What are survival rates? Is this lymphoma?
928105
I feel for you. I've been there, done that, only it was my 17 year old. Everytime the social worker came into the room with the pediatric oncologist we knew the news wasn't good. Awful nightmare. Just awful. Hang in there and be strong.\n\nAnyway, I'm not sure how lymphoma presents initially, but I can tell you that when my son first entered the hospital we heard that he might have Lymphoma too. That idea quickly changed after the biopsy. But we clung to that for about three days until we got the results from the biopsy. He had multiple abdominal masses and widespred cancer . . stage IV. We were told that Lymphoma was easier to treat than a sarcoma. They sent the biopsy results away for a second opinion, which confirmed he had an extremely rare and aggressive sarcoma that predominately strikes boys and young adults. So, we knew he was in for the fight for his life at that point on.\n\nI'm afraid that your brother in law does have a stage IV cancer from your description. Stage IV allows the doctors to know exactly which treatment to use for your brother in law. It is not a death sentence, but it is more difficult to treat with more hazards to encounter.\n\nMy son had originally gone to the doctor because his pediatrician thought he had hypothyroidism. The week before  he had been a healthy kid playing high school basketball. His belly had been expanding and we thought it was the thyroid condition. We were shocked and horrified to discover he had cancer. Right up until that diagnosis he had been asymptomatic. \n\nDo not worry at this point about survival rates. There are way too many factors to affect survival at this moment. No one can really predict this, not even his doctors. And,if they start handing out statistics, than it is probably time to get a second or third opinion. Have them look for an oncologist that they totally trust, that they get along with, and who will go the extra milege that they may need to get through this. Do not give up. Your brother in law and sister will find their strength and you can be there to help them.\n\nGood luck, I get it.
187841
My husband was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and was given an autologus stem cell transplant that sent him into remission from cancer.\n\nStem cells are master cells in your body that can form into other needed cells in your body, like muscle cells, blood cells, or brain cells.  Or, they can form more stem cells.  You can think of them like a constant repair system for your body.  \n\nIn the case of my husband, the cancer had invaded his bone marrow - this proved to be very serious since the marrow is where blood is made.  His own stem cells were harvested from his blood stream and sterilized to prevent any cancer from being saved.  An extremely high dose of chemotherapy was given to kill basically everything in his marrow.  The stem cells were then reintroduced to his body - and they went to work!  Since it's the stem cell's job to figure out what's needed to make the body function properly, it made new marrow cells!  And then he had new marrow and no cancer!\n\nThis is sort of a simplistic view, but I hope it helps!
612804
macro-lobulated mass, I pressume you mean.\n\nThis is bad, it is likely cancer.  Tissue is the issue, no answer until they have a tissue diagnosis.  If he smokes, then it is likely very bad news.\n\nBiopsy is everything, but odds are not great.  Anything other than cancer is going to have a pretty good prognosis, and thus not worth discussing until the biopsy is done.
1178383
Its probably safe, assuming everything is resolved, however I would ask your oncologist to be sure. There are too many variables for this to be a general question. I promise you it won't be anything your doctor hasnt heard before,so don't be embaressed to ask!
491102
Here are some good websites for reading:\n\nhttp://www.medicinenet.com/leukemia/article.htm\nhttp://www.leukemia.org/hm_lls\nhttp://www.leukemia-research.org/\n\nI recently had a coworker that was concerned about lymphoma.  Good Luck!
796473
It totally depends on how people get treated for it, though attitude definitely helps.  Those who fight with knowledge and are able to laugh through the hard times seem to survive more.  I've seen people with lymphomas who are still going strong after 5-10 years.
634969
I've seen people who did everything right die quite quickly from cancer. I also knew an old coot with stage 4 lymphoma who drank a quart of bourbon every day and only did minimal treatment for the lymphoma. Considering everything, he did real well for 3 years even with the stage 4 lymphoma until finally he also developed liver cancer and passed away soon after.\n\nAs for secret cures, vitamins, herbs or treatments for cancer - there are none, but is is very easy to find someone who doesn't have cancer willing to sell you some false hope. For example, Hulda Clark author of Cure for all Cancers. sounds good until you critically read her book. Just because you say you have cancer doesn't make it true and just because you claim you cured it doesn't make it true, even if you are able to convince thousands of people to buy your book.
