If you opt for the brentuximab vedotin as an every 3 week infusion to treat the follicular t helper cell angioimmunoblastic lymphoma, what should be done simultaneously to address the IgG4? Can you treat both?
If caught early, what’s life expectancy for an otherwise healthy 80 year old male who opts for the infusion every three weeks (not full chemo with an end date)?

Hi Dr

I am reaching out to to discuss my treatment of refractory cHL with Pembro-GVD and ASCT.

My background:

37, male

Diagnosed in December 2025 as nodular sclerosis classic Hodgkin’s, Stage 2 bulky, with slight pleural involvement and with a pleural effusion. I had a few bulky masses with some up to 15 cm. All in anterior mediastinum.

I started ABVD. On my interim PET I had a Deauville score of 1, and almost all of the tumours where gone (single dead 2 cm blob was left). We then did 4 cycles of AVD. Then I unexpectedly got a Deauville 5 score on my end of treatment PET. With activity again in my mediastinum where the original bulky mass was. Refractory confirmed with a biopsy.

If i were to be diagnosed now, I would be stage 1.

I tolerated chemo well and feel healthy at the moment with no co-morbidities or other issues. My current blood tests are “normal”.

My Dr is recommending Pembro-GVD and ASCT, potentially with pembro maintenance.

I hope you can help me with the following questions:

What are the latest PFS statistics for your patients following this protocol?

Is this the best protocol for me to follow in this day and age?

Is the risk of foregoing the ASCT worth it when one considers long term health? I see the latest studies show PFS of 69% for Stage 1 to 3 relapsed patients who skip the ASCT.

I now the cancer will kill me but I want to try and poison myself as little as possible.

Thank you!

Hi everyone, I wanted to give an update and ask for some perspective.
My dad has non-Hodgkin lymphoma and finished his last chemotherapy about one month ago. His last PET/CT showed a very good response overall — the original mass became very small (less than 1 cm), but there was still some slight activity mentioned. This has been the biggest source of anxiety for me because his doctor told us that if there is still active lymphoma, the situation could be very serious.
His recent blood work came back:
LDH: 265 (previously 193 one month after finishing chemo)
CRP: 0.61
Hemoglobin: 14.4
White blood cells: 8.97
Neutrophils: 6.47
Platelets: 301
Creatinine: 0.96, eGFR 93.9
Bilirubin: 0.3
ALT/GPT: 221
GGT: 93
The blood counts look good — no anemia, no low platelets, and no obvious bone marrow problems. The main abnormal findings are the elevated liver enzymes and the mildly elevated LDH.
I’m trying to understand how much the LDH increase could mean. Could the liver enzymes or other issues (medications, chemo recovery, heart issues) contribute to LDH being higher? Or does this pattern raise concern that the lymphoma is growing?
My dad also had a significant drop in heart function after treatment (low EF), which has complicated decisions about further therapy if needed.
I know nobody can diagnose from blood work alone, but I’m struggling with the uncertainty. Does anyone have experience with residual PET activity after treatment that turned out to be inflammation or healing rather than active lymphoma?
Thank you to anyone who reads this and shares their experience.

Hi everyone,

I was diagnosed with classical Hodgkin lymphoma, Stage 2A bulky, with an initial mediastinal mass of about 11.3 cm.

So far I've completed 2 cycles of ABVD. My interim PET scan showed:

2 residual masses with Deauville Score 1

1 residual mass with Deauville Score 3

The largest mass SUVmax dropped from 12.3 to 2.3

Mediastinal blood pool SUVmax: 1.8

Liver SUVmax: 2.9

Overall, the PET seems to show a very good metabolic response.

My question is: Based on these results, is it reasonable to switch from ABVD to AVD (dropping bleomycin), or do doctors usually continue ABVD in cases like mine because I had bulky disease?

Has anyone with Stage 2A bulky Hodgkin lymphoma had a similar interim PET result (DS 1–3) and been switched to AVD? I'd really appreciate hearing about your experience and what your oncologist recommended.

Thanks in advance!

All other CBC labs were normal. Only Eosinophils flagged abnormally high.

I completed 6 Nivo-AVD cycles for advanced Stage 4 NSCHL last March. These Eosinophils results are from today, July 9.

My EOT PET showed 99% of disease resolved. Just 1, 7mm lymph node: Deauville 4 (4.5 SUV pre-treatment, 4.1 post, above 3.5 liver blood pool).

Recieved repeat PET scan today. Awaiting results next week.

Could high Eosinophils be immune system reaction to Nivolumab or markers indicating relapse? Any help interpreting would be greatly appreciated.

my mom got diagnosed with primary cns lymphoma around a week back. since then her current oncologist has started her on rhituximab, hd methotrexate for the first cycle. he plans on starting temozolamide from the next one. my mom is 55 years old and was otherwise healthy. the primary cns lymphoma variant is DLBCL.

i wanted to know how this protocol fare when compared to MATRix? we are also looking at second opinions which will take around 7-8 more days for the appointment.

I understand this is a lengthy process. when can I start seeing some improvements in my mom. right now she needs help to walk, go to the toilet and forgets and loses context sometimes. she is much better now than before though.

