My mother has non-hodgkin's lymphoma, straight answers?

Im really sorry to hear about your mother's diagnosis.

Strictly speaking, no cancer can be "cured". They can only be brought into remission. The chances of bringing lymphoma into remission are quite high, especially when caught early. Even stage 4 lymphoma can be brought into remission with aggressive treatment.

Have they mentioned how advanced her cancer is? Where it is?

The treatment she will have to have will depend on the answers to these questions. Life expectancy for most lymphomas is high in comparison to other cancers.

I can understand that news like this is hard to deal with. But please do not sit worrying about the worst. Enjoy your time together, live for the moment, and be supportive throughout her treatment. She will need your support, emotionally as well as physically.

I wish you both all the very best

DeRae,

Doctors put non Hodgkin's lymphomas into two groups depending on how quickly they are likely to grow and spread. Low grade (slow growing) and High grade (faster growing). There are 4 stages of non Hodgkin's lymphoma. Stage 1 - there is one group of lymph nodes affected or lymphoma just in one organ of the body. Stage 2 - there are 2 or more groups of lymph nodes affected or an organ and one or more groups of lymph nodes, but these are on the same side of your diaphragm. Stage 3 - lymph nodes affected on both sides of the diaphragm. Stage 4 - the lymphoma has spread outside the lymph nodes, for example, to the liver, bones or lungs. Doctors use the diaphragm as a reference point for working out the stages of non Hodgkin's lymphoma because it is about half way down the body. In practice, to work out what types of treatment are needed, doctors put people with non Hodgkin's lymphoma into two groups for staging. They call these groups Limited and Advanced. Limited = Stage 1 or 2, and Type 'A', and All tumours smaller than 10 cm across. Advanced = Stage 3 or 4 or Type 'B' or Any tumour bigger than 10 cm across. The most common type of low grade lymphoma is follicular B cell lymphoma. About 3 in 10 (30%) of all non Hodgkin's lymphomas diagnosed are this type. Low grade lymphomas can be difficult to get rid of altogether. But they are often kept under control for several years at least. If your mother has follicular lymphoma which was diagnosed at an early stage, when it was localised, it can usually be cured with radiotherapy. Of every 100 people diagnosed with stage 1 or 2 follicular lymphoma, between 60 and 80 (60 to 80%) are alive and well 10 years later, with no sign of their lymphoma. The Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI) has identified 5 factors that doctors can use to try and tell who will do well after treatment (the prognosis). Being older than 60 years. Having stage 3 or 4 follicular lymphoma. Low haemoglobin level. More than 4 areas of lymph nodes with lymphoma ('involved' lymph nodes). Serum lactate dehydrogenase level greater than the upper limit of normal. In people with none or one of these factors, on average, 91 out of 100 people (91%) live for more than 5 years after they are diagnosed, and 71 out of 100 people (71%) live for more than 10 years. In people with 2 of these factors, on average, 78 out of 100 people (78%) live for more than 5 years after diagnosis, and 51 out of 100 (51%) live for more than 10 years. In people with 3 or more of these factors, on average, about 53 out of 100 people (53%) live for more than 5 years after they are diagnosed, and 36 out of 100 (36%) live for more than 10 years. It is important to remember that these numbers represent averages. This means that they are only a guide and can't tell you what will happen to your mother. With stage 3 or 4 follicular lymphoma, some people live for several years with no symptoms from their disease, before they need to have treatment. Between 40 and 55 out of 100 people (40% to 55%) live for at least 10 years. MALT - Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue - lymphoma is another type of low grade lymphoma. Only about 7 to 8 in 100 lymphomas (7-8%) are MALT lymphomas. But they are worth mentioning separately because their outlook is different from other types of low grade lymphoma. In people diagnosed with MALT lymphomas of the stomach, about 90 out of 100 people (90%) will live for at least 5 years. MALT lymphomas outside the digestive system also have a good outlook. As you may understand, there is a great deal more that could be discussed about this subject. But as this is in the early stage of investigation, I shall not continue. It is possible that you may wish to return to the forum with more questions at a later stage. I would advise you to endeavour to address your questions to the oncologist rather than return here, as many answers in this forum are flawed.

I wish your mother, and yourself, well.

ALL ANSWERS SHOULD BE THOROUGHLY RESEARCHED, IN ANY FORUM AND ESPECIALLY IN THIS ONE. - MANY ANSWERS ARE FLAWED.

It is extremely important to obtain an accurate diagnosis before trying to find a cure. Many diseases and conditions share common symptoms.

The information provided here should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

I add a link with details of this subject

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Non-Hodgkin%27s_lymphoma

Hope this helps

matador 89