Treatment FAQ

what is non hodgkin lymphoma treatment chemotherapy

by Dr. Cedrick Hirthe Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Chemotherapy is a widely used treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma that involves using medicine to kill cancer cells. It may be used on its own, combined with biological therapy, or combined with radiotherapy. The medication can be given in a number of different ways, depending on the stage of your cancer.

Medication

  • Chemotherapy for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
  • Immunotherapy for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
  • Targeted Therapy Drugs for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
  • Radiation Therapy for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
  • High-Dose Chemotherapy and Stem Cell Transplant for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
  • Surgery for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Procedures

Chemotherapy is a drug treatment that kills cancer cells. It can be given orally or by injection. Chemotherapy drugs can be used alone, in combination with other chemotherapy drugs or combined with other treatments. Chemotherapy is a common initial treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Therapy

The most important thing to know about your specific prognosis is the type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma you have. Slow-growing cancers (indolent lymphomas) have a better prognosis. Most people with indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma will live 20 years after diagnosis. Faster-growing cancers ( aggressive lymphomas) have a worse prognosis.

Self-care

The less common symptoms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma include:

  • Abdominal swelling or pain and a loss of appetite when the cancer is in the abdomen
  • Coughing, trouble breathing or chest pain when the cancer is in the chest
  • Itchy red or purple bumps when the cancer is in the skin

Nutrition

What are the main treatments for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma?

Is there a cure for non Hodgkin lymphoma?

What is the prognosis of non Hodgkin lymphoma?

What are the symptoms of non Hodgkins lymphoma?

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How long is the chemo treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma?

In practice, most people with high grade NHL have treatment as if it is an advanced cancer. This usually means quite intensive chemotherapy treatment with 3 or 4 different drugs, over 6 to 8 months. You have some or all of these drugs into your bloodsteam.

Is chemotherapy for lymphoma successful?

Usually chemotherapy works very well for most people with Hodgkin lymphoma. But sometimes the lymphoma may not completely respond to the treatment. If this happens it can still be treated successfully. Your doctor may talk to you about having more intensive chemotherapy with a stem cell transplant.

What is the most common treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma?

Chemotherapy is a common initial treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It might also be an option if your lymphoma comes back after your initial treatments. For people with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, chemotherapy is also used as part of a bone marrow transplant, also known as a stem cell transplant.

What type of chemo is used for Hodgkin's lymphoma?

Chemotherapy drugs used for Hodgkin lymphoma ABVD includes doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine. Other combinations of chemotherapy drugs used to treat HL are: BEACOPP – bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide (Procytox), vincristine, procarbazine (Matulane) and prednisone.

How many rounds of chemo is normal for lymphoma?

Treatment for many patients is chemotherapy (usually 2 to 4 cycles of the ABVD regimen), followed by radiation to the initial site of the disease (involved site radiation therapy, or ISRT). Another option is chemotherapy alone (usually for 3 to 6 cycles) in selected patients.

Do you lose your hair with chemo for lymphoma?

Hair loss is quite common in people who are treated with chemotherapy; overall, around 2 in 3 people experience hair loss. Chemotherapy kills lymphoma cells, but it can also destroy healthy cells, particularly those that normally divide quickly. Hair follicles produce hair.

What is the newest treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma?

Brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris) is made up of an antibody to CD30 that is attached to a cell poison. It has been shown to help treat patients with anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), and is now being studied for use against other types of lymphoma.

How long is a cycle of chemo?

Most cycles range from 2 to 6 weeks. The number of treatment doses scheduled within each cycle also depends on the prescribed chemotherapy. For example, each cycle may contain only 1 dose on the first day. Or, a cycle may contain more than 1 dose given each week or each day.

What happens after chemotherapy for lymphoma?

Most people experience some degree of tiredness in the days and weeks following chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Getting plenty of rest and doing a little light exercise each day may help to make you feel better during this time. It is important to listen to your body and rest when you are tired.

How many chemo treatments are given for non Hodgkin's lymphoma?

