Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma ?
PB
Do elderly women have a better prognosis for remission ?
I hear it's treatable but not curable.
I've heard and read various opinions. I want to make sure my mother's
oncologist stays on top of this SOB.
bgl
news:3a1e1da6-8c64-473e...@v25g2000yqk.googlegroups.com...
how elderly are you talking?
65? 85? 102?
How's her health & condition otherwise?
I don't know anything about this, but I'm sure those factors have some
bearing on prognosis & tolerance of the treatment itself. So it might help
others give you better answers.
bj
PB
> "PB" <pbca1...@aim.com> wrote in message
She's a pretty healthy 75. Young 75 physically and mentally. People
don't seem like they care to respond. It's ok, gonna stay on top of
her oncologist like a fly on shit.
J
Life's a trip; not a destination. Make the most of every day you have
your mother with you.
Best wishes. Hopefully you'll find lots of support here....
J
http://www.nhlcyberfamily.org/types/indolent.htm
Indolent lymphomas
On the following pages you will find information about the various types
of indolent NHL and what their particular characteristics are. In many
cases we have provided links to other web sites that give more detail.
Low-grade is another term that refers to indolent lymphoma. Before
discussing the individual types it is important to review some of the
characteristics common to all indolent lymphomas.
Indolent lymphomas are usually not considered curable because the cancer
grows too slowly to be targeted accurately by most modern treatments.
Nonetheless they actually do respond very well to treatment in most cases.
People with indolent lymphomas usually survive for many years. Statistics
say the median is around 10 years, but that is very misleading because the
"median" only means that half the patients have not survived past 10
years, and the other half have survived. Don't try to apply a median
statistic to yourself since it cannot by its very nature apply. Suffice
it to say that most patients can look forward to many years of productive
life, and quite possibly a cure in the not too distant future. Rituxan,
and other biologic therapies are bringing us closer all the time.
In many cases it is totally appropriate to defer treatment altogether in
favour of a watch and wait approach. This is usually done when the patient
has no symptoms, and there are no major organs at risk. When treatment is
required there is a variety of choices, none of which has any clear
advantage in all cases. The single most common chemotherapy regimen for
lymphoma is CHOP and it is frequently used for indolent lymphomas, but it
is also a fairly aggressive treatment which many believe should be saved
for later.
Since indolent lymphomas cannot usually be cured the main goal of
treatment is to keep the patient in good health as long as possible.
Virtually all the low grade or indolent lymphomas are characterized by a
pattern of treatment-remission-relapse with each remission being shorter
than the previous one. This means using the least toxic options first, and
saving the "big guns" as we call it, until later.
Click here to read an in-depth discussion of low-grade lymphoma: Biologic
characteristics, pathology, treatment selection options, and transplant
outcomes. This article is a comprehensive discussion by leading experts
from the American Society of Hematology (ASH)
Transformation
It is not unusual for some indolent cells to transform into a more
aggressive form, resulting in two clones. Statistically the risk of
transformation is about 30% after ten years, but this may be low since the
figure is based on confirmed second biopsies, which often are not
performed since the priority at such time is to treat. Historically
transformation has been associated with a worse prognosis but with modern
therapies this is not always the case.
Here are some articles about transformation.
* The incidence, natural history, biology, and treatment of
transformed lymphomas
* Transformation of follicular lymphoma to diffuse large-cell lymphoma
* Risk and Clinical Implications of Transformation of Follicular
Lymphoma to Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
* Characteristics and Outcome of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphomas
Presenting With an Associated Low-Grade Component at Diagnosis
There is much controversy about whether to reserve use of anthracyclines
such as doxorubicin until transformation occurs. It is thought by some
that the anthracyclines are the more potent drugs and should be saved
until that happens, and therefore CVP or Chlorambucil should be used
first. But recent studies show that upfront use of anthracyclines might
actually lower the risk of transformation. Below are two studies that look
at the risk factors for transformation. The first
* The impact of initial treatment of advanced stage indolent lymphoma
on the risk of transformation
* Risk Factors for Early Transformation of Follicular Lymphoma (FL):
Report From the National LymphoCare Study (NLCS)
http://www.nhlcyberfamily.org/
We are the non-Hodgkin's lymphoma Cyberfamily. We are a worldwide family
of patients and caregivers who have NHL in common.
