Dating someone with Lymphoma? Advice

karen38 · New User Joined: 16 Dec 2007 Posts: 2

I started dating a man about two months ago. Two weeks ago he told me that he might have cancer. He has an enlarged Lymph node on his neck and so far the biopsies have been inconclusive. Since we haven't been together very long I am reluctant to press him for more information, but I am very scared for him. Pretty much all I have to go on is that he is tired a lot, has an enlarged lymph node on the right side of his neck and that there was the presence of some cell in his blood work that concerned his doctor. He is scheduled for a surgical biopsy at the end of January. His blood work ruled out infections and viruses, but he thinks that it is unlikely to be lymphoma. What else can it be? I have spent the last two weeks reading everything I can find. I feel so powerless to help him. Any advice would be really appreciated.
Karen

Corvette · Regular Joined: 13 Nov 2007 Posts: 29 Location: North GA

First off just about everything you read about lymphoma can worry the heck out of you. I have never read anything about curing lymphoma. I am a two year survivor of NHL and I believe I'm cured. I live my life as if I cured. I am perfectly healthy and I don't worry about it any more but I do live a very healthy life style now.

My wife was my caregiver when I was going through Stem Cell Transplant. She was also there for me during the two years of chemo before that. If you truly care for this guy stick with him and help him if he is diagnosed with cancer. He will need you.

Keep us posted on his diagnosis.
_________________
Wayne
Male 56 years old
NHL Folicular Large Cell
Two years of Chemo followed by a SCT
Cancer free for almost two and a half years!

karen38 · New User Joined: 16 Dec 2007 Posts: 2

Thank you Wayne, your recovery and your attitude are amazing! We are still waiting for his surgical biopsy they are trying to schedule one sooner. In the meantime, the lymph node seems to have shrunken quite a bit. That seems like a good sign, but I am not letting my hopes get too high. It seems like everything I can find on the internet says when it comes to swollen lymph nodes it's either a viral/bacterial infection or it's lymphoma. Is there nothing in between? It would be so wonderful to find out that this was simply a bacterial infection, but the doctor's concern over the presence of a type of cell that shouldn't have been there makes me think that it is unlikely. Does anybody have any idea what that cell might have been? I know I haven't given much to go on. Thanks, I really appreciate the support

brainman

Hi Karen, I am truly sorry about your boyfriend's health concerns. Almost all major organs can have cancers that metastasize to the lymph nodes. Did the doctor say anything like that? Since the abnormal cells were found in his blood, he could also have a leukemia rather than a lymphoma. Leukemia would certainly explain his symptoms. But they would do a bone marrow biopsy to rule out leukemia. In addition, there are many other benign causes for enlarged lymph nodes. Encourage your boyfriend to continue to work with his medical team to try to identify the best treatment option for him.

You and your boyfriend are in my thoughts and prayers.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

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