When To Start Treatment

Hi ,I have non -hodgens b-cell lyphoma ,one doctor said wait for more symptoms ,I have the night sweats,low fever ,sick feeling but my white count was only 15,000 so she will wait. another doctor said when my number doubles he would start treatment .My nodes get big and small and if I'm sick they stay big and I sound like a frog. I only have them in both sides of my neck and one under each arm. One dr said stage 0. the emory dr said stage 2 . Any help would be great. GOD BLESS TO ALL OF YOU,THANK YOU,SUSI

Watch and wait became the standard approach for indolent lymphomas because studies  indicated that early interventions with combination therapies did not provide a survival advantage.   You could opt for RT as cureative in early stage disease but many patients resolve on their own or stay stable for many years with no treatment.  Even treating with RT may cure only 50% or so.  I would agree that if you become symptomatic or have disease progression, then treatment is warrented.

 

On 7/8/2007 Oncrx wrote:

Watch and wait became the standard approach for indolent lymphomas because studies  indicated that early interventions with combination therapies did not provide a survival advantage.   You could opt for RT as cureative in early stage disease but many patients resolve on their own or stay stable for many years with no treatment.  Even treating with RT may cure only 50% or so.  I would agree that if you become symptomatic or have disease progression, then treatment is warrented.

Thank you very much for your reply it makes me feel better when I hear from someone that knows.