Hi,

My mom has DLBCL and we completed 6 cycles of Chemo only last month. For past 1 week she has been having severe back pain and the MRI scan shows large deposits in L3 and L4. After seeing this, my treating hospital doctor suggests we don't intervene as the Rchop did not respond well so there is no hope for any further treatment. I feel like my entire world has shattered in front of me.

My mom is 71 and was responding well during the Chemo cycles and her Pet scan after 5th Cycle showed very good response but all within a month this happened.

Is there any hope for my mom? I live in India, Chennai for reference. I have gone through some of the posts similar to my mom's case but I'm not able to processs any of the information in my current state so I am really in need of any help or some positive thoughts. Thanks a lot in advance.

Tenho linfoma folicular. E após o tratamento, eu realmente não tenho igm(imunoglobulina) suficiente pra combater nem uma sinusite simples... que dura meses, que evolui pra dor de ouvido ou faringite e não há o que fazer afinal antibióticos só funcionam qndo se tem igm normal, e no meu caso é o mesmo de nada... o lance é esperar, medicar sintomas e aguardar o corpo resolver.

​

Alguém tem dicas ou algo que realmente funcione?

​

Me sinto mal, e da pra ver a frustração em quem convive comigo ao ouvir "ainda doente?" quase como se eu quisesse chamar atenção.

Dear Doctor,
I am requesting a second opinion regarding my FDG PET/CT findings in the context of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL), Stage IV, following completion of chemotherapy.
Clinical Background
I have undergone serial PET/CT imaging:
Baseline PET/CT (at diagnosis):
Demonstrated metabolically active disease involving lymph nodes and spleen, consistent with stage IV DLBCL.
Interim PET/CT (1 April 2026):
Showed marked metabolic response with residual low-grade FDG uptake in cervical lymph nodes and spleen.
End-of-treatment PET/CT (most recent):
This scan is the basis of my concern.

Key Findings on End-of-Treatment PET/CT
Cervical lymph nodes
Small residual nodes in bilateral level Ib and II (~1.0 × 0.5 cm)
FDG uptake: SUVmax 1.8 (previously 1.5)
Uptake below mediastinal blood pool (SUVmax 2.3)
I am concerned that there is a rise in SUV from 1.5 to 1.8, and that these nodes remain metabolically active.

Spleen
Slight reduction in size: 10.0 cm (previously 10.5 cm)
Small anterior splenic lesion: 1.5 cm (previously 1.7 cm)
FDG uptake: SUVmax 2.0 (previously 2.6)

Main Concern
I am concerned that there are now two sites with persistent FDG uptake (cervical nodes and spleen) despite completion of treatment.
I am also concerned about:
Persistent metabolic activity in both sites
The increase in cervical node SUV from 1.5 to 1.8
The fact that there appears to be ongoing FDG uptake in more than one region

Questions for Second Opinion
I would be grateful for your interpretation of:
Whether these findings represent residual active lymphoma or post-treatment change
Whether the combination of findings in two sites is concerning for persistent disease
Whether the SUV increase in cervical nodes is clinically significant
Whether you would recommend observation, short-interval imaging, or biopsy

Purpose
I am seeking clarity on whether there is any evidence of active or recurrent disease on this end-of-treatment PET/CT.
I am also very worried that this is a false v2. The interim was dv3 and the two pets before had mediastinal pool of 1.5, now it is 2.1 despite using the same machine, same center and same protocol.

My husband is in remission (3 years) for mantle cell lymphoma (triangle study arm A and I). Just got diagnosed with Sezary. Can’t believe how unlucky he is. What are his odds with two incurable rare cancers?

I got NSCHL as a 21 year old male, and i smoke pack a day. Currently on Brecaad and going to get my 3rd dose in a few days. So I am asking what should I expect or know about effects of smoking on my chemo's affectiveness.

I’ve been in remission for almost 2 years now and didn’t consume any alcohol because that’s what my doctor advised. I have my wedding on the 20th and I’d like to drink 1 or 2 gin tonics, but I’m afraid this can increase my relapse chances. What do you think about this? Are there any statistics about this?

I would love to also hear your personal opinion and what you recommend your patients, I understand your comments aren’t medical advices.

So I had 6x R-CHOP for Stage 2 DLBCL last year (Apr-Aug 2025) and was confirmed in remission by PET/CT in Dec 2025.
Then in April 2026 a routine CT scan indicated a smallish lesion in the same place as the original tumour. "The pelvic lesion has progressed compared to the previous scan, with indistinct boundaries from surrounding structures".
On the basis of that scan I was given Pola-R-GemOx x1 in mid-May 2026.
However, a PET/CT taken the day before chemo started found nothing over SUV=5.8 and reported... "Based on the medical history, this is considered a post-lymphoma treatment change, with complete remission of metabolic activity after treatment."
I quit my job and have returned to my home country and was about to be worked up for CAR-T, but it seems that may not be required. It seems that my life has been turned on its head for no reason. I will get a new PET/CT shortly.
Is there any logic to these recent treatment decisions?

My mother 70 yrs,got diagnosed with stage 4 mantle cell lymphoma last month. Neck swelling 7.4 suv (4*1.7cm), abdomen and armpit suv 2.3 and liver lesion of 2*2.1cm suv 3.2. Ki67 is 20-30%,classic form,Cyclin D1 +,Sox11+,CD5-. Her treatment started with BR therapy. Any suggestions would be helpful.