Non-hodgkin's Lymphoma Support Group

Hi, nice to meet you.
I had follicular lymphoma stage 4. didnt do watch and wait, went straight to chemo and just finished 3 years of treatments and am doing good.
how about you how was it found?

i have follicular grade3 stage 4. started chemo in may, i too started treatment the day i met my doc.
mine was found doing tests for a toe nail infection. that pointed out the liver cancer, lymphoma, and bone and lung cancers.

never did get the treatment for the toe nail because my liver can not handle it.

Had follicular Stage 2 went straight to R-Chop and am doing fine thus far. I do not understand the watch and wait, what are they waiting for? Get a second opinion

Hi According to current literature there is currently no cure for follicular lymphoma. The idea behind treatment is to get it into remission and to try to keep it in remission for as long as possible before it returns. My understanding is that the watch and wait decision is based on symptoms. If a person is not having symptoms that interfere with their daily living, then it is best to watch and wait because each day new treatments are being tested and perhaps one day there will be a treatment that doesn't include chemo.

I have just been diagnosed with stage 3 and have been put on the watch & wait because I have no "B" symptoms and all my blood work came back normal. My recent PET scan showed a tiny spot on my hip and I had a bone marrow biopsy last Friday. I was told treatment wouldn't work at this stage and that's why I don't need it now, but if I start having the symptoms then that will change. Anyone have experience with normal blood work and no "B" symptoms?

I have Follicular B-Cell NHL too - stage 2 grade 2 - was diagnosed 5 years ago and misdiagnosed 11 years ago... so I have had it at least 11 years. I am doing watch and wait and very happy with it. In the 5 years I have been doing this 'treatment' - I see the doctor every 4 months - my NHL has remained as it was at time of diagnosis. Teacher07010 is correct as to why you may choose to do watch and wait. This is a chronic, slow-growing form of cancer. If there is no immediate reason to get radiation or chemo, a person may choose to watch and wait. Best decision I ever made. I have made personal changes in my diet - switched to mostly organic food, went to a nutritionist to make sure my diet was balanced, etc. Just because a person has the big "C", doesn't mean they must get chemo and or radiation. Every case is different.

Hi All, I was diagnosed a year ago with follicular non-hogkins lymphoma, stage 1. A year later to the day, I was in remission with stage 3. My oncologist reassured me the tumors were small size B cell and that though there were a few above and below the diagphram, its ok. His treatment is "watchful waiting". This entire experience has driven me into high anxiety. I called the lymphoma 800 help line. They had an oncologist nurse return my call, who then answered all my questions. ;-( They do not treat until symptoms show up. I go in every 3 mths for blood work and have had a few pet scans. I have had radiation 2x which I found extremely tiring and had heat ups during the night. This is a disease where you have to learn to take it one day at a time or u go nuts. Good Luck to all.