Medication
A chemotherapy regimen, or schedule, usually consists of a specific number of cycles of treatment given over a set number of weeks or months. There are many different types of chemotherapy that may be used to treat Hodgkin lymphoma. A patient may receive 1 drug at a time or a combination of different drugs given at the same time.
Procedures
In general, each cycle lasts for several weeks. Most chemo treatments are given in the doctor’s office, clinic, or hospital outpatient department, but some may require a hospital stay. Which chemo drugs are used to treat Hodgkin lymphoma?
Therapy
This section explains the types of treatments that are the standard of care for Hodgkin lymphoma. “Standard of care” means the best treatments known. When making treatment plan decisions, you are encouraged to consider clinical trials as an option. A clinical trial is a research study that tests a new approach to treatment.
Self-care
There are several second-line treatments available for Hodgkin lymphoma. These are used if the lymphoma does not go into complete remission with the first treatment or if it comes back after first-line treatment with ABVD or BEACOPP, also known as a recurrence.
Nutrition
What is a chemotherapy regimen for Hodgkin lymphoma?
How long do chemