Terry Francona, who has been friends with John Farrell since they were teammates on the Cleveland Indians in 1988, said he plans to accompany the Boston Red Sox manager to the hospital Tuesday when Farrell begins his first cycle of chemotherapy.

Farrell, who announced Friday that he had been diagnosed with Stage 1 lymphoma and would not manage the rest of the season while he undergoes treatment, is scheduled for three 21-day cycles of chemotherapy at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Francona is in Boston to manage the Indians as they open a three-game series against the Red Sox on Monday.

"We were just talking," Francona said of his offer to accompany Farrell. "I was just asking questions, the normal questions. He mentioned he was starting Tuesday. I said, 'I'm right there. I'll go with you, whatever.' I may not do anything other than get in the way, like normal, but being a friend, the only thing I know how to do is be a friend. Like the rest of us, we don't know exactly what to do, but I do know how to be a friend. I care about him a lot. That's what I'm trying to do."