A common treatment is 6 courses of chemo with CHOP plus rituximab (R-CHOP). This may be followed by radiation to the mediastinum. Often a PET/CT scan is done after the chemo to see if there's any lymphoma remaining in the chest.

Is chemotherapy painful?

Does chemotherapy hurt? IV chemotherapy should not cause any pain while being administered. If you experience pain, contact the nurse taking care of you to check your IV line. An exception would be if there is a leak and the drug gets into surrounding tissues.

How do you feel after first round of chemo?

The most commonly reported side effect after receiving chemotherapy is fatigue. 7 Give yourself time for extra rest and sleep in the days after a session. Tell your healthcare provider if your fatigue begins to affect your ability to function or complete basic tasks, like bathing.

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.

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.

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.

Can you continue cancer treatment?

Whether or not you continue treatment, there are still things you can do to help maintain or improve your quality of life.

Is treatment information given here official policy of the American Cancer Society?

The treatment information given here is not official policy of the American Cancer Society and is not intended as medical advice to replace the expertise and judgment of your cancer care team. It is intended to help you and your family make informed decisions, together with your doctor.

What tests can be done to detect lymphoma?

Imaging tests. Your doctor may recommend imaging tests to look for signs of lymphoma cells elsewhere in your body. Tests may include CT, MRI and positron emission tomography (PET). Lymph node test. Your doctor may recommend a lymph node biopsy procedure to remove all or part of a lymph node for laboratory testing.

How does immunotherapy work?

Immunotherapy uses your immune system to fight cancer. Your body's disease-fighting immune system may not attack your cancer because the cancer cells produce proteins that help them hide from the immune system cells. Immunotherapy works by interfering with that process.

What tests can be done to check for swollen lymph nodes?

Physical exam. Your doctor checks for swollen lymph nodes, including in your neck, underarm and groin, as well as for a swollen spleen or liver. Blood and urine tests. Blood and urine tests may help rule out an infection or other disease. Imaging tests.

What is car T cell therapy?

A specialized treatment called chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)- T cell therapy takes your body's germ-fighting T cells, engineers them to fight cancer and infuses them back into your body. CAR -T cell therapy might be an option for certain types of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that haven't responded to other treatments.

What is the best way to kill cancer cells?

Radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses high-powered energy beams, such as X-rays and protons, to kill cancer cells. During radiation therapy, you lie on a table and a large machine moves around you, directing the energy beams to specific points on your body.

Can radiation kill lymphoma?

For certain types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, radiation therapy may be the only treatment you need, particularly if your lymphoma is slow growing and located in just one or two spots. More commonly, radiation is used after chemotherapy to kill any lymphoma cells that might remain.

Can immunotherapy be used for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma?

Immunotherapy drugs may be an option for certain types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma if other treatments haven't helped. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form.

What is chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy (chemo) uses anticancer medicines to kill cancer cells. These medicines are made to attack and kill cancer cells, which grow quickly. Some normal cells also grow quickly. Because of this, chemotherapy can also harm those cells. This can cause side effects.

When might chemotherapy be used for non-Hodgkin lymphoma?

Chemo is a main part of treatment for most people with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It may be used along with other treatments, such as radiation or targeted therapy. You will see a medical oncologist for chemo. This is a doctor who specializes in using medicines to treat cancer.

What types of medicines are used to treat non-Hodgkin lymphoma?

You'll most likely get more than 1 type of chemo medicine. This is called combination chemotherapy. Taking more than 1 type of medicine reduces the risk that the lymphoma will be resistant to the chemotherapy. That improves your chance of successful treatment. Which medicines you get and how often you get them depends on many factors.

What are common side effects of chemotherapy?

Chemo side effects depend on many things. These include the medicines you get, how long you take them, and how your body reacts to them. They also depend on how much cancer is in your body and your overall health. Most side effects get better or go away over time after treatment ends. Talk with your doctor or nurse about what to expect.

Working with your healthcare provider

It's important to know which medicines you're taking. Write down all your medicines. Ask your healthcare team how they work, and what side effects they might have.

