Hi my husband has recently been diagnosed with Lymphoma following a diagnosis of Thymic cancer nearly eight years and prostate cancer.

Hi sorry to see your husbands medical issues expanding, if its low grade B cell NHL then the common type in that group is follicular or FNHL, so if it is and he has a high tumour burden then he will likely receive chemo, which one may depend on his other health issues. They will check the marrow to see if its present so that when treatment finishes they will know whether it needs checking again to confirm no evidence of disease, if the marrow is clear its unlike they will check again. Low grade lymphomas are not curable and most people learn to live with them as they only need treatment when they become an issue and impact on ones health or if they should transform into an aggressive type.

The good news is once treatment starts he should get some relief as it starts to get rid of the disease straight away and the nodes shrink or masses disappear. Steroids can help in the short term. The fatigue could be linked to the lymphoma as its classed as a B symptom and some people I was one have B symptoms, so in short no reason why his quality of life should not improve once treatment has started and this beast is put in to remission.

any questions just ask

john

Hi  and welcome to our corner to the Online Community but so sorry to hear the journey Alan and yourself have been on. It’s a very hard time and now you are facing a blood cancer and the science behind it.

On the whole blood cancers can be very treatable but it is important to have very clear information so the very best treatment that can find the best way forward. Each blood cancer presentation has it’s own characteristics so the frustrating wait is so important.

Blood cancer is just not like solid tumour cancers and once chemo goes to work, it normally works quickly basically breaking the cell buildup away.

I had a brick sized growth on my neck, my jaw had seized, my gums had swollen and we're coming up to cover my teeth. I was having great difficulty eating and was living on a liquid diet and my breathing was starting to be restricted. I had an initial 15min chemo blast and that got me through our family Christmas - it was very effective.

There are many types of Lymphoma and each one has its own treatment route.

Keep posting and asking your questions as we will do our best to help.

Thank you Highlander for such a quick reply, I am a actually falling apart, I hate seeing the way he is so swollen literally head to toe with swollen nodes, breathless doing hardly anything. after fighting six years of thymic cancer then to be faced with this on top, I know life is not fair but think he’s had more then his fair share. But I know now, thank you that we are looking at a different type of cancer. So will wait to hear when the bone marrow biopsy will be and fingers crossed the chemo may kick in quite quickly. Saffie

As I say I am a nurse and even I  failed to actually find out on Friday exactly what his lymphoma is, Thank you, they def feel he needs chemo cos of the effect it is having on his body. Hanging on to the fact you say that once treatment starts he should get some relief cos that is all I want some quality of life for him cos he hasn’t had any for past 12 months.

Thank you

Saffie

Hello there ,

just last week I’ve been diagnosed with high grade non Hodgkin’s , having another biopsy tomorrow and waiting to see exactly what kind it is ....it’s so distressing to read about what you and your spouse are going through ... don’t give up hope ....take  one day at a time ....you are so strong 

Hi Saffie, do you have a contact number to ring to see if you can find out what type it was, I know when I was diagnosed the surgeon would not tell me the type and said I had to wait to see a haematologist, as we were walking out I did not realise he and the specialist nurse were behind me. He did though hear me say that was a waste of time, about 3 hours later I got a call to tell me I would be seeing the haematologist the following day. So if you have the energy become pro-active and see what you can find out. Then you know what you are dealing with with your husband and we can give more specific advice.

John 

Thank you L.LB. Good luck with your biopsy tomorrow