Mums Cancer is back

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Hi,

My mum recently had large diffuse B cell lymphoma. She went through chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant (using her own)

She recently had a pet scan and her Hodgkin’s lymphoma has come back in her neck and in her chest. This is 6 months after being told it had gone. Her consultant has said she’ll have 2 forms of chemotherapy and then potentially another stem cell treatment using a donors.

My main question is if this stem cell treatment (using a donors) doesn’t work can she have another? Or is there any other options she can have.

I am my mums daughter, is there any possibility that I would be able to donate my own stem cells for them to use if it came to it?

Also her consultant mentioned that they were talking about the funding for my mums treatment and that they were potentially not going to fund it. Is there any reasons as to why the NHS wouldn’t fund this sort of treatment?

Megan D - Macmillan 27 days ago

Hello Gothgirl98,

Thanks for getting in touch. My name is Megan, I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurses on the Macmillan Support Line.

Welcome to the online community. I can see that you have joined the Non-Hodgkin lymphoma forum and hope you have found the community warm and supportive.

I am sorry to hear your mum had a diagnosis of Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and is now suffering a relapse. I imagine this was disappointing news for you all and I do hope you are receiving support during this time.

As Lymphoma Action UK explain in their frequently asked questions for most people, lymphoma is treatable, even if it comes back several times. The charity Anthony Nolan do advise on the treatment options if a transplant hasn’t worked, explaining that a second transplant is often offered.

I must make clear however that as we are a charity and do not have access to healthcare records or systems we can only speak generally so to better understand what might happen if this second transplant fails you would be best to talk to your mum and her hospital team.

It might be possible to donate your own stem cells to a relative. Anthony Nolan’s page on Donating your stem cells to a relative has further information on this that I hope you will find useful.

Sometimes treatments are not automatically available on the NHS and cancer doctors must make an Individual Funding Request (IFR) to NHS England. The reasons for this are further explained in our information on What you can do if treatment is not available. Again, mum’s consultant would be best placed to explain this further.

I hope this information is useful. Please don’t hesitate to get back in contact by email, webchat or phone, if you need further information or support.

The Macmillan Support Line offers practical, clinical, financial and emotional support. You can call us free from landlines and from most mobile phone networks on 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week, 8am – 8pm.

Best wishes, Megan

Cancer Information Nurse Specialist

Ref MD/PG

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