bad news keeps getting worse - Lymphomas Message Board

katski913 · 05-31-2004, 11:37 AM

Hi-
I posted a few weeks ago asking about diagnosing lymphoma. The Dr.'s couldn't find the source of my Mom's. She was checked into the hospital the day that I wrote my last post (5/10). She has not come out since. She was suffering from pancreatitis. After the biopsy results came back, we discovered that she has NHL - Large B Cell (difused). She is in Stage 4. I just keep thinking "what the heck happened???". In the meantime, the day they started her chemo, she started experiencing horrible pain in her lower stomach. She wound up having 15 inches of her bowel removed due to 3 perforations (and peritinitis). That was about 13 days ago. She surprised the heck out of her Dr.'s by getting through her surgery and not winding up on the respirator. The Dr.'s were fairly happy with her condition and her chemo started up again two days ago (10 days post-op). She did pretty well (with the exception of an allergic reaction) and the Dr. said that there was evidence of some of the cancer cells being killed and her CAT scan came back relatively favorable (no giant tumors ready to burst). We were feeling very optimistic until this morning. She is receiving liquid protein through her IV and the fluid in her has built up so much that they had to rush her down to ICU because fluid is building up behind her lungs and in her abdomen and it was impeding her ability to breath by pushing up on the diaphragm. However, they put a tube down her throat and drained the fluid from her abdomen and she is now responsive and having a much easier time breathing. The Dr.'s feel that she is doing much better than she was but still feel that the next 48 hrs. are critical for her (that is not the first time they have said that). I guess what I am wondering at this point is, can a person come back from stage 4 after going through all this garbage? She is only 68 and is very strong. Each time she's fought her way back. I am wondering if she has any chance at all. Does anybody have any experience with this? I thought Large B Cell lymphoma was treatable even if you are in stage 4. Help.
Thanks-Kathy

Marimac · 05-31-2004, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katski913

Hi-
I posted a few weeks ago asking about diagnosing lymphoma. The Dr.'s couldn't find the source of my Mom's. She was checked into the hospital the day that I wrote my last post (5/10). She has not come out since. She was suffering from pancreatitis. After the biopsy results came back, we discovered that she has NHL - Large B Cell (difused). She is in Stage 4. I just keep thinking "what the heck happened???". In the meantime, the day they started her chemo, she started experiencing horrible pain in her lower stomach. She wound up having 15 inches of her bowel removed due to 3 perforations (and peritinitis). That was about 13 days ago. She surprised the heck out of her Dr.'s by getting through her surgery and not winding up on the respirator. The Dr.'s were fairly happy with her condition and her chemo started up again two days ago (10 days post-op). She did pretty well (with the exception of an allergic reaction) and the Dr. said that there was evidence of some of the cancer cells being killed and her CAT scan came back relatively favorable (no giant tumors ready to burst). We were feeling very optimistic until this morning. She is receiving liquid protein through her IV and the fluid in her has built up so much that they had to rush her down to ICU because fluid is building up behind her lungs and in her abdomen and it was impeding her ability to breath by pushing up on the diaphragm. However, they put a tube down her throat and drained the fluid from her abdomen and she is now responsive and having a much easier time breathing. The Dr.'s feel that she is doing much better than she was but still feel that the next 48 hrs. are critical for her (that is not the first time they have said that). I guess what I am wondering at this point is, can a person come back from stage 4 after going through all this garbage? She is only 68 and is very strong. Each time she's fought her way back. I am wondering if she has any chance at all. Does anybody have any experience with this? I thought Large B Cell lymphoma was treatable even if you are in stage 4. Help.
Thanks-Kathy

I know that you are having a horrible time watching your mother suffer. It is true that the lymphoma is treatable. They do not throw their hands up and say there is nothing that can be done. But, as you have already observed, the side effects of treatment are sometimes pretty rough too. In fact in a lot of cases you treat the cancer then you treat the effects of the treatments. The cure rates regarding lymphoma all depend on the age of the person, the location of the cancer and the ability of the patient to withstand the side effects of the treatment. I know that they are able to put many people into a state of remission so that life resumes in a more normal fashion. I am afraid that how your mother responds to the treatments will probably be the best guide. I know that you want some one to tell you that she will soon be well and back to her old self. I don't know the answer to that question. But I will keep good thoughts for you.

ysco · 05-31-2004, 08:30 PM

Hi Kathy,

I am sorry to hear about your mom's experiences. I truly hope she gets better.

I'll try to answer your questions briefly; Yes, there is a chance of recovery. Generally speaking lymphomas are amongst the most treatable and curable cancers. Contrary to other cancers, even in late and progressive stages most lymphomas still have relatively high cure rates. Regarding the specific subtype you mentioned, I read there is about 40% chance of cure but of course that varies greatly respectively to many factors.
Other than that I can not make any estimations as I am not a doctor. You should refer these questions to your mom's doctors who will be able to answer them most accurately.

Don't give up the hope... take care.

katski913 · 06-01-2004, 05:52 PM

Thank you both for your kind words. The truth is, I do want to hear she is going to be all right. But my sister and I have come to a decision. We are going to hope and be positive through it. That's all we can do. Freaking out just isn't working. She has bounced back from her ICU crisis. She's not out of the woods yet and they haven't put her back in her regular room. But they are very happy about the progress she has made. Her vitals are all back to normal, and her oxygen level is excellent since they put a tube into the stomach to drain the fluid. She is sitting up, smiling and joking with her nurses. She cracks me up. She is soooo strong. She has an iron will and she's very brave. The Dr.'s say it's up to her now. There's evidence of the tumors shrinking. They are watching her kidneys to make sure the dead cells don't back up, and they've given her a transfusion because they're not sure if her blood count is just down, or she is bleeding a bit internally from small perforations where the tumors were in her bowel (the surgeon isn't concerned about that at the present time, though). My brother just left there today and my other brother is headed there this Friday. That will mean alot to her and hopefully will aid in her recovery process. Only time will tell, and I think we all need to learn a little patience and realize that every little victory gets her closer to remission. Patience is something I've never been good with, but I will give it my best shot.

Kathy