Thanks. My husband’s lymphoma is only in his bones (no other organ or lymph node involvement) . Small spots in a couple of places are gone. Of the two areas still showing on the PET scan, he had almost 80% reduction in the SVU in the largest area in his ileac bone & nearly 70% in a reduction in a much smaller area in his femur. I don’t know how large these lesions are. This is why we were curious as to why the doctor even brought up radiation since the R-EPOCH chemo seems to be working well. We are getting a consult with a radiological oncologist before cycle 4 and likely will get a second opinion.

Here is some info I found online. Hopefully, it helps you.

A doctor might suggest radiation therapy for Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) for several reasons:

-Localized Disease: If the lymphoma is localized to one area, such as a specific bone or lymph node, radiation therapy can be very effective at targeting and destroying the cancer cells in that area.

-Pain Management: If DLBCL has spread to the bones and is causing pain or other symptoms, radiation therapy can help relieve these symptoms by reducing the size of the tumor.

-Consolidation Therapy: After initial chemotherapy, radiation might be used to consolidate the treatment, ensuring that any remaining cancer cells are destroyed and reducing the risk of relapse.

-Bulky Disease: In cases where the lymphoma presents as a large mass (bulky disease), radiation can help shrink the tumor, making it easier to manage and treat with other therapies.

-Recurrence Prevention: In some cases, radiation is used as a preventive measure to stop the spread or recurrence of lymphoma in specific areas.

The decision to use radiation therapy depends on various factors, including the stage and location of the lymphoma, the patient's overall health, and the response to initial treatments. The oncologist will tailor the treatment plan to the patient's needs to achieve the best possible outcome.

I can tell you why radiation was not a good choice for me after DLBCL RCHOP, and it might answer your question: the doctor said radiation would only be useful if you had just one area with cancer remaining and that the tumor needed to be about an inch in size at least. I had several small spots and it was not recommended.

Hi Nancy, it's a complicated journey through all this science. I have heard of radiation adding extra eradication, but I'm no expert. Good wishes to you and your lucky husband, who has a keen and interested wife to explore these things. Please let us know where you go with this, as I may be facing the same choice.
Cheers,
James

Hi Nancy,Is your husband receiving EPOCH-R? My husband had two rounds so far. His DLBCL was extranodal in his testicle(which he had removed) and also in his back towards his spine. Intrathecal chemo (into the spine) and radiation have been put to us as a possibility. We need a lot more info before proceeding with either. I hope someone who has already had radiation responds.
Wishing you and your husband all the best.
Katie