My brother has Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma diagnosed last Dec over the Holidays.
I am new to this site but I have been active on the Lung Cancer site as a 7 year survivor of that cancer.
But this is not about me. It is about my brother. My brother has had CHOP-R treatment and has had a rough time of it. After the 2nd round, he got shingles all over. Yes, they told us it was all over and yes, he did have the shingles vaccine before starting treatment. He and his wife live in Phoenix and we live in Indiana. His wife has not wanted us to visit as it would make her too nervous. My mom lives here with us and she worries so much about my brother, too. HIs wife takes excellent care of him, she has taken over all of the household responsibilities that he used to do. He is just so fatigued!
He had PET and other scans on Monday and on July 1st, he was supposed to find out if he was going to get radiation or more chemo, or was finished.
But, the tumors had not changed (and maybe had grown, I'm not sure exactly).
So, they put him in the hospital the same day and started a new treatment called RICE. They are going to keep him in the hospital for a few days and then they will repeat this in 3 weeks and then he will be in remission.
The plan then is to prepare him for an autologous bone marrow to be done in August.
Now, we all know this is very serious, but yesterday my older sister called from CA and was talking to our mom and she told my mom that she doesn't think that my brother will make it. Of course, after that my mom started to cry and believe that my sister is right. She is afraid she will never get to see him again. It took me a long time to reason with my mom and explain that my brother has a good chance. (If for any reason, we think the situation is dire, we will get her there!)
My brother is 62 yr old and was basically in good health before this. In fact, he was going to go back to work part time after he had retired and was getting a physical when the enlarged lymph node was found under his arm.
My sister-in law says she has heard of alot of people who have had this treatment and are doing well today. She has been keeping in touch with the local Lymphoma support group and has kept current with all the information that she can.
My question is how can I really reassure my mom about this or is my sister right? Do you think that my sil is protecting us and not telling us the real truths here. She e-mails us all the time and sends the same email to all of us sisters so I don't know how the older one is privvy to info that we are not.
Is there anyone who has had similar experience?
What can I say to my mom?
Thanks to all for your help.
Rita
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