Hello, I have had a/b eradication therapy for MALT lymphoma in my gastric lining. I am due to have Radiotherapy next to target the remaining areas of lymphoma. My lymphoma is confined to the gastric lining. I don’t know what to expect when I am called for treatment and am very nervous. I struggle to eat as the lymphoma takes up space in the stomach, so I am only 44 - 45 kilos. How do I prepare for the radiology and what should I expect? Please help.
Hi Mamalinda and a warm welcome to this corner of the Community although I am sorry to see you joining us.
I am Mike and I help out around our various Lymphoma groups.
I don’t have MALT lymphoma but for some context I was diagnosed way back in 1999 at 43 with a rare (8 in a million) incurable but treatable type of Cutaneous T-Cell NHL (a type of slow growing Low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma) ……. eventually reaching Stage 4a in late 2013 when a second, also rare (4 in a million) type of aggressive Peripheral T-Cell - Not Otherwise Specified NHL (a type of fast growing High-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma) was then presenting so although my Lymphoma ‘type’ is different I most definitely appreciate the challenges of this journey rather well.
I had a total of 45 Radiotherapy zaps (5, 10 and 30)…… but on the whole, apart from the fatigue that was all the side-effect I had.
The Radiotherapy team will take time to go through everything as the setting up and planning does take time…… radiotherapy is a very effective treatment….. my first 5 zaps were on a tennis ball sized tumour above my right eye…… radiotherapy (like putting food in a microwave) continues to work for a good period of time……. but the tumour was completely gone in 4 weeks after my radiotherapy.
You can see my story in this link > See my story
