Mum Recently Diagnosed with High Grade Non Hodgkin lymphoma. How can we find out if the cancer be treated and what options are available to us?

My mother has recently been diagnosed with high grade non Hodgkin lymphoma which is in both her lungs, which is apparently rare.

She is in very poor health and is not eating, very dizzy and has been like this for about 3-4 weeks now.

We got the diagnosis last Thursday and they put her on steroids, thinking this would also help with the weight loss and get her fitter for her scan next Monday with the first treatment of Chemo booked for the Tuesday.

We also have the added issues that she needs a heart valve replacement and has early dementia.

I just don't think she will be fit for anything and we don't' seem to have been provided with the prognosis, other than it can be treated.  This goes against a form we completed in the hospital when we were told to tick the box for less than a year to survive.  Tis seems to go against what was said last week.

How do we find out if the cancer can be treated or not and what options we have for our mum.

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  • Hi Oban,

    I'm sorry to hear of the situation with your mother and that you've not yet had the answers about what to potentially expect.

    It sounds like you have a few appointments coming up - try to use these as opportunities to ask the questions you have and get the information you need. It may be that they are waiting to find out a little more before discussing everything with you, but if this is the case then they should still be able to explain this and to advise on next steps.

    Keep in touch with your mother's doctor and keep asking questions so you can find out everything you need to.

    I hope you're able to find out more soon.

    Wishing you all the best,

    Ben
    Cancer Chat Moderator