900387
Well, you'd have to get a biopsy to actually tell weather it were cancer or not. Even if we were knowledgeable enough to give you the chances, we don't have any tissue or cells to test! Have her Go get a biopsy done, then talk to her doctor, and get a second opinion if it appears to be malignant. \n\nIF SHE DOES NOT GO, then she does not know, people on the Internet can't tell you.\n\nEven if it is a malignant tumor, treatment options today are better than they have ever been, and survival rates have shot up. Best not to panic (especially if you don't have to)
632137
Depends on the cancer - some are "quick" and some are slow.\n\neven within a type of cancer, there can be a ton of variation.\n\nMine is very slow (for me) which is a bit unusual [but i am glad for it]\n\nEach type of cancer has "staging" that lets the docs know where you are at in the progression of the disease.  You should find out what "stage" you are and then see what the prognosis is.\n\nFatal is a big word;  hard to deal with when you got cancer - if you want more information, you can go to the American cancer society website and look at the "5 year survival" rates - that is a percentage of ALL people that have a specific type of cancer and how long they last after diagnosis.  It can be a pretty brutal "discovery" and remember you could be on the plus side of that percentage.\n\nMost important thing for all people with cancer is to KNOW as much as you can about YOUR cancer, treatments, and prognosis.   \n\nGood luck,\n\nJ\n27 months and still going strong
202958
Yes, it's very common for patients with many types of lymphoma to have a normal WBC count.
862328
Life expectancy is very short; only a couple of months.  My brother died of Lymphoma last year.  I'm so sorry about your FIL.  Let him know how much you love and appreciate him now.  But be careful to make it seem like he has a death sentence hanging over his head, unless he has accepted his impending fate.  My brother wouldn't accept that he was terminally ill until he took his last breath.  He became very upset if we behaved like he was a dying man.  Take care.
969787
I am so sorry to hear about your family friend and hope you are providing support and understandin right now....the fact that she has secondarys (the cancer has spread to  another part of the body) is , I will be honest, worrying.  I know how awful this illness can be and how devastating it can be especially when the person has been healthy....my dad got cancer...he didn;t smoke, he was active and healthy....by the time he was diagnosed he had secondarys.  The chemo might be there to ease the side effects rather than cure or extend life...she needs to know which it is in her case....my thoughts are with your friend and all who love her right now...I do wish you well and hope that any news she has is positive.  Keep us updated? and if you need to chat...feel free to mail me
145412
I'm going to post an answer I wrote for a similar question many weeks ago - I hope it helps:\n\n"...is she going to die?"\n\nI can't help you with the average survival time. Doctors and Cancer Research Center websites can give you all of the specifics. I can tell you, however, not to get bogged down with statistics. Statistically speaking, the chances may be low. But you can't focus on the numbers.  My husband was diagnosed with stage 4 Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma almost 6 years ago.   Them he was diagnosed with testicular cancer about a year and a half ago.  If we would have listened to survival 'statistics' either time, he would have been dead in spirit before he even started treatment.  Make sure you and your mom stay focused on complete healing.
970057
It NEEDS to be checked out. It is probably a swollen lymph node. Question is: what made it swell? It could be nothing, but you need to know for sure. If it's something bad, there are a LOT of good, effective treatments out there, but it must be caught as early as possible. Here's a site where you can find info, and see if you have any other symptoms:\nhttp://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/hm_lls...\nI started with only one lymph node swollen [at the base of my neck on the left side] Bottom line, only a doctor will be able to give you the info you need.\nBest Wishes
518587
TNT NBA studio host Ernie Johnson announced that he has "follicular" non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Johnson, who was diagnosed 2½ years ago, said he will work the rest of the NBA season and the playoffs and then begin treatment, which will likely include chemotherapy.\n"This is a low-grade and treatable cancer not as aggressive as some other forms," Johnson said. "The approach that my oncologist recommended (is) ... monitoring my condition with checkups every four months with the option to begin treatment if and when I began showing symptoms of illness. Through all this time I have had no symptoms." \n\nJohnson said he is going public with his condition because the swelling of a lymph node near his left ear has become noticeable to TNT viewers, and he has been asked questions about it.
276252
Lymphomas are grouped into two categories:  Hodgkin's (named after Thomas Hodgkin's who discovered the disease of the lymph system in the 1800's) and non-Hodgkin's (all other lymphomas not covered by the initial discovery of the disease - absence of the growth of Reed-Sternberg cells in the cancer).  Here's a chart that compares the two forms of lymphoma:\nhttp://www.lymphomainfo.net/lymphoma/comparison.html
63197
I'm sorry about your friend.  Find some articles about success stories of people who have fought the disease!!  There are tons of stories out there from people who have been successful in chemo therapy, etc.  This might give your friend some hope!!