Treatment FAQ

how effective is lymphoma treatment

by Carol Baumbach Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
image

Overall, treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma is highly effective and most people with the condition are eventually cured.

Medication

Hodgkin’s lymphoma is treatable, especially in its early stages. The one-year survival rate for all patients diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma is about 92 percent. The five-year survival rate is about 86 percent. For people with stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma, the survival rate is lower.

Procedures

  • Age older than 60
  • Stage 3 or 4
  • Lymphoma in more than one organ of your body outside the lymph nodes
  • Needing a lot of help with daily activities
  • Having a high level in your blood of LDH (a protein that increases with tissue damage)

Therapy

Your long-term outlook for stage 4 lymphoma will vary, depending on a number of factors, including: According to the ACS, the five-year survival rate for stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma is about 65 percent. The five-year survival rate for people with stage 4 NHL varies depending on the subtype of NHL and other factors.

Self-care

These doctors could include:

  • A medical oncologist or hematologist: a doctor who treats lymphoma with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy.
  • A radiation oncologist: a doctor who treats cancer with radiation therapy.
  • A bone marrow transplant doctor: a doctor who specializes in treating cancer or other diseases with bone marrow or stem cell transplants.

Nutrition

What is the success rate of lymphoma treatment?

What is the life expectancy of someone with lymphoma cancer?

How long can someone live with Stage 4 lymphoma?

What is the best treatment for lymphoma?

image

What is the most effective treatment for lymphoma?

Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy uses drugs to destroy fast-growing cells, such as cancer cells. The drugs are usually administered through a vein, but can also be taken as a pill, depending on the specific drugs you receive.

Can lymphoma be cured easily?

Lymphoma is very treatable, and the outlook can vary depending on the type of lymphoma and its stage. Your doctor can help you find the right treatment for your type and stage of the illness. Lymphoma is different from leukemia. Each of these cancers starts in a different type of cell.

How long does lymphoma treatment usually last?

Treatment is normally given in short daily sessions, Monday to Friday, usually for no more than 3 weeks.

Is chemotherapy successful for lymphoma?

Chemotherapy (chemo) is the use of anti-cancer drugs that are usually injected into a vein (IV) or taken by mouth. These drugs enter the bloodstream and reach almost all areas of the body, making this treatment very useful for lymphoma.

Can you live 20 years with lymphoma?

Most people with indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma will live 20 years after diagnosis. Faster-growing cancers (aggressive lymphomas) have a worse prognosis. They fall into the overall five-year survival rate of 60%.

Can you live a normal life after lymphoma?

It takes time but most people adjust well to life after a diagnosis of lymphoma and find a 'new normal'. This might involve making some changes to your everyday life.

Which type of lymphoma is curable?

Hodgkin lymphoma is one of the most curable types of cancer. Treatment options include the following: Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy and radiation that directly targets the lymphoma.

Can lymphoma shrink on its own?

Sometimes the lymphoma is active, which means that it's making lots of cancerous cells. At other times, it's less active, and some of the lymphoma cells die. Lymph nodes sometimes grow (during times of high activity) and shrink (when activity is lower), especially in people with low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Which lymphoma is easiest to treat?

Hodgkin lymphoma is considered one of the most treatable cancers, with more than 90 percent of patients surviving more than five years. Most patients with Hodgkin lymphoma live long and healthy lives following successful treatment.

Can lymphoma spread while on chemo?

You might have intrathecal chemotherapy if you have: Lymphoma in your brain and spinal cord; central nervous system (CNS). A type of high-grade lymphoma that can sometimes spread to the CNS (such as Burkitt lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with particular risk features) or lymphoblastic lymphoma.

What happens if chemo doesn't work for lymphoma?

If the lymphoma doesn't respond to the initial treatment or if it comes back later, it may be treated with different chemo drugs, immunotherapy, targeted drugs, or some combination of these. If the lymphoma responds to this treatment, a stem cell transplant may be an option.

How many rounds of chemo is normal for lymphoma?

A typical chemotherapy regime for Hodgkin lymphoma might involve around six cycles of a combination of drugs, given over a period of six months. There are many different ways of giving chemotherapy.

What is the goal of lymphoma treatment?

The goal of treatment is to destroy as many cancer cells as possible and bring the disease into remission.

