Anyone heard of mucosal gamma delta T cell lymphoma?

Hi @kirstine, While you’re waiting for other members to reply I just wanted to welcome you to Connect!
Mucosal gamma delta t-cell lymphoma, a type of primary cutaneous lymphoma, seems to be a rare bird. Were you or a friend/family member diagnosed with this condition? What type of treatment options were discussed? What were the symptoms that led to the diagnosis?

Hi there, my brother has just been diagnosed with the cancer, the hematologist said it is rare and there are really no case studies to go on for treatment, however they start him on CHOEP21 therapy next week, then if he goes into remission they will do a stem cell trial. He has a tumor on the outside of his intestine, 5 weeks ago pain when eating was his first symptom, then a week later a glass of wine hurt his stomach, I suggested he go to his doctor because it sounded like an ulcer!! he has rapid weight loss, 12 kgs in 5 weeks

Good morning, @kirstine. You’re a very wise sister to urge your brother to see his doctor. Rapid weight loss and pain with eating or drinking, such as he had, should definitely be checked out,
I’m sorry to hear he has cancer. That’s always such a scary word to hear in a diagnosis. His doctors are on top of things though with starting his chemotherapy next week. You mentioned that when he reaches remission it’s been suggested to have a stem cell transplant (SCT). (Also known as a bone marrow transplant (BMT). That procedure would help his body stay in remission. I had a bmt not quite 7 years ago. It gave me a 2nd chance at life and I’m so grateful for that opportunity. So if it becomes available for your brother, it can be positive option. ☺️

I wish him well with the CHOP21 therapy. He may have some days of not feeling on top of the world. But encourage him to push through because there can be better days ahead.
Please let me know how he’s doing along this journey, ok?

I will keep everyone updated, thank you for the words of encouragement.

first chemo today, my brother has been in hospital for 2 days with a blocked bowel, decision was made to nasal tube him for stomach drainage and see if chemo shrinks the blockage. Does it work that fast?

Hi @kirstine. Chemotherapy works by interfering with rapidly dividing cells, such as cancer cells. How quickly this works to slow or shrink the tumor that’s blocking your brother’s bowel will depend on how well the cancer responds to the chemo. Sometimes, tumors shrink quickly in the first few cycles. But more often tumors shrink slowly over several cycles. This is pretty typical for many cancers.

I guess what I’m trying to say is progress isn’t going to happen overnight. But now, with his chemotherapy having begun, there is forward movement. I don’t have personal experience with cancerous tumors. Mine was a blood cancer that was very aggressive. Within 2 days of beginning the equally aggressive chemotherapy, the fever I’d had for 2 weeks finally broke and I actually started feeling better the first week. I knew the chemo was working! However, the 2nd week after chemo is generally when some of the side effects start making themselves known with nausea and fatigue. So encourage your brother to hang in there. This period passes! Will he be in the hosptial for the remaining round of chemo?