Gastric MALT Lymphoma - without H-pylori

Posted by queen1978 @queen1978, Jul 18, 2018

My husband was recently diagnosed with Gastric Lymphoma. The cancer doctor states it is 100% curable and normally does not come back, but it can in certain instances. The initial treatment was antibiotics and a drug to control acid in his stomach. He has completed two rounds of antibiotics and returns to the doctor on August 14 when she will determine how much radiation he will need to kill the cancer cells. Although he was diagnosed in March, he was told that the cancer has likely been in his stomach for a minimum of 2 years. It is a slow growing cancer. Does anyone in this group have experience with this type of cancer, and if so, what was your treatment regime? Did it work for you? I know each person is different and physicians differ in their mode of treatment. I'm just trying to get a sense of what we are up against. Also, for those of you who have had radiation, what are the side effects? ?
My friend states her husband had throat cancer and during one of his treatments, he was over-radiated and had to be placed in a bariatric chamber every day for about a week to get the extra radiation out of his body. I am so nervous about radiation, as my mom died from cancer and she had radiation. I must admit, it was over 40 years ago when she died and cancer therapy has advanced tremendously since that time.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Blood Cancers & Disorders Support Group.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jul 20, 2018

Hi @queen1978, welcome to Connect.
I moved your message about MALT lymphoma to the Blood Cancers & Disorders group so that you can meet others living with lymphoma. While we wait for others to join the discussion, you might be interested in following the Hematology page on Connect (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/hematology/) and reading the blogs.

I truly understand your concern about radiation given the stories that you have about people close to you. Radiation has come a long way in 40 years and dosages are much more precise. Head and neck cancers are very different from lymphoma.

Has radiation been recommended for your husband?

queen1978 | @queen1978 | Jul 20, 2018

In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @queen1978, welcome to Connect. I moved your message about MALT lymphoma to the Blood Cancers..." + (show)

Yes

Think outside the box.

jjohnson8747 | @jjohnson8747 | Jul 20, 2018

In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @queen1978, welcome to Connect. I moved your message about MALT lymphoma to the Blood Cancers..." + (show)

I had 2 low dose radiation treatments recently for a large lymph node on my neck under my jaw bone. The treatments worked well and the side effects weren't to bad.

Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jul 21, 2018

Hello @jjohnson8747

I appreciate you sharing your story on Connect. It was very encouraging to know that someone had a good experience with radiation treatment.

If you care to share more, how are you doing now? I take it that the lymph node must be reduced in size? Are other treatments and/or follow-ups planned for the future?

I wish you well and I look forward to hearing from you again.

Teresa

jjohnson8747 | @jjohnson8747 | Jul 21, 2018

In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @jjohnson8747 I appreciate you sharing your story on Connect. It was very encouraging to know..." + (show)

Yes the lymph node is "normal"size now. I had 6 rounds of chemotherapy October through March for Follicular Lymphoma with good results. My PET scan had revealed that I was filled with bulky lymph nodes above and below the diaphragm. About 2 months afterward the large node appeared. I had two rounds of low dose radiation and it was shrinking within a week. I would say dry mouth is the worst side effect and after a month it's a lot better. I am on a every other month maintenance schedule of a rituximab infusion.

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