Two types of lymphoma

My husband was just diagnosed with Stage 3 diffuse large b cell lymphoma, which the oncologist is an aggressive variety. He's had two emergency surgeries to remove tumors in his small intestines but his scan shows there is still some there plus an enlarged lymph node near his renal artery and a lesion in each lung. But folicular (sp?)lymphoma was found in the lymph nodes in the small intestines. His oncologist said this is a low grade lymphoma, not aggressive. My husband just had a bone marrow biopsy to see how widespread is this lymphoma. I'm wondering how common it is to have two types of lymphoma?

He has an appointment to have his mediport inserted on Friday of this week and he starts RCHOP on Monday. This is for the DLBCL not for the other, which will require a different treatment, or so I understand, but I could be wrong - this has all been overwhelming and so much to digest in a relatively short period of time. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
Teela399

Comments

  • kandco
    kandco Member Posts: 7
    Transformation
    I'm sorry to hear about your husbands diagnosis and getting a cancer diagnosis is never easy. I've heard of people having two lymphoma types but don't know how commonly this occurs. From what I understand, follicular can transform to diffuse large B cell. My guess is, this is probably what happened. Hopefully, someone with this type of lymphoma will post and give you more information. Take care, Cheryl
  • trustinJesus
    trustinJesus Member Posts: 59
    two types of cancer
    My dad was diagnosed with diffuse large b cell lymphoma in June 2011 stage 4. He has two places in his colon that need to be removed. I still am not sure if it is the. Lymphoma or a seperate case of colon cancer. My dad had 6 rounds of r chop after the 3 one it was clear, but unfortunately after the 6 treatment it came back. He just had 2 rounds of rice treatment. and. is supposed to have a stem cell
    transplant . Tomorrow he has a cat scan to see the progress. He also had the bone marrow test. I'm am just praying it isn't in the bone marrow because they wont do the stem cell transplant if its in the bone marrow. I honestly feel like my dad had lymphoma for a long time and it became aggressive because he had symptoms of itching his legs for a long time. He had ear ringing for the last ten years( I am not sure if that's a sign). He also had a rash on his forehead. Don't do what I did by making myself crazy looking things up on the Internet. This is a good source of support. There is a lot of treatment options for this type pf cancer. Stay positive for your husband and put your faith I Jesus.
  • Teela399
    Teela399 Member Posts: 3
    kandco said:

    Transformation
    I'm sorry to hear about your husbands diagnosis and getting a cancer diagnosis is never easy. I've heard of people having two lymphoma types but don't know how commonly this occurs. From what I understand, follicular can transform to diffuse large B cell. My guess is, this is probably what happened. Hopefully, someone with this type of lymphoma will post and give you more information. Take care, Cheryl

    Thank you Cheryl. I find all
    Thank you Cheryl. I find all of this cancer stuff very confusing. I will ask my husband's doctor about this. He said it's not uncommon to have both types. Trying to take one day at a time!
    Teela399
  • Teela399
    Teela399 Member Posts: 3

    two types of cancer
    My dad was diagnosed with diffuse large b cell lymphoma in June 2011 stage 4. He has two places in his colon that need to be removed. I still am not sure if it is the. Lymphoma or a seperate case of colon cancer. My dad had 6 rounds of r chop after the 3 one it was clear, but unfortunately after the 6 treatment it came back. He just had 2 rounds of rice treatment. and. is supposed to have a stem cell
    transplant . Tomorrow he has a cat scan to see the progress. He also had the bone marrow test. I'm am just praying it isn't in the bone marrow because they wont do the stem cell transplant if its in the bone marrow. I honestly feel like my dad had lymphoma for a long time and it became aggressive because he had symptoms of itching his legs for a long time. He had ear ringing for the last ten years( I am not sure if that's a sign). He also had a rash on his forehead. Don't do what I did by making myself crazy looking things up on the Internet. This is a good source of support. There is a lot of treatment options for this type pf cancer. Stay positive for your husband and put your faith I Jesus.

    two types of cancer
    Thank you trustinJesus. So sorry to hear about your dad. I hope his scan is clear and he can have the stem cell transplant. I will pray that his bone marrow is clear - praying for the same for my husband. It's my understanding that lymphoma can occur in any cell in the body, inside and outside the lymph system. My husband's DLBCL was diagnosed as being very aggressive and the doctor felt he probably didn't have it for very long - 6 mos to a year tops - before he got the acute symptoms in his small intestines. Other than that he had no symptoms that he can relate to the disease. I'm staying positive (and away from the internet!) but it's hard as you know. I pray a lot and ask Jesus for strength. Thanks so much for your encouragement and support.
    Teela399
  • anliperez915
    anliperez915 Member Posts: 770
    Teela399 said:

    two types of cancer
    Thank you trustinJesus. So sorry to hear about your dad. I hope his scan is clear and he can have the stem cell transplant. I will pray that his bone marrow is clear - praying for the same for my husband. It's my understanding that lymphoma can occur in any cell in the body, inside and outside the lymph system. My husband's DLBCL was diagnosed as being very aggressive and the doctor felt he probably didn't have it for very long - 6 mos to a year tops - before he got the acute symptoms in his small intestines. Other than that he had no symptoms that he can relate to the disease. I'm staying positive (and away from the internet!) but it's hard as you know. I pray a lot and ask Jesus for strength. Thanks so much for your encouragement and support.
    Teela399

    Hi TrustinJesus, Teela399
    Hi TrustinJesus, Teela399,
    TrustinJesus I'm going to keep your dad in my prayers that the cancer is not in his bone marrow so that he can have his SCT.
    Teela399 I hadn't really heard of two types of lymphomas at the same time but this is all a learning process I think for all of us. Up until Aug of last year I didn't have any idea what it really meant to have cancer and the different types. I've had family members die of cancer but I never really even asked the type they had ??? I guess I should have paid more attention huh! Please take care of yourself and your hubby! Please keep us posted as I'm sure we're all paying attention this time.


    Sincerely,
    Liz
  • trustinJesus
    trustinJesus Member Posts: 59

    Hi TrustinJesus, Teela399
    Hi TrustinJesus, Teela399,
    TrustinJesus I'm going to keep your dad in my prayers that the cancer is not in his bone marrow so that he can have his SCT.
    Teela399 I hadn't really heard of two types of lymphomas at the same time but this is all a learning process I think for all of us. Up until Aug of last year I didn't have any idea what it really meant to have cancer and the different types. I've had family members die of cancer but I never really even asked the type they had ??? I guess I should have paid more attention huh! Please take care of yourself and your hubby! Please keep us posted as I'm sure we're all paying attention this time.


    Sincerely,
    Liz

    thanks
    Thanks for the prayers. The more the merrier. My dad looked really good in the hospital but, today he looked the worst so far. The doctor said this would knock him on his butt. His rash was gone and today it looked like it flared up again. Its so hard to know what is from the chemo and what's from the cancer. Ill be praying for your husband and Liz. Thanks again
  • nikkig43
    nikkig43 Member Posts: 73
    Hi Teela
    My husband was diagnosed last month with Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma. Although I don't know anything about having 2 types of Lymphoma, I can totally relate to your feelings of being overwhelmed. This is all new and scary and I'm so sorry for your you and your husband. My husband has a very impressive doctor at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance who told us that if you have to get cancer, this is the one to get. It's curable. Try to stay positive. We are trying to keep our household as normal as possible. It helps. I have been researching the Internet like crazy, but it really is not a good idea because there is way too much misinformation out there. His cancer is affecting his tonsil and some surrounding lymph nodes. He handled his first R-CHOP treatment well, a couple of weeks ago. He never had nausea or vomiting, but he felt restless and had difficulty sleeping while on the Prednisone for 5 days. ( I would recommend that your husband take the Lorazepam (sedative) at night for sleep ). After that, he felt completely normal. During his checkup last week the doctor could see that his tonsil looked almost completely normal, so we know it is working. And I'm sure it will work for your husband too.
    I will be praying for you both and will look forward to your updates. Take care, Nikki.