How to determine if lymphoma is present?

Advanced tests can determine if lymphoma cells are present and what types of cells are involved. Blood tests. Blood tests to count the number of cells in a sample of your blood can give your doctor clues about your diagnosis. Removing a sample of bone marrow for testing. A bone marrow aspiration and biopsy procedure involves inserting a needle ...

What tests can be done to determine if you have lymphoma?

Physical exam. Your doctor checks for swollen lymph nodes, including in your neck, underarm and groin, as well as a swollen spleen or liver. Removing a lymph node for testing. Your doctor may recommend a lymph node biopsy procedure to remove all or part of a lymph node for laboratory testing. Advanced tests can determine if lymphoma cells are ...

What is the treatment for cancer?

Radiation therapy . Radiation therapy uses high-powered beams of energy, such as X-rays and protons, to kill cancer cells. Bone marrow transplant. A bone marrow transplant, also known as a stem cell transplant, involves using high doses of chemotherapy and radiation to suppress your bone marrow.

Can lymphoma be treated with supplements?

No supplements have been found to treat lymphoma. But integrative medicine may help you cope with the stress of a cancer diagnosis and the side effects of cancer treatment. Talk to your doctor about your options, such as: Physical activity. Art therapy. Meditation. Music therapy. Relaxation exercises. Acupuncture.

Lymphoma Prognosis

The outlook for people with lymphoma has never been better, thanks to advances in molecular and genetic tumor testing and improvements in understanding the biology of different lymphoma types.

Why choose Memorial Sloan Kettering for lymphoma treatment?

At Memorial Sloan Kettering, we are committed to providing all our patients with access to the most effective and innovative treatments. Our lymphoma patients have excellent outcomes and receive superior care.

What is the treatment for lymphoma?

Radiotherapy. Radiotherapy— or involved field radiation (IFR)—is another fairly common lymphoma treatment. Radiation is not as common in lymphoma as it is in solid-tumor cancers, because radiation is more effective against solid tumors.

What is watch and wait for lymphoma?

Also called watchful waiting, ' watch and wait ' refers to an option for some of the more indolent or slow-growing lymphomas in which the patient receives no direct treatment at all. Rather, the patient and his or her doctor simply keep a close eye on the patient's health and well-being, aware that they have cancer but also aware that it is causing no problems and that treatment can wait until a time when the disease worsens or becomes noticeable.

Can lymphoma be treated with chemotherapy?

Although many subtypes of lymphoma are highly treatable, other forms are not. Some forms are very quick to become resistant to chemotherapy, and recur soon after treatment finishes. These are very aggressive cancers and tend not to respond to treatment.

Can IFR be used for lymphoma?

When a person with lymphoma has so-called "bulky disease", meaning they have a large tumor possibly in the chest or neck, then IFR will likely be a treatment option, since radiologists can focus the radiation on the tumor and try not to damage any of the surrounding healthy tissue.

Do terminal patients live longer in hospice?

Unknown to many is the reality that terminal patients tend to live longer and have a higher quality of life when on hospice care then when being given a new drug or another round of chemotherapy. Ultimately the decision must be made by the patient and with the help or his or her loved ones.

Do doctors know how to treat cancer?

At this stage, doctors generally do not know how to treat the cancer effectively. Clinical trials are not always the preferred direction. Patients may not be interested in receiving yet another drug or medication, even though they would likely receive the best treatment in such a trial.

Is Rituxan a biological therapy?

Immunotherapy —also known as biological therapy— is a growing treatment field in all cancers, and especially in lymphomas. Notably, the immunotherapeutic drug Rituxan has significantly improved the lives of many lymphoma patients, and is given as a single agent (for example, many patients with follicular lymphoma receive Rituxan on a maintenance basis) and as a part of a larger combination chemotherapy regimen (for instance, Rituxan is the R in the R-CHOP regimen).

What is the best treatment for lymphoma?

Depending on the type and stage (extent) of the lymphoma and other factors, treatment options for people with NHL might include: 1 Chemotherapy for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma 2 Immunotherapy for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma 3 Targeted Therapy Drugs for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma 4 Radiation Therapy for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma 5 High-Dose Chemotherapy and Stem Cell Transplant for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma 6 Surgery for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

What kind of doctor treats lymphoma?

