Mycosis fungoides is one type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).
From a practical viewpoint doctors divide all the various types of NHL into one of three groups: low grade, high grade or intermediate grade. This division is based on the appearances under the microscope and helps predict how the condition will behave.
Low grade NHLs usually have a relatively slow growth rate, running a long course and often needing little or no treatment for months or possibly years. When they do need treatment they respond well but are likely to come back again at some time in the future. They frequently respond to treatment on several occasions over the years but may eventually become resistant or transform to a high grade form of NHL.
High grade types of NHL usually grow more rapidly and behave more aggressively and so need immediate treatment. Despite this they are more likely to be completely cured than low grade NHLs. Around half of all people with high grade forms of NHL will be cured by the use of intensive chemotherapy.
Intermediate types of NHL lie somewhere between these two extremes in their behaviour.
Mycosis fungoides is a low grade lymphoma and usually only progresses very slowly.
If the disease is limited to small area then it may be treated with radiotherapy, chemotherapy - in the form of creams applied to the skin, or a combination a drug called psoralen and exposure to ultraviolet light (this is called PUVA therapy). PUVA is a simple and painless treatment which involves taking the psoralen by mouth, this then sensitises the skin to ultraviolet radiation, which is given by sitting in front of a special lamp, about two hours later. The treatment is often repeated on a number of occasions but excessive treatment must be avoided as it can, itself, lead to skin cancer if overused. If the condition has spread to lymph nodes or other organs in the body then chemotherapy is used.
When it is confined to the skin mycosis fungoides is very sensitive to treatment. If it is confined to a small area it can often be cured but even when a cure is not possible treatment can control the condition for many years and often for decades. When mycosis fungoides has spread to the lymph nodes or other organs it does behave more aggressively but even so chemotherapy can usually control the condition for some years.