follicular lymphoma

2 months ago, they told me I have follicular lymphoma grade 3.  My only sign is adenopathy in my neck (the biggest node is 2 cm) for 2 years.  I passed a ct-scan march 07 and an other one mid-october to see the progression.  My biggest node is now 0.9 cm.  I didn't received any treatment yet.  Is it possible that the nodes shrink like that?  My onco seems to wonder if I have cancer?

[Fernando Roque, MD]

Indolent or slow growing lymphomas such as follicular lymphomas may show little disease activity over a number of years.  Up to 23 percent (in some studies) can show episodes of spontaneous regression (“shrinking”) during that period of indolence.  However, regardless of these episodes of regression, some follicular lymphomas eventually become more clinically active, thus necessitating the initiation of treatment.