Based on your treatment options, you may have different types of doctors on your treatment team. These doctors could include: A medical oncologist or hematologist: a doctor who treats lymphoma with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy. A radiation oncologist: a doctor who treats cancer with radiation therapy.

Why is communicating with your cancer team important?

Communicating with your cancer care team is important so you understand your diagnosis, what treatment is recommended, and ways to maintain or improve your quality of life. Different types of programs and support services may be helpful, and can be an important part of your care. These might include nursing or social work services, financial aid, ...

What do people with cancer need?

People with cancer need support and information, no matter what stage of illness they may be in. Knowing all of your options and finding the resources you need will help you make informed decisions about your care.

Why are clinical trials important?

Clinical trials are one way to get state-of-the art cancer treatment. In some cases they may be the only way to get access to newer treatments. They are also the best way for doctors to learn better methods to treat cancer. Still, they're not right for everyone.

What is complementary medicine?

Complementary methods refer to treatments that are used along with your regular medical care. Alternative treatments are used instead of a doctor’s medical treatment.

What are the services offered by the American Cancer Society?

These might include nursing or social work services, financial aid, nutritional advice, rehab, or spiritual help. The American Cancer Society also has programs and services – including rides to treatment, lodging, and more – to help you get through treatment.

What is the treatment for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma?

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) tends to grow quickly. Most often, the treatment is chemotherapy (chemo), usually with a regimen of 4 drugs known as CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone), plus the monoclonal antibody rituximab (Rituxan). This regimen, known as R-CHOP, is most often given in cycles 3 weeks apart.

What is the treatment for follicular lymphoma?

If treatment is needed for follicular lymphoma that is only in 1 lymph node group or in 2 nearby groups that are both above or below the diaphrag m (the thin muscle separating the chest from the abdomen), the preferred treatment is radiation therapy to the lymph node areas affected by lymphoma (called involved site radiation ). Other choices include treatment with chemo plus a monoclonal antibody (rituximab [Rituxan] or obinutuzumab [Gazyva]), or rituximab alone, which might be followed by radiation therapy.

How to treat malt lymphoma?

Early-stage gastric MALT lymphomas are treated with antibiotics combined with drugs that block acid secretion by the stomach (called proton pump inhibitors ). Usually the drugs are given for 10 to 14 days. This may be repeated after a couple of weeks. Examination of the stomach lining using upper endoscopy (where a flexible tube with a viewing lens is passed down the throat and into the stomach) is then repeated at certain intervals to see if the H. pylori is gone and if the lymphoma has shrunk. About 2 out of 3 of these lymphomas go away completely with antibiotic treatment, but it can sometimes take several months to be effective. In cases where symptoms need to be relieved before the antibiotics take effect or where antibiotics don’t shrink the lymphoma, radiation therapy to the area is often the preferred treatment. The monoclonal antibody rituximab may be another option.

What is a chemo drug?

The chemo can be a single drug (such as bendamustine) or a combination of drugs, such as the CHOP ( cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vin cristine, prednisone) or CVP ( cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone) regimens. If some lymph nodes are very large from the lymphoma, radiation may be used to reduce symptoms.

What happens if you have a positive PET scan after chemo?

If the PET/CT scan is positive (shows possible active lymphoma), radiation may be needed.

What is the best treatment for mantle cell lymphoma?

For mantle cell lymphomas that don’t respond or that come back after initial treatment, chemo with drugs such as bendamustine, bortezomib (Velcade), cladribine, fludarabine, or lenalidomide (Revlimid) may be used, sometimes along with other chemo drugs or with rituximab.

How long does it take for lymphoma to come back?

It often comes back after treatment, although it can take many years to do so. It’s not always clear if the lymphoma needs to be treated right away, especially if the lymphoma isn’t causing problems other than mildly swollen lymph nodes. Some people may never need treatment at all. For those who do, sometimes it might be years before treatment is needed.

How to cure lymphoma?

Eat fiber rich diet including fruits and vegetables as it can help in flushing the toxins out of your body and boost your immunity. High fiber diet is referred as a natural cure for lymphoma.

What is the best medicine for lymphoma?

Licorice is rich in steroid like compounds that helps you in recovering from lymphoma. Licorice also contains certain chemical compounds that prevent the spread of lymphoma to other parts of your body. Licorice is considered as an effectual cure for lymphoma. 4. Parsley.

