topic Re: Lymphoma in Wellness

Lymphoma

chessylady — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 01:38:25 GMT

My brother may have lymphoma. He has low platelets and fatigue.mHe had a cat scan and will have a bone marrow test. Does anyone have information about lymphoma?

Re: Lymphoma

Annabellethecat66 — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 01:53:33 GMT

Can anyone answer this for this person>?

Re: Lymphoma

lilypad3 — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 02:28:00 GMT

My husband had stage IV large B cell lymphoma about 4 years ago. He is in remission. There are many different types of lymphoma. Doctors know how to treat it and the success rate is good. My husband had several rounds of chemo, no radiation. They have the treatment down to a science. My prayers are with you and your brother.

Re: Lymphoma

Junebug54 — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 02:34:39 GMT

My husband had lymphoma back in 1988 with very successful results. Also a close friend was diagnosed about 5 yrs. ago ago with great results. It does depend on the type but also this particular cancer has excellent cure rates. Good luck to your brother.

Re: Lymphoma

luvingit — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 02:39:23 GMT

I had this cancer. Depends on stage and type. Very treatable, but more about keeping the cancer at bay. It does come back after a period of remission if one has non Hoskins. Then it gets treated again. New drugs all the time for this so survival rate is getting longer. Hope this helps. Lots of info on internet. But there are so many kinds it gets confusing. My cousin got it when he was young and never had a recurrence so you never know with this cancer. Be positive, everything will be ok.

Re: Lymphoma

momma3gs — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 02:45:45 GMT

chessylady, I saw your thread on Viewpoints and glad you moved it over here where you'll probably get a better response. My friend has lymphoma and her doctor told her it progresses very slowly. I'm sure every case is different, but treatment can be very effective. I'm sorry your brother may be facing this, but don't lose heart.

Re: Lymphoma

NickelEmily — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 02:53:46 GMT

My grandfather had it....It went into and out of remission for many, many years. Best of wishes for the best of all possible results for your brother.

Re: Lymphoma

Anglophilly — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 05:58:09 GMT

It's comforting to have supportive people who will share their experience. For information on any cancer you can call the American Cancer Society (1-800-4CANCER) or your local chapter. They have lots of materials helpful to patients and families free of charge. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) also has a website that is very informative.

Remember that every cancer is different and treatments are tailored to the patient. Knowledge is a powerful tool for patients and families. Sometimes patients are overwhelmed by medical speech, scheduling etc. It's such a help to have someone there to take notes, ask questions and keep the family up to date.

I wish your brother the best. He's in good company with a caring sister like you, armed with good information from trusted sources.

Re: Lymphoma

Nonametoday — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 06:03:57 GMT

You don't know if he has it and if he does, you don't know what type, what grade or what stage and that is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. When the doctors tell him he has it, they will stage it and they will recommend treatment and give your family prognosis for care.

Try to care for him and if you are a believer, pray and request prayer, and make sure he has doctors who are forthcoming, has a second opinion if you deem it needed and ask the questions of his doctors that you are asking here.

Don't worry yourself about something that you don't know and even so can do nothing about. Wait until you have a definitive diagnosis and then find out what can and needs to be done for him. It will cause you and him less stress and you will be far more effective in taking positive steps toward his treatment.

Re: Lymphoma

Sunshine — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 07:42:59 GMT

I was recently diagnosed with Lymphoma in my spleen. I'm sorry your brother has it too. Mine is stage 2 and I have a survival rate of 70 to 80 per cent. It's Non-Hodgkins. I had my first chemo session yesterday and it wasn't bad, just time consuming. I hope your brother does well. I had biopsies, chest X-rays, CT Scan and Pet scan, blood tests.

Re: Lymphoma

Sunshine — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 07:53:22 GMT

I was recently diagnosed with stage 2 Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in my spleen. Since it was caught early I didn't have any symptoms. I've had blood tests, X-rays, CT scans, chest X-rays, Pet scan and biopsies. The biopsy of my spleen finally proved the cancer. Yesterday was my first chemo session. I was there for 6 hours, but it wasn't as bad as I anticipated it to be. I hope your brother does well.

Re: Lymphoma

Theoriginallacey — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 12:12:48 GMT

Could he have myelodysplasia and not lymphoma? My mother had that. I guess his bone marrow test would determine if it was that or lymphoma.

Re: Lymphoma

gwiz — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 12:34:52 GMT

In 1979 my husband was diagnosed with a form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma. He was 38 years old at the time. He was treated with chemotherapy and radiation. His cancer was "cured" and/or went into remission.

In spring of 2013 cancer returned and was diagnosed as a different form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma than he had in l979. There are 20 some different kinds of non-Hodgkins lymphoma. This time he was treated with chemotherapy and again he is in remission as of now. The doctor said it is not unusual for lymphoma to "come back", but it is very unusual to come back after all those years. But doctors also say that if you are going to get cancer then lymphoma is one of the types with the highest cure rate.

In spring of this year, after my husband was declared cancer free, my 42 year old son was diagnosed with the exact same type of lymphoma my husband had this second time. Now my son is getting chemotherapy. Doctors said it is extremely rare for a father and son to come down with the same type. It is not supposed to be genetic and you can't "catch it" from someone like a cold.

This type of cancer is one of the ones with the best outcomes after treatment. Support from family and friends while undergoing treatment can really be a huge help to the patient and their family.

Best wishes for a good outcome, if lymphoma is the diagnosis.

Re: Lymphoma

Lipstickdiva — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 15:20:52 GMT

You really need to find out for sure and if so, what kind.

My mom was first diagnosed with Hodgkins disease back in 1990. She went through chemo for 1 year. She was stage IV when diagnosed.

She was in remission for 5 years and then was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. She had Burkitts Lymphoma.

Re: Lymphoma

jaxs mom — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 02:18:05 GMT

There are different types of lymphoma, I've never heard of it being diagnosed from bone marrow. Mine was diagnosed with a biopsy from my swollen lymph nodes. I'm technically considered cured now since I've been in remission long enough.

Re: Lymphoma

Abrowneyegirl — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 02:32:38 GMT

Please (both you and your family) reach out to you local Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. There you will find up-to-date information, treatment options and support groups.

All my best.

Re: Lymphoma

chessylady — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 02:43:43 GMT

Getting back to everyone. My brother does not have lymphoma but they are still trying to address his platelet problem. They have tried steroids with no success. They are trying another medication soon. If that fails, he may have his spleen removed. Thank you for your input.

Re: Lymphoma

jaxs mom — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 06:27:10 GMT

Thanks for updating, I'm sorry they haven't been able to figure out exactly what is going on. That is frustrating.

Re: Lymphoma

SouthwestGal — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 09:26:13 GMT

Low platelets also known as thrombocytopenia can be caused by a variety of issues such as cancer therapies or cancers like lymphomas and leukemias, which you state he does not have, but also autoimmune disorders such as lupus and RA, or an enlarged spleen; the spleen holds onto platelets (1/3 of all platelets are held there). Is his spleen enlarged & that is why they wish to remove it? When the spleen is enlarged, it will hold onto too many platelets & so the platelets will not circulate into the blood. But enlarged spleen is usually due to something, such as cancer or severe liver damage. My mom passed from myelofibrosis, another condition that would enlarge the spleen (her 1st symptoms were fatigue, easy bruising, enlarged spleen), as it is a bone marrow disorder. Her immune system was so compromised, she died from the secondary infection pneumonia from the splenectomy, bless her heart. Miss her every day. I hope they can find out what's happening & treat your brother successfully. God bless.