Mantle cell lymphoma stage 4

Mantle Cell can be either aggressive or indolent (slow-growing). Treatment and outcome will depend somewhat on that. However, disregard the stage, as lymphoma staging is entirely different from all other cancers. It mostly directs treatment strategy and not outcome so much. I've been stage IV at least twice. Probably 100 tumors in my lymphatic system, bone marow and small intestine. At last check, it's all gone. Sounds like he is receiving R-CHOP or maybe R-Bendamustine. Either is the way to go with B-Cell Lymphomas. Aggressvie can be chased away for life, but indolent versions may become a chronic illness. Manageable, but always there in the background.

Permit me to lapse from the physical to the spiritual: It is excellent that you have faith. That is the bedrock of a believer's life. A long, pain free life is a popular teaching, but what does the believer do when it does not accord with life? I consider that Jesus predicted pain and suffering for His disciples. Peter and James rejoiced that they were counted worthy of suffering for the Name (Acts 5:40-41). Our Lord told Ananias (Acts 9) that He would show Saul/Paul how much Paul would have to suffer for his persecution of Christ's Body - the Church. As well, Paul made up in his body what was lacking in the sufferings of Christ - for the sake of Christ's Body, the Church (Colossians 1:24). Paul offered his suffering on behalf of others. Imagine that! This is deep theology, but well worth pondering when life seems to turn sour on us.

Paul, in Philippians 1:20 and following, states that it is a far better thing to depart and be with the Lord than to remain "in this body of death" (Romans 7:24) - yet he agreed to continue suffering for the sake of Christ. In such times it is good to remember that, the greater the cross, the more glorius the crown we receive. James 1:12 teaches us to persevere under trial so that we may receive the crown of glory. And, consider Revelation 2:10: "Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life."

Christians are called to deny themselves, take up their crosses daily and follow Christ (Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23). The cross is universally a negative - pain and suffering. The very first martyr, Stephen (Acts 6), willingly suffered and died at a very young age, as he received a vision of the glory to come. Be thankful that you follow Christ, as the reward will be great. We are baptized into His death so that we may also rise with Him (Romans 6:3-4). And, through our aches and pains, we are kept faithful when we focus on the reward. We are never alone along this path of suffering.

Prayers ascending.