How to cure lymphoma naturally?

Sunlight. Image:ShutterStock. Vitamin D deficiency can increase the risk of developing stomach cancer. 20 minutes daily sun exposure can help in balancing the vitamin D levels in your blood serum and thus reduces the risk of lymphoma.

Which type of lymphoma is more common in men than women?

More men are affected by Hodgkin lymphoma when compared to women. 2. Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. In this type of lymphoma B-cells and T-cells both are affected. B-cells and T-cells are known to play a major role in developing immunity. B-cell lymphoma is more common than T-cell lymphoma.

What is the immune system affected by lymphoma?

Lymphoma is a type of cancer that affects your immune system. Lymphocytes are the cells that are affected in this type of cancer. These are the cells present in your lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, thymus and other parts of your body. The lymphocytes changes and grow uncontrollably and form a mass of cells that leads to formation of tumour.

What is the best herbal treatment for lymphoma?

Olive leaf extract is one of the essential herbal extract used to treat tumours. Polyphenols and flavanoids are present in the olive leaf extract and play an important role in body’s cancer defence. Olive leaf extract is one of the best home cures for lymphoma. 13. Green tea extract.

What is the main defence against cancer?

Proteolytic enzymes are the main defence present in your body against cancer. Proteolytic enzyme therapy along with a healthy nutritious diet creates an environment in your body that speed up the healing process thus, aids in lymphoma cures.

What is the treatment for T cell lymphoma?

Folotyn (pralatrexate injection) is an antineoplastic (anti-cancer) drug used to treat T-cell lymphoma that has spread throughout the body. Folotyn is given for relapsed T-cell lymphoma, or after other medications have been tried without successful treatment.

What is lymphoma cancer?

What is lymphoma? Lymphoma is cancer that affects the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is a part of the body’s immune system, which helps in filtering foreign cells and microorganisms. The lymphatic system comprises lymph fluid, lymph nodes, tonsils, thymus, and spleen.

What are the symptoms of Burkitt lymphoma?

Gene mutations, malaria, and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) may increase the risk of these cancers. Symptoms of Burkitt lymphoma may include nausea, vomiting, headache, fatigue, enlarged lymph nodes , and many other symptoms. Diagnosis involves lab testing, imaging studies, patient history, and cytogenic evaluation. There are multiple staging systems used to stage Burkitt lymphoma. Treatment consists of chemotherapy. The prognosis of the cancer tends to be more favorable in children than in adults.

What test is done to confirm if a lymphoma has reached the bone marrow?

Bone marrow aspiration: These are done to confirm if the lymphoma has reached the bone marrow. Lumbar puncture: This test detects the lymphoma cell in the brain. Pleural or peritoneal fluid sampling: Lymphoma, if spread to the chest and abdomen can be traced using this method.

Where are lymph nodes found?

These cells are normally found in the lymph nodes, spleen, thymus, and bone marrow.

What tests are used to diagnose non-Hodgkin lymphoma?

Imaging tests, such as chest X-ray, computed tomography scan, ultrasound, positron emission tomography scan, and a bone scan, help in diagnosing non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Blood tests, such as complete blood cell count, blood chemistry tests, and lactate dehydrogenase tests, help in diagnosing the advancement of the disease.

What are the risk factors for lymphoma?

The exact source of the disease is unknown; however, multiple conditions act as risk factors, in the development of the disease: Family history of lymphoma. Exposure to various chemicals present in the herbicides, pesticides, solvents, and preservatives. Genetic disorder s, such as down syndrome.

How long do people with Hodgkin's lymphoma live?

There are very few cancers for which doctors will use the word cure right off the bat, but Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), the most common cancer diagnosis among children and young adults, comes pretty darn close: Ninety percent of patients with stages 1 and 2 go on to survive five years or more; even patients with stage 4 have a 65 percent survival ...

What is the treatment for HL?

For years, the standard of care for treating HL was to use a combination of radiation and chemotherapy, a one-two punch that blasted cancer cells and could also have a seriously destructive impact on surrounding healthy cells.

What is the drug that is given before chemotherapy?

Along with his MD Anderson colleagues, Roth is investigating whether first giving patients a cardio-protective drug known as dexrazoxane (Zinecard, Totect) before chemotherapy can head off heart problems later. “The data is still coming in, but the early evidence is promising,” he says.

