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Herman Atzenhoefer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma,
cancer trial participant
“Everything seems as normal as ever—but it’s not.”
“Everything seems as normal as ever—but it’s not,” says
47-year-old school bus driver Herman Atzenhoefer. Diagnosed in the fall of 2001
with aggressive, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Herman was frightened. “I really
didn't know much about cancer,” he says, “and nothing at all about clinical
trials. But my wife and I put our trust in Dr Timothy Moore, and we’ve been
counting our blessings ever since.”
Dr Moore, an oncologist at Mid-Ohio Oncology/Hematology, went over Herman’s
treatment options. Herman asked him for his recommendation and, soon after,
enrolled in a non-randomized Phase II trial of 4 chemotherapy drugs and the
rituximab antibody (R-CHOP) combined with Neulasta® (pegfilgrastim).
The recently FDA-approved Neulasta, which can rebuild the white blood cells
that protect people from infection, allowed Herman’s treatment to run like
clockwork while reducing the treatment from the usual 18 weeks to just 12.
Within three treatment cycles, his CAT scans came back completely clear.
Herman continued the trial for three more cycles while he
socialized, went to church, and delivered busloads of kids safely to school
each morning. While others cheered him on, it was his wife and 13-year-old
daughter who helped the most. Their support, along with the clinical trial, let
him resume his favorite pastime, fishing, with his buddies much sooner than
he’d expected.
Today, Herman Atzenhoefer is a grateful man,
cancer-free, and thankful for knowledgeable oncologist and helpful staff,
steadfast faith, and supportive family—the team that helped him score the
ultimate victory.
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