When John turned 50 his wife Francis insisted he go to their family doctor for a checkup. Although the medical exam found him "healthier than the doctor", when John admitted to experiencing night sweats, his doctor became concerned and ordered blood tests which revealed a low white cell count.  During the next few weeks as they waited for the test results, John discovered a lump on his neck.  Subsequent blood tests, and a biopsy of the growth revealed a lymphoma.  A local oncologist recommended aggressive chemotherapy with CHOP regimen.

Francis contacted Best Doctors the day John was diagnosed with cancer. The Best Doctors Personal Advocate arranged for copies of all of John’s records, charts etc. to be forwarded to the panel affiliated with Harvard Medical School. After intense review, the Best Doctors report stated there had been an error in interpretation by the initial pathologist. The Best Doctors analysis revealed that the tumor had potential to develop into a more malignant type of cancer, and would required different treatment than initially proposed. A new treatment was recommended, and John avoided the second round of more aggressive chemotherapy the earlier prognosis would have called for.
 
Unfortunately, the new treatment was not available in Canada, which created another obstacle for John and Francis.  The prospect of having the treatment outside Canada,  meant that John would endure the emotional stress of having to leave his family and business behind, as well as the financial burden of treatment at a US hospital. Best Doctors solved the dilemma by suggesting the new treatment be performed at John’s local hospital and arranged for the drug to be made available as well. Best Doctors also offered to assist John’s healthcare workers, and those overseeing, and administering the treatment. Thanks to Best Doctors intervention, John was the first patient in Canada under 60 to receive this new treatment.