retired_tikoalegendre

Explain to me why whipping out the offending nodule now is not a good course of action?

retired_imnotiger

I had a lump in the back of my head a couple of years ago that when removed they found NHL. I had blood tests and a CT scan but they believe it was localised to the removed tissue.

The decision was taken that rather than have chemo or radiotherapy they would just monitor it through check ups and blood tests. So I go every 6 months, it was more frequent to begin with, and usually wait longer than I'm seen.

Most of the information I got was from websites as I'm quite a poor listener at the best of times. Don't worry about it as your doctor said it's very treatable, you should read up on it as it will hopefully ease some of your concerns.

I wish I could be more help but my knowledge on the subject is quite limited.

All the best, I'm sure you'll be fine.

retired_kris10nicole

this sight is pretty informative.

retired_kris10nicole

Site ffs. It's late

retired_imnotiger

I forgot, I also went to give a bone marrow sample but they couldn't get one so took a bone scraping. It was a bit of an anticlimax with the very small amount they took.

retired_mickey5ca

Rocky

retired_selvinel

aye, he mentioned that if you had to get this **** it would come in the top 5 of the ones you'd want. Call me old fashioned, but I don't 'want' any cancer no matter how treatable it may be. </BLOCKQUOTE>

Odds are between 1/2 and 1/3, I figure we've both got lucky

Bomberman

good luck, i hope you stay well.

tonyas

Gene Wilder, Anne Kirkbride (Deirdre from Corrie) and Ming Campbell have all been diagnosed with NHL and all have gone onto making full recoveries.
There have even been people with stage IV that have recovered.

So there is a lot of hope that you'll also make a full recovery.

retired_ranjanabhat

They have taken it out as that's the only way they can give a 100% diagnosis. However, on the information that I do remember, NHL isn't like Hodgkin's (which usually only travels from node to node and that's it). NHL cells can travel anywhere in the body (including organs), so until they get it all through Chemo etc, it will always be present somewhere, even if they can't see it. The reason it's a wait-and-see approach is because both Chemo and radiation can cause the onset of Leukaemia, other cancers and other complications and that's why I'm better holding off until things progress.

The bone marrow biopsy wasn't as painful as I had expected it to be, just a bit uncomfortable.

MacG, I'm sorry you're going through this too, it's no walk in the park. Makes me feel a bit better that you're still symptom free after 2 years, so it's a bit more reassuring.

One question, do you have to drink that nasty contrast every time you have a scan?

My bloods are fine, I'm physically in good shape, no problems with any organ so it feels strange to be told you have something so sinister, yet feel 100%.