Jason Lafferty Clan Jason Lafferty

From my family to yours, thanks for taking the time out of your day to read my cancer story. It started after a run on 13 November 2018. I noticed a lump in my upper right leg while showering and confirmed later that night after showing my wife, that is what an enlarged lymph node. That Thursday, 15 November during my periodic health assessment at the Newport Naval Clinic that I needed additional blood work and a urinalysis. Later that day it was discovered that I had microscopic blood in my urine and that I required a follow on meeting the next day with Dr Jaime Kapur who is a general surgeon. On 16 November Dr Kapur immediately ruled out a hernia based on my symptoms but immediately assessed that I need a torso CAT scan at the civilian hospital (Newport Hospital). I received a call the same from Dr. Kapur requested that I come in before Thanksgiving to review the CAT scan.

The following week I went to meet with Dr. Kapur to review the results. It was at that point that I was told that I had 15-20 enlarged lymph nodes in my lower right quadrant in my torso and hip region. She said that the only way to identify what was causing this inflammation was to do a biopsy of the lymph node tissue.

We scheduled the biopsy for after Thanksgiving, 29. November at Newport Hospital. Dr. Jason Vachon performed the biopsy. After my Guard drill weekend I received a call that following Tuesday on 4 December that I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma-Mantle Cell Lyphoma. There are 40 sub types of NHL and I was told that I had been diagnosed with the type that effected my. B-Cells and that only 6% of people or approximately 4200 a year were diagnosed.

From here we transition with my doctor Dr. Scramek to start researching treatment options both locally and at Dana Farber. From here we had more extensive testing to include PET scans at a molecular level, a bone marrow biopsy and more various blood work tests. It was later confirmed that I formally have Stage 4A NHL-Mantle Cell Lymphoma because it is above and below my diaphram : Lower right quadrant, spleen, lymph node in my left arm pit, and lastly it is in my bone marrow.

I have started my treatment option that I elected which will span two locations both South County Hospital and at Dana Farber. The treatment will include two major chemo therapy drugs, stem cell extraction and re-introduction, and 3 years worth of maintenance chemo therapy every two months to ensure I can attain full cancer re-mission.

I am very blessed to have the unwavering support of my wife and four children. As well as the support of my siblings mother and mother in law and various extended family, local friends, the full support of my military brother and sisters.

God bless you all and may god bless my family during this next great battle that I must face head on and with steadfast courage. We are very confident in the treatment plan we have selected with Dr. Smthye SCH and Odejide from Dana Farber and are keeping our heads up with laser focus. I/my family has no option but to keep our eyes on the prize which is total victory because I fight for all of you!

Thanks again for taking the time to care about me and my beautiful family