My wife was diagnosed with NHL large defused B-cell

This all started a few months ago, my wife was pregnant with our 1st child and during pregnancy she developed a rapid heartbeat, she even passed out once. Once the baby was born (November), she was still feeling sick after she gave birth, I was also sick doctor's said it was most likely a virus going around. We both took antibiotics, I got better she didn't. After 3 trips back and forth to the doctor, about 3 weeks worth one doctor finally ordered a chest xray. She had swollen Lymphomas, was running very high fevers and was waking up soaked from sweat. Before we could get the x-ray she broke out in a very bad rash from an antibiotic called Bacterium, this landed us in the ER. After testing, she was diagnosed with Lymphoma, but doctors were not sure what kind.

A friend of mine is a PA and recommend Dr. Andre Goy and Dr. Tatiana Feldman at the John Theurer cancer center in Hackensack NJ. After doing some research, we found out Dr. Goy was a pioneer in Lymphoma treatment, Dr. Goy was one of the 1st to use Rituxan for Lymphoma.  Dr Feldmen does more clinical then most hospitals in the US, so we knew we would be in good hands. Also, they were the only doctors willing to see my wife before we knew exactly what she had.

We made an appointment and went right away. After looking at her CT scans, blood work etc. Dr. Feldman admitted her right away and said the cancer was most likely stage V and very agressive. Dr said right away given my wife was young and healthy, she had an excellent chance at beating this.

After a biopsy and more testing my wife was diagnosed with Large Defused B-cell. She was diagnosed at stage V. Good news was, she has no genetic mutations and no cancer in her bone marrow and brain. She's young and healthy (33) Doctors say she has a great chance at beating this, but its been the hardest thing I've ever had to face in my life. She's very positive and has a great mindset. She has been doing well on Chemo, no sickness yet, she has an apatite and she has energy. She's currently on her 2nd round of hyper-CVAD with R treatment. Doctors says its an agressive treatment for an agressive lymphoma but they know her body can handle it.

We have meet a lot of great people along the way and I truly feel and care for all of them. This experience really does put life in perspective. Her 1st scan will probably be end of March, then we will know how the treatment is going. I am worried about the scan, but wife seems to be getting better with every treatment.

 

 

Comments

  • silent
    silent Member Posts: 5
    Hi Valvalsdad,
    Got my fingers

    Hi Valvalsdad,

    Got my fingers crossed that your wife's scan will show an improvement and that the chemo is doing it's job.

    I had Stage 2 Non-Hodgkins B cell Lymphoma. The cancer closed my esophagus and I was put on a Nasal-Gastro feeding tube. They thought at first I had cancer of the esophagus, and I was mentally preparing myself for surgery to remove it, so when the biopsy results showed it was NHL I was very relieved. I never thought I would be happy to hear I had cancer, but being told it would be chemo and not surgery was a relief. 72 hours after the first chemo session, I was off the feeding tube.

    My mid-treatment scan showed 80% of the cancer had been destroyed, and I was re-classified to stage 1. I sincerely hope your wife also gets positive news. My thoughts are with you both.

  • Superk4158
    Superk4158 Member Posts: 1
    Diffuse large B cell lymphoma

    Hello,

    I hope all goes well with your wife. I also have the same cancer. I just finished my last treatment December 29th, and now in remission after two pet scans. I was in pretty rough shape as I am more than 20 years older than your wife. I was in and out of the hospital. And eventually bed ridden at home. Only went out for doctor appointments, and chemo. Iwas on a feeding tube as it attacked my stomach and chest area. I am finally after seven months of this starting chemo am starting to turn the corner. I hope and pray it never comes back out of remission. They will be monitoring me closely. I had a lot of side effects from the chemo. And hope it goes away real quick. But after two months it is still frustrating with the side effects. Take care.

  • Valvalsdad
    Valvalsdad Member Posts: 4
    silent said:

    Hi Valvalsdad,
    Got my fingers

    Hi Valvalsdad,

    Got my fingers crossed that your wife's scan will show an improvement and that the chemo is doing it's job.

    I had Stage 2 Non-Hodgkins B cell Lymphoma. The cancer closed my esophagus and I was put on a Nasal-Gastro feeding tube. They thought at first I had cancer of the esophagus, and I was mentally preparing myself for surgery to remove it, so when the biopsy results showed it was NHL I was very relieved. I never thought I would be happy to hear I had cancer, but being told it would be chemo and not surgery was a relief. 72 hours after the first chemo session, I was off the feeding tube.

    My mid-treatment scan showed 80% of the cancer had been destroyed, and I was re-classified to stage 1. I sincerely hope your wife also gets positive news. My thoughts are with you both.

    Thanks for the kind words.

    Thanks for the kind words. Hope your next scan shows 100% is destroyed.

  • Valvalsdad
    Valvalsdad Member Posts: 4

    Diffuse large B cell lymphoma

    Hello,

    I hope all goes well with your wife. I also have the same cancer. I just finished my last treatment December 29th, and now in remission after two pet scans. I was in pretty rough shape as I am more than 20 years older than your wife. I was in and out of the hospital. And eventually bed ridden at home. Only went out for doctor appointments, and chemo. Iwas on a feeding tube as it attacked my stomach and chest area. I am finally after seven months of this starting chemo am starting to turn the corner. I hope and pray it never comes back out of remission. They will be monitoring me closely. I had a lot of side effects from the chemo. And hope it goes away real quick. But after two months it is still frustrating with the side effects. Take care.

    Hope you bounce back fast.

    Hope you bounce back fast. Have you been taking any meds for pain?