocol of chemotherapy with monoclonal antibody treatment.  I did not do maintenance, as a personal choice after consulting with my doctor.

So here I am 5 years later, in remission and a thriving survivor. It is because of all the research that was done in years past and today that I am fully living a full life.  And it was because of the Lymphoma Research Foundation, which I found early on in my journey, that I became interested in supporting and eventually was asked to join the board in 2019 and became chair in 2020.  Supporting the mission, to eradicate lymphoma and serve those impacted by this disease, is why we have been able to fund over $76 million of cutting-edge research in non-Hodgkin, Hodgkin and CLL/SLL. 

This is my story and why I am involved.  I truly believe in the mission of the Lymphoma Research Foundation so much that my wife and I will match your donation to the Foundation dollar for dollar in support of National Cancer Survivors Day.  Your donation directly supports the ongoing research and patient support of our entire lymphoma community. 

Thank you so much for letting me share my journey with you and for your continued support of the Lymphoma Research Foundation.

Steven Eichberg
Chair, Lymphoma Research Foundation Board of Directors