What is the treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma?

Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy uses anti cancer (cytoxic) drugs to destroy cancer cells. It is used in various ways to treat low grade and high grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and to stop spread to the brain.

Does chemotherapy have side effects?

Side effects of chemotherapy. All chemotherapy drugs used to treat non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) have side effects. The drugs affect people in different ways. Most side effects are temporary but some can be permanent. Cookie Preference Centre.

Can you take chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin lymphoma?

You might have a combination of different chemotherapy drugs to treat non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Some drugs are given into the vein and others might be a tablet. The treatment will depend on your type of NHL.

How to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma?

Chemotherapy . It fights your disease with anti-cancer drugs, and it's a common way to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The disease affects immune cells that are spread around your body, and chemotherapy lets you reach these areas. Sometimes doctors inject the medicine into your vein, and sometimes you take it in a pill form.

What is targeted therapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma?

These targeted therapies include medications you take as pills, IV infusions, and injections.

What are some examples of kinase inhibitors?

Belinostat (Beleodaq) and romidepsin (Istodax) are examples. Kinase inhibitors. These drugs block a type of protein called a kinase, which in some cases is linked to cancer. The medicines include ibrutinib ( Imbruvica ), acalabrutinib (Calquence), idelalisib (Zydelig), and copanlisib (Aliqopa).

What drugs are used to break down proteins?

They keep your cells from breaking down certain important proteins. Bortezomib (Velcade) is one of these drugs that your doctor may suggest. Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors. They affect how the DNA in your body interacts with proteins and what genes are turned on and off.

What antibodies target CD20?

Ibritumomab tiuxetan (Zevalin), obinutuzumab (Gazyva), ofatumumab (Arzerra), and rituximab ( Rituxan) are all monoclonal antibodies that target CD20, a protein found on some white blood cells. Alemtuzumab (Campath) is an antibody directed at CD52, a different protein.

What is the best treatment for cancer?

Radiation. For this therapy, your doctor will use high-energy rays, like X-rays, to kill your cancer cells. You may also get radiation along with other treatments, like chemotherapy. Radiation therapy is painless and only takes a few minutes.

What is car T cell therapy?

CAR T-cell therapy, or chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, is used when at least two other kinds of treatment have failed. It’s made from your own white blood cells, which are altered to recognize and attack your lymphoma cells.

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Diagnosis

Treatment

Clinical Trials

Alternative Medicine

Medically reviewed by
Dr. Karthikeya T M
Your provider will work with you to develop a care plan that may include one or more of these treatment options.
The choice of treatment is based on the type and stage of lymphoma, age and overall health of the patient. Slow growing lymphoma may not require any treatment, but a regular follow-up may be recommended.
Medication

Chemotherapy: To kill cancer cells; administered orally or intravenously.

Cyclophosphamide . Doxorubicin


Targeted therapy: To improve body’s immune system.

Rituximab

Procedures

Bone marrow transplantation: It is also known as stem cell transplant and the therapy involves introducing healthy bone marrow stem cells from a donor.

Therapy

Radiation therapy:High-powered energy beams like X-rays are used to kill cancerous cells and shrink tumors.

Self-care

Always talk to your provider before starting anything.

  • Learn about your condition.
  • Keep your family and friends informed of your condition.
  • Eat a healthy and nutritious diet.
  • Remain active.

Nutrition

Foods to eat:

  • Foods rich in carbohydrates like rice, bread and pasta
  • Foods rich in vitamins and minerals like fruits and vegetables
  • Milk and other dairy Foods

Foods to avoid:

  • Foods rich in saturated fats like butter, meat and cakes
  • Processed Foods like sausages and crisps

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

  • Several non-Hodgkin's lymphoma treatments are available. Which treatment or combination of treatments is best for you will depend on the particulars of your lymphoma, such as the types of cells involved and whether your lymphoma is aggressive. Your doctor also considers your overall health and your preferences. If your lymphoma appears to be slow growing (indolent) and doesn'…
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