Gastric Malt Lymphoma

Hi Sprig   and a warm welcome to the Community but I a sorry to hear that you are on the Lymphoma rollercoaster.

I am Mike and I help out around our various Lymphoma groups. 

I don’t have Malt Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma but for some context I have been on my Lymphoma journey for over 25.5 years first diagnosed way back in 1999 at 44 when our daughters were 14 and 18

My first rare (8 in a million) incurable but treatable type of slow growing Low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma was a Cutaneous (skin) T-Cell NHL.

I eventually reached Stage 4a in late 2013 when a second, also rare (4 in a million) type of very aggressive High-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma Peripheral T-Cell NHL was then presenting…..

So this triggered some intensive treatment between late 2013 to late 2015 (750hrs chemo, 45 radiotherapy zaps and 2 Allograft (donor) Stem Cell Transplants)…….  but we went on to see our daughters graduate, get married, set up very successful businesses and provide us with 4 beautiful granddaughters…..

I turned 70 back in Nov last year and I am coming up to 10 years since my last treatment and living a great life.

So although my Lymphoma ‘type’ is different I most definitely appreciate the challenges of this journey rather well.

The Community is actually divided into dedicated Support Groups (Discussion Rooms) so can I recommend that you look to join and put up your own post in our dedicated……..

   General Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma

…….. support group.

This group is a safe place to talk to others with a similar diagnosis, treatment experience, to ask questions and get support.

I will keep an eye open for you and I and other group members can give you further help.

Thankyou so much Mike for sharing that. It's sad to hear of your personal experience but also reassuring that you're now relatively well after such a long time with your particular lymphoma and that there is a life to be lead after a diagnosis. I'll certainly look on the link you've sent. 

Please don’t feel sorry for me…… I have always said I would rather deal with cancer in the hope that the rest of my family don’t.

Although I am 25+ years into my journey I have lived and continue to live a great life.

Lymphoma is the 5th most common type of cancer in the UK (after breast, lung, colon and prostate cancers)…….. but unlike me many other cancers…… Lymphoma is very treatable with great results.

Do join the group and put up a post and we (and the group members) can have a more in depth chat.