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My neighbor 88 has single cell lymphoma

She had a flu shot and her armswelled upand had a rash than it went under her arm and a lump as big as a soft ball and hard.  Medicine got it down than before it was gone it than moved to under her jaw from ear to ear three inches out and than went into her gums and sinus and headaches. More penicilen and steriods/chrmisonepills Nov-Jan it stretched than she supposely got a cold which her lungs filled up and coughed up alot of clear  fluids and than this last week above both ankles got hard swelling and small rash/ the others had it also and hurt really bad.  One doctor said infection of the skin started with cell.... and the other doctor said maybe blood clots.  It had the same hardness as the other infections in lymphniods areas.  Her main doctor said it couldn't travel  through her body.  She is losing weight and really getting a burning felling when she eats so than she doesn't eat enough.  All this with a flu shot or is it the cancer.  They are just watching it every 6 months.  She said no more barium xrays because she can't eat for a long time after and so far everything stays the same. I went in with her today and asked all the questions I could for her.  Her doctor never talks things over with her and of course being in her 80's but really go mind and energy until now doesn't ask questions either.  So He finally talk and told her what she has and even for the first time wrote it down/ of course you could bearly read it.  Any way I'm just trying to check every thing out to help her.  No kids and her husband has passed away 10 years ago.  Rest of family don't hardly come around except when they thought she was dieing than they showed up like vultures.   Thanks
RBCF
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Avatar universal
Hi.
I admire your hard work and patience in caring for your neighbor.    For now, you can continue the supportive measures you are giving her.   I’m sure she appreciates all your efforts.  
Stay positive.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
She is on high blood presure medicine but other wise in good health before this.  Some times up set stomach really bad burning stomach and also her tongue has a burning sensation.  Maybe to many different pills from Nov-now She works in the big garden and I couldn't keep up with her. Losts about 10 lbs and not hungry.  I got her on Insure-boost \Dan Activia now.  She was really dehydrated but no one put her on IVs.  I was trying to get her to drank Gatoraid or Power aid and water.  

I'm not a relative and I don't know how much she wants me to do.  I'll see as we go. I think she didn't want to know the way she say. The old saying If you don't see, it it will go away.
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Avatar universal
Hi.
As I’ve said, there are so many issues surrounding treatment in geriatric patients.  One of them is the presence of comorbid illnesses like a heart problem.  Benefits should outweigh the risk in deciding treatment.   It is very important also to have a good family support at this point.
Perhaps you should ask her doctor what supportive measures should be given in order to control her symptoms.  
Please do post your updates.
Good luck.
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Avatar universal
No treatment just watch and wait.  it is very slow and they figure the kemo would be worse.  He said single cell Lymphoma your guess is as good as mine because so far I can't find it on the computor.  Where the shot was given on the arm  it swelled up and had a rash around it. Within todays it was under the arm and by three days it was the size of a softball and she couldn't put her arm down. hurt really bad.  She thought it was going to pop. before it was done it went into the jaw area.  She looked like a chipmunk completely filled cheeks.  there it went into the gums ,than sinis and ears. Her gums were so swollen she couldn't shut her mouth.  The swallen areas were relly hard . Than it went to her legs just above the ankles swollen some red patches of rash and really hard spots. That is about it.  Dentist and ER doctor both said it is kind of following the Lymphnoids and Her Doctor said it doesn't or she would be dead in a day.  who knows what is what. Well I'm not a doctor so we will have to see.

rbcf
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi.
I’m so sorry to hear about what happened to your neighbor.
Perhaps it was a coincidence that all her symptoms appeared after receiving the flu vaccine.   There are times, however, when patients do complain of symptoms after receiving a vaccine.
Do you know what type of lymphoma she has?  Is treatment being planned?
There are so many issues surrounding geriatric patients.  Risks and benefits of treatment need to be discussed fully.
Helpful - 0
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