My brother has Stage IV Follicular Lymphoma, and needs some good news. Please help.?

My 44-year-old brother has been undergoing chemo for Follicular Lymphoma for four months. He has ("CHOP") treatments for three consecutive days, every three weeks. He has two regular cycles left and has just been told that he will need "maintenance-type" treatment (one day a week, for four weeks) every six months, indefinitely. Even though the doctors have said that the treatments have been having the desired effects, nothing anyone can say gives my brother a feeling of hope. He is particularly concerned about the status of his bone marrow, though my understanding is that it is improving. Is there anyone out there - maybe a fellow Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma patient or medical professional - who can give me some encouraging words to pass along? Thank you.

My brother has Stage IV Follicular Lymphoma, and needs some good news. Please help.?
There are two FABULOUS organizations where you can get information to help you better understand what your brother is gonig through and, more importantly, where HE can get information and support from others who are gonig through what he is going through. I have copied the links to these two organizations below. You didn't provide specifics, but I do know a bit about lymphoma. The good news is that many people dx'd with it can live for many years after dx. Some high grade lymphoomas are actually CURABLE with the CHOP regimen you mentioned. Other LOW GRADE lymphomas can be put at bay for yeaers and years with a CHOP regimen. I encourage you to go to the sites and read more about the specific type of lymphoma your brother has and to try to get him to go to the sites as well.





You are a wonderful and caring sibling to worry about your brother like this. BEST of luck to you both!
Reply:I dont know much about his cancer, but I have leukemia, so I partially understand the feeling.





The only hope I can give you is that there is hope in prayer or thinking positive or meditation or whatever other way you exercise 'spiritual' beleifs.





I was in ICU for 2.5 weeks, my docs at one point told my family they needed to start preparing post death arrangments. They sat in the waiting room along with a couple other families and prayed. The next day I started improving. Im here, so obviously I made it through.





I hope all goes well.
Reply:Once diagnosed with cancer,you cant really kept it away from them to worry about every test theyre going to take.He needs to take consolidation chemotherapy as a maintenance dose and sad to say,theres always the chance of it coming back and might need to consider stem cell transplant in the future.I think it will be helpful to kind of help him to be closer to God so that hell have faith and strength to help him through all of these and also use american cancer society for information about support groups.Its always nice to belong to support groups so that hell get some more information and tips to fight the cancer he has
Reply:I was diagnosed stage 4, follicular NHL in jan 2006. That was just about two years ago and I am fine. this type of lymphoma is very slow growing and has many options for treatment. I assume the maintainence will be Rituxan. Thats standard. I am going for a stem cell transplant soon to try and buy long term remission. He should inquire about that and if it is right for him. He should also seek treatment at a good cancer center and get in a clinical trial. Not sure where you live, but somewhere like sloan kettering, MD anderson, Cleveland clinic etc. I get treatment at Sloan Kettering.


Your bro needs to know this, while incurable, is very treatable. He needs to live his life and not let the cancer live him.


I had almost a year total of chemo and went to nursing school during the whole process. I will be graduating in the spring with my RN and then going for the stem cell transplant.


I suggest looking into the leukemia-lymphoma society or the lymphoma research foundaton . The LRF (lymphoma.org) has a great peer support program. Sign up on their site and they match you with someone (local if you want) who has been through what he is going through. Kind of like a "sponsor" or buddy. They can offer guidance, moral support or just a kind ear. Its well worth while.





Education is the best. The more he knows, the more he will understand and be able to participate in his treatment and the more confident he will feel.


It is a hard road, but it is doable. I am living proof. His life will never be the same, but it can be normal.


Check out the two societies below. They have tons of info, links, financial support etc.


The leukemia-lymphoma society also has a local chapter finder for local support groups or check with your local hospital. Support groups help out greatly.


Good luck...