Answers from the Experts: Q&A – June 2026

Do you have questions about cutaneous lymphoma and/or treatments? Our clinical Q&A's are a great way to learn more and empower yourself with knowledge from experts in their field. (Click on "more" for questions and timestamps.) Clinical Panel Jina Chung, MD, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Alison Moskowitz, MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Timestamps 3:03 What is the difference between macules, papules, and tumors? Do macules and papules turn into tumors? Should I ask for a flow cytometry test if I have macules and papules? 4:56 Besides mogamulizumab which options are available for Sézary patients? 7:06 What is the initial treatment for high burden Sézary? 8:20 I have been receiving phototherapy for 29 sessions. The rash is improving, but still there. How often do rashes reappear and will I be on phototherapy for the rest of my life? 10:28 Why are we made to wait for years before treatment? The opposite of all other cancer treatments which tend to start asap. Why can’t light therapy be started right away? 11:42 What is the likelihood of liver or pancreatic issues when going on oral Bexarotene? What dietary changes are needed? 13:10 I was recently diagnosed with PVA, likely related to my stage 1B MF. Since PVA makes the skin more fragile, are there typical CTCL treatments that might be contraindicated? 14:42 I'm having radiotherapy on a lesion on my back. Is radiotherapy the only treatment? I have new small blisters appearing on my back and on my face no one seems to be concerned, should I be? Are there any other treatments? 15:54 Are there new state of the art avenues to early detection? 17:57 What is best way to deal with itching? 19:07 I'm on Bexarotene 75 mg for almost 2 years. It works well, almost no spots. Doctor says to continue anyway. Can Bexarotene be taken indefinitely? What is the longest period it was taken with no problems? 20:21 Is a recurrence (different spot from original) after 2-3 years be of concern? Does it change the mortality rate? 21:44 Is intralesional Rituximab used for primary cutaneous follicular center lymphoma, especially for someone who has lesions on their scalp? What other treatments are used? Are these treatments typically offered at most of the Treatment Centers? 25:49 Is there any way to manage the skin shedding? 27:44 My diagnosis recently went from MF to FMF. How does the treatment differ and is it still considered a manageable chronic illness? 29:08 Mycosis fungoides has effected my hands and fingers really bad. Can direct radiation treatment for the palm surface of hands effect my finger nails? 30:33 How do you know when your mycosis fungoides is in remission? 32:30 How unusual is it for CTL to be present in one or more lymph nodes, even though there is minimal skin involvement--less than 1% of skin area affected? 33:48 I’m wondering how to manage PRURIGO nodularis and if any other individuals have both MF and PN. 35:47 What's a common initial assessment session with a non-specialized dermatologist involve? What if a patient first attends a dermatologist appt. with beginning concerns evolving due to alarming symptoms? 36:39 I'm from a country where there's no medicine for my MF. Currently I'm on lenalidome which is the only option left I'm at stage 2b and I don't know what else to do. What options do I have? 38:16 I've been under treatment for MF for three years. Current treatments have been effective, but recently my plaques have started increasing and spreading. What should be my next step in treatment to make the plaques decrease, fade, and eventually vanish? What do you think of Lymphir, the recently approved treatment for CTCL? And romidepsin, the ready to use injection solution? 41:49 Someone mentioned intralesional rituximab but wouldn't that only be for a B cell cutaneous lymphoma (not T cell)? 42:17 I live in Florida and my husband has CTCL. There are no phototherapy beds near us except one, however it doesn’t take our insurance. Do you have any suggestions you tell your patients in this situation? 44:01 Are there any promising therapies in the pipeline for MF? I am particularly hopeful for something that triggers apoptosis of the clones/malignant T cells. 45:41 Can mogamulizumab cause red, swollen, and peeling hands, or is this more likely a sign of disease progression? 47:13 When should patients consider full body radiation? 50:34 If moga was tried, and stopped working, what is the likelihood of it working on a second try at a later date? 52:01 My specialist has never really told me what stage I am in. I’m on my third year of light therapy and various ointments. What is the importance of knowing my stage? 55:15 How do you deal with comorbid autoimmune disease especially when certain treatments such as moga can decrease the number of T regulatory cells which could worsen autoimmune conditions. Also wondering do you tend to see many patients who also have autoimmune disease?