diagnosed with diffuse large b cell lymphoma, confused

apa1026 · New User Joined: 28 Apr 2008 Posts: 3

I was diagnosed to have Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma after waking up on Feb. 29 with excruciating abdominal pain. Diagnostic tests done to me on that day including blood tests, ultrasound and xray were all negative of any problem. Several pain reliever shots were given to me that never at all helped stopped the pain. On March 2, i had an emergency exploratory laparoscopy and my surgeon removed my appendix which has started to get swollen caused by a growing mesenteric cyst beside it. Three pathologist examined the cyst and they all concluded Lymphoma. I consulted three Oncolgists. the first one advice me not to worry anymore since my surgeon has already assured me and all my other doctors that he checked my whole abdomen and made sure that he didnt left any residue of the monster. The second oncolgist agreed to the 1st oncologist but advice me that if i want peace of mind i may have a chest CT-Scan to make sure that my chest is free of any problem, and a bone marrow biopsy to see if it has been attacked by the monster. I had my CT scan of neck down to my liver area 3 weeks ago and the result is good. no lymph node is seen, not even a tiny one. i am supposed to have my bone marrow biopsy last week but the 3rd oncologist we consulted advice me to undergo immediately 6 cycle of CHOP chemotherapy because accdg to her the kind of cancer i have is very aggresive. She also told me that the best time to have my bone marrow biopsied will be after the treatment.

I am 34 years old, happily married and a proud mother of a two year old boy. i never had any symptoms before except the excruciating pain i had on feb 29. i am a vegan eversince, i dont drink nor smoke. i believe i am living a very healthy life.

My question is should I really undergo chemotherapy when all the symptoms of lymphoma is not present? How can the cancer medicine treat the cancer when it is no longer in my body? Supposed, there is a residue of the cyst in my bloodstream now circulating around my system,is it not suppose to cause any blockage first to any of my organs or to the whole system which I would definitely feel before it is able to kill me?

I believe I am very much ready for the treatment. in fact my schedule for the 1st chemo is this Friday, May 2. I have my wig ready and a bright colored wardrobes already packed. My outlook towards my situation now is very good.i could even joked about my cancer but im starting to be confused as to whether or not to go with the treatment. Why would I suffer all the complications and side effects of chemo if my body doesnt even need it now?

rockyiss · New User Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 1

Hi Apa
My husband was dignosed with diffuse large cell lymphoma in March, he has now finished his third chemo of r chop. They gave him a pet scan to see if the cancer had spread out of his abdomin ( it hadn,t)
Please don,t mess around with this, my husbands oncologist stressed the importance of acting now with this aggressive cancer. A pet scan will show if there is anymore cancer somewhere else in your body better than a c scan, he also had a bone marrow done before he started treatment. (it was negative for cancer)
I don,t understand how your Dr. could feeel he got it all . With my husband they took a lymph node to biopsy it, but said that the chemo would kill off the tumor, and it has gone down.
You need to ask your Dr. these questions that you have so they can answer them for you. You will be in my prayers. Rocky

apa1026 · New User Joined: 28 Apr 2008 Posts: 3

Dear Rockyiss,

Thank you so much for replying to my post.

How is your husband now after his 3rd cycle of treatment? Has the chemo affected his hair? Is it ok if you share with me how has it been so I would know what to expect once I had my chemo too. Pls...

Last Saturday i underwent series of tests and the result was that I am very much cancer free, as of now. Thanks to my surgeon who really explored my whole abdomen to make sure that he got all the monster out.
But being cancer free now doesnt mean that i need to be care free. as you have also said, diffuse large b cell is a very aggressive type of cancer. being free of the tumor now doesnt mean that i will be free of the monster forever. To quote others' blog here in cancer forum, "cancer can never be treated. it only goes on remission." And Ive learned to accept it now as a fact.

So despite being cancer free, i will be undergoing 6 cycles of CHOP therapy starting May 16. My oncologist said 4 cycles is sufficient but if i really want peace of mind and if i dont develop complications on the 4th cycle then better finished it till the 6th.

I hope we could be friends. i really need someone who understands the journey that I will be facing soon.

Regards to your husband. may he continue to have the physical strength and the will power to win his battle against cancer.

ChemoMan

Hi apa1026
I'm really glad you went along with the RCHOP... Its not too bad either, a bit of nausea for a few days after chemo , a bit of a sore mouth in the second week and hair loss. I had trouble sleeping at night due to abdominal distress but it wasn't real painful it just kept waking me up. Some people have trouble with constipation, but if you keep up your intake of fruit and vegetables this won't be a problem. Towards the end of the treatment you start to get very fatigued and that was about it for me. Mind you peoples reactions to the treatment differ greatly , some like me don't suffer much, and others have a terrible time. One thing though, stay away from crowds and tell any one with a cold or flu not to visit. If you get an infection during treatment it will be much worse than normal and it could put you in hospital, and they also give you an injection to boost your immune system called Neulasta, which causes some pretty painful bones. If you do suffer badly from side effects then a multivitamin and mineral capsule will do wonders. I took them during the second week of the cycle to get rid of the sore mouth. It worked really well by the way.
You are young which means you have an excellent chance of coming out of this with a cure. Smile

And yes cure is the word that Doctors have said to me. I have been told that if I make it to 5 years without a relapse then my chances of getting NHL again are the same as anyone else's Very Happy

in for all intents and purposes I would be 'Cured'

Cheers and good luck
_________________
Age 51
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 2a
Finished six cycles of R chop 21 26th May 2008
Officially in remission 9th July 2008

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