Come join us
We'll help guide you through all the stages of dealing with NHL. We will
support you, educate you and help you with your questions. Patient or
caregiver, it does not matter. You will be welcome. Just click the link
below to go to our on-line discussion group.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/nhl
You have arrived at our public NHL education site. Here you will learn
everything you want to know about non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, from what it is,
how it is treated and diagnosed and much more. If you cannot find
something that you are looking for, just click the contact link at the top
and send us a question. We'll be happy to help you find the information
you are looking for.
Our second web site is the place were you can join our group. It is an
e-mail based message group hosted by Yahoo where we share information
about the latest innovations in lymphoma, personal stories and experiences
and many medical abstracts. Most of all though we share messages of
support, hope, courage and wisdom from our 1,700+ members who all know
exactly what you are going through. Click on the link above to head on
over to our support group. You can sign up there, or you can sign up by
simply sending a blank e-mail message to:
PB
> PB wrote:
> > Low grade indolent, localized, caught early.
>
> > Do elderly women have a better prognosis for remission ?
>
> > I hear it's treatable but not curable.
>
> > I've heard and read various opinions. I want to make sure my mother's
> > oncologist stays on top of this SOB.
>
> Life's a trip; not a destination. Make the most of every day you have
> your mother with you.
> Best wishes. Hopefully you'll find lots of support here....
Thanks. That's a lot of information. I guess I was looking more for
emotional support and confirmation of stuff I had already researched
so I can bring notes to oncologist.
J
> On Dec 30, 2:46 am, J <xyewsnswex@nalid;"no> wrote:
> > PB wrote:
> > > Low grade indolent, localized, caught early.
> >
> > > Do elderly women have a better prognosis for remission ?
> >
> > > I hear it's treatable but not curable.
> >
> > > I've heard and read various opinions. I want to make sure my mother's
> > > oncologist stays on top of this SOB.
> >
> Hopefully you'll find lots of support here....
> > http://www.nhlcyberfamily.org/types/indolent.htm
>
> > http://www.nhlcyberfamily.org/
> > We are the non-Hodgkin's lymphoma Cyberfamily. We are a worldwide family
> > of patients and caregivers who have NHL in common.
> > Come join us
> >
> If you cannot find
> > something that you are looking for, just click the contact link at the top
> > and send us a question. We'll be happy to help you find the information
> > you are looking for.
> >
> > Our second web site is the place were you can join our group. It is an
> > e-mail based message group hosted by Yahoo where we share information
> > about the latest innovations in lymphoma, personal stories and experiences
> > and many medical abstracts. Most of all though we share messages of
> > support, hope, courage and wisdom from our 1,700+ members who all know
> > exactly what you are going through. Click on the link above to head on
> > over to our support group. You can sign up there, or you can sign up by
> > simply sending a blank e-mail message to:
> >
> > nhl-subscr...@yahoogroups.com
>
> Thanks. That's a lot of information. I guess I was looking more for
> emotional support and confirmation of stuff I had already researched
> so I can bring notes to oncologist.
1,700+ members not enough?
CSM
I think I know what you mean about people not responding. You post
here, and hope/expect a quick outpouring of sympathy and support.
Unfortunately, it doesn't happen, and you wonder if it's all a waste
of time. It isn't. Many subscribers to asc are unable or unwilling
to check in very frequently. Many others read but don't post. It may
take a little longer than you like, but we *are* out here reading, and
caring. Good luck, and please keep us informed of your mother's
progress.
---
CSM
bgl
Hmmmm...not sure about calling that "elderly" -- but I'm glad to hear she's
otherwise fit. That's got to help in responding to any health challenge.
(I may call myself "an old lady" but 75 isn't nearly far enough away for me
to think of that as "elderly." :-))
BTW it *is* a holiday week & a lot of people are, well, distracted with
seasonal doings. And, as I said, I don't know anything about what you're
asking; but for those who do, having a few basic facts helps in constructing
any response.
Best wishes to both of you, & happy new year!
bj