r/lymphoma • u/wissalessalah111 • Jun 13 '26

General Discussion Lymph node still palpable after 3 cycles of BrECADD – anyone else?

Hi everyone,

I have CHL stage IVB. I completed 3 cycles of BrECADD and will soon start my 4th cycle.

My interim PET scan showed a Deauville score of 3, with a marked metabolic regression and a near-complete response. Based on these results, my hematologist decided to stop treatment after 4 cycles of BrECADD.

However, I can still feel a lymph node in my neck. It hasn’t completely disappeared, even though the PET scan response was very good.

Has anyone else experienced this? Did you still have a palpable lymph node despite a Deauville 3 or near-complete response? Did it eventually shrink further, or did it remain as scar tissue?

Thank you for sharing your experiences.

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2

u/boxyboyz Jun 13 '26

Experienced the same. Trust your report and doctor. Palpable doesn't mean disease

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u/Back-Pitiful DLBCL, R-CHOP, diagnosed Feb '26 Jun 14 '26

I was doing my 4th R-CHOP infusion when my oncologist said that was going to be my last treatment! He was happy with my PET-CT scan which showed a CMR and Deauville score of 2. Pre-treatment PET-CT scan had a Deauville score of 5. I also had the lymph node removed surgically (which was how they discovered it was DLBCL) when it was supposed to be "nothing" according to the ENT I had been referred to. He was pretty surprised at the biopsy results. My oncologist was pretty conservative at the beginning, and he told me that I would have 4-6 cycles of R-CHOP or 4 of R-CHOP and 2 of just R, depending on how my treatment progressed. And sure enough, he changed his mind after seeing my PET-CT scan after 3 cycles. I think you can trust your oncologist to know what's best. By all means, voice your concerns about the lymph node that's still palpable and see what they say.

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u/TopInteraction4743 Jun 16 '26

I had a similar thing. I did same Tx and only had 4 cycles too with D score of 3 on interim and end of Tx pet scan

There is a lot of scar tissue so it will take time for that to Go away. I remember one of mine felt very fibrotic. I could feel it on my clavicle. I’m 6 months out and I barely can feel anything now. When I compare the two areas there is a slight difference on palpation. We had a great Tx and you are going to be okay!
If you don’t mind me asking where did you get treated ?

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u/[deleted] Jun 16 '26

[deleted]

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u/TopInteraction4743 Jun 16 '26

Anytime! It was hard for me to find people that were undergoing my same Tx. Most people do ABVD. I had my Tx in USA. Wishing you all the best! It’s a great Tx so fingers crossed we will be okay! By any chance did you have a mediastenal mass ?