What is the immunotherapy drug that is used to pummel proteins on the surface of cancer cells?

“We’ve seen encouraging responses with an immunotherapy drug called Keytruda (pembrolizumab), which is what’s called a checkpoint inhibitor ,” Lisa Roth explains.

How long does HL last?

There are very few cancers for which doctors will use the word 'cure' right off the bat, but Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), the most common cancer diagnosis among children and young adults, comes pretty darn close: Ninety percent of patients with stages 1 and 2 go on to survive 5 years or more ; even patients with stage 4 have a 65 percent survival rate.

What is car T cell therapy?

Another new treatment, known as CAR T cell therapy (CAR stands for chimeric antigen receptor), has shown promise in treating acute leukemia as well as non-Hodgkin lymphoma. “Basically, we take out a patient’s immune system, edit it so that it will target tumor cells, then put it back into the body,” says Michael Roth.

Does Hodgkin lymphoma require radiation?

This unexpected fallout has led to a major shift in the management of Hodgkin lymphoma — one that calls for less radiation , when possible, as well as targeted treatments that harness the body’s immune system to attack only tumor cells and leave healthy cells in peace.

What is the treatment regimen for lymphoma?

Many patients who are treated for lymphoma are given combination chemotherapy, which means two or more drugs, instead of single-agent therapy. These chemotherapy drugs are given in a specific order (schedule) during certain days of each treatment cycle—this is called a treatment regimen.

What are the benefits of chemotherapy?

An advantage of chemotherapy is that it can also travel throughout the bloodstream to kill the cancer cells wherever they may be located. Many patients who are treated for lymphoma are given combination chemotherapy, ...

What is the purpose of chemo?

The purpose of chemotherapy is to kill cancer cells. It is usually used to treat cancer when it is systemic, meaning that the cancer has spread throughout the body. Lymphoma is caused by uncontrolled growth in one or the other of two types of white blood cells called T cells and B cells.

How often do you take chemo?

During chemotherapy, patients receive the drug or drugs orally (pill taken by mouth) or intravenously (IV; injection directly into the vein), one or more times a week for one or more weeks, followed by a rest period.

Does chemotherapy kill cancer cells?

Chemotherapy halts cell growth and division to prevent cancer cells from making more and more cancer cells; however, chemotherapy drugs not only affect the cancer cells, but also any normal rapidly dividing cells, which can cause side effects. The purpose of chemotherapy is to kill cancer cells. It is usually used to treat cancer ...

Is Bendamustine approved for CLL?

Bendamustine is approved for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and also approved for the treatment of indolent B-cell NHL that has progressed during or within six months of treatment with rituximab or a rituximab-containing regimen.

image

Diagnosis

Treatment

Clinical Trials

Alternative Medicine

Medically reviewed by
Dr. Rakshith Bharadwaj
Your provider will work with you to develop a care plan that may include one or more of these treatment options.
Treatments include medications, radiation therapy, and bone marrow transplant.
Medication

Chemotherapy: Drugs to kill cancer cells, either as pill or injected directly into the bloodstream through the veins (intravenous).

Methotrexate


Targeted drug therapy: Drugs that target a particular substance on the cancer cells are used to destroy them.

Bortezomib


Immunotherapy: Work by targeting various proteins on tumor cells.

Nivolumab

Procedures

Bone marrow transplantation: Also known as stem cell transplant, the therapy involves introducing healthy bone marrow stem cells from a donor.

Therapy

Radiation therapy:Uses powerful rays to kill cancer cells.

Self-care

Always talk to your provider before starting anything.

  • Get adequate rest
  • Eat a healthy and nutritious diet

Nutrition

Foods to eat:

  • NA

Foods to avoid:

  • NA

Specialist to consult

Oncologist
Specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
Hematologist
Specializes in the study of the blood and blood disorders.

Coping and Support

Preparing For Your Appointment

  • Which lymphoma treatments are right for you depends on the type and stage of your disease, your overall health, and your preferences. The goal of treatment is to destroy as many cancer cells as possible and bring the disease into remission. Lymphoma treatments include: 1. Active surveillance.Some forms of lymphoma are very slow growing. You and your doctor may decide t…
See more on mayoclinic.org

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9