SCIENTISTS SEEK TO REIN IN DIAGNOSES OF SOME CANCERS

NANCYL1
NANCYL1 Member Posts: 289
edited July 2013 in Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin) #1

 Scientists Seek to Rein In Diagnoses of Some Cancers

By TARA PARKER-POPE 5:08 PM ET

Some of the top scientists in cancer research are recommending sweeping changes in the approach to detection and treatment, including eliminating the word cancer entirely from some common diagnoses.

nytimes.com

 

 

Comments

  • COBRA666
    COBRA666 Member Posts: 2,401 Member
    #2
    Heard the same thing

    Nancy,

      I heard the same thing on the nightly news. You know a few years back Lymphoma was called Hodgkins disease and not cancer. Don't know when they reclassified it. John 

  • Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 Member Posts: 3,812 Member
    #3
    COBRA666 said:

    Heard the same thing

    Nancy,

      I heard the same thing on the nightly news. You know a few years back Lymphoma was called Hodgkins disease and not cancer. Don't know when they reclassified it. John 

    Names

    John,

    Just a trivia point, but my oncologist told me that Hodgkin's was thought to be (in the 1800s) a form of tuberculosis, because the primitive microscopes could tell that it also was a white blood cell disorder.

    "Lymphoma" today as you know is a catch-all for HL and NHL. The common groupings of the cell types puts the diseases in one group or the other. My former disease (NLPHL) has been debated back-and-forth for classification, with doctors arguing over whether it is best considered a form of HL or NHL, since it sort of "straddles the line" between both forms. Officially, it is still a form of HL.

    .

  • COBRA666
    COBRA666 Member Posts: 2,401 Member
    #4
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 said:

    Names

    John,

    Just a trivia point, but my oncologist told me that Hodgkin's was thought to be (in the 1800s) a form of tuberculosis, because the primitive microscopes could tell that it also was a white blood cell disorder.

    "Lymphoma" today as you know is a catch-all for HL and NHL. The common groupings of the cell types puts the diseases in one group or the other. My former disease (NLPHL) has been debated back-and-forth for classification, with doctors arguing over whether it is best considered a form of HL or NHL, since it sort of "straddles the line" between both forms. Officially, it is still a form of HL.

    .

    NAMES

    Max,

      I am sure you and your Dr. are correct. I do not do a lot of research.  I do not like using the websites that much. I did see something on the web when I first started out. It never gave any years of when it got reclassified. I came across a site where it showed famous people who had Lymphoma and I did not see any listed before the 1970's. Of course I have not checked that site in over 3 years and they could have changed it by now. You'd be surprised of all the famous people who have had it. The thing is they never say any type or classification. They just say Lymphoma. Makes one think how they are going to cure it if they don't know what really causes it. John

  • Rocquie
    Rocquie Member Posts: 869 Member
    #5
    Lymphoma

    I'm just glad my disease has its own name--Lymphoma--so I don't even have to use the word, cancer, if I don't want to.

  • NANCYL1
    NANCYL1 Member Posts: 289
    #6
    COBRA666 said:

    NAMES

    Max,

      I am sure you and your Dr. are correct. I do not do a lot of research.  I do not like using the websites that much. I did see something on the web when I first started out. It never gave any years of when it got reclassified. I came across a site where it showed famous people who had Lymphoma and I did not see any listed before the 1970's. Of course I have not checked that site in over 3 years and they could have changed it by now. You'd be surprised of all the famous people who have had it. The thing is they never say any type or classification. They just say Lymphoma. Makes one think how they are going to cure it if they don't know what really causes it. John

    SCIENTISTS

    Confusing.  Think I will ask my Oncologist when I see him in August.  He's probably confused.

  • NANCYL1
    NANCYL1 Member Posts: 289
    #7
    Rocquie said:

    Lymphoma

    I'm just glad my disease has its own name--Lymphoma--so I don't even have to use the word, cancer, if I don't want to.

    LYMPHOMA

    Lymphoma is the name of my disease also.  I did ask the oncologist whether it is hodgkins or non-hodgkins and he said:  nonhodgkins.   I should start reading more, I guess.

  • Shoopy
    Shoopy Member Posts: 210
    #8
    NANCYL1 said:

    LYMPHOMA

    Lymphoma is the name of my disease also.  I did ask the oncologist whether it is hodgkins or non-hodgkins and he said:  nonhodgkins.   I should start reading more, I guess.

    Nancy,

    Absolutely!  Start reading more...but be very very careful.  The internet is littered with stuff that is misleading.  My oconologist told me right out the gate (after the biopsy) that I had Non-Hodgkins Diffused Large B-Cell Lymphoma.  Now that I'm dealing with Roswell Park (and reading some research papers) I've learned there are 3-4 sub classifications based on DNA testing of the biopsy...each with a different outcome and each that might impact the stem cell transplant that I'll be going through in a few months.

    Also...not only read...but ask questions.  Most onconologists will take their time with you and answer every thing.

    By the way, one of the ways I'm hearing about cancer classifications is that they will stop calling it 'Breast Cancer' or 'Lung Cancer'.  This is because most cancers share similar DNA characteristics (my phrasing).  They are finding that cancers that share the same DNA characteristics can be treated the same (and with better results).  How far off they are from this...I don't know...3-5 years maybe?

    Good luck and I'll keep you in my prayers thoughts.

    Karl

  • Rocquie
    Rocquie Member Posts: 869 Member
    #9
    Shoopy said:

    Nancy,

    Absolutely!  Start reading more...but be very very careful.  The internet is littered with stuff that is misleading.  My oconologist told me right out the gate (after the biopsy) that I had Non-Hodgkins Diffused Large B-Cell Lymphoma.  Now that I'm dealing with Roswell Park (and reading some research papers) I've learned there are 3-4 sub classifications based on DNA testing of the biopsy...each with a different outcome and each that might impact the stem cell transplant that I'll be going through in a few months.

    Also...not only read...but ask questions.  Most onconologists will take their time with you and answer every thing.

    By the way, one of the ways I'm hearing about cancer classifications is that they will stop calling it 'Breast Cancer' or 'Lung Cancer'.  This is because most cancers share similar DNA characteristics (my phrasing).  They are finding that cancers that share the same DNA characteristics can be treated the same (and with better results).  How far off they are from this...I don't know...3-5 years maybe?

    Good luck and I'll keep you in my prayers thoughts.

    Karl

    The best website I have found is lymphomation.org   Yes, my doctor has been very thorough in explaining staging, grade, typing, etc. Any question I or my husband have had. What I meant above, is that I can tell a person that I have lymphoma without having to use the word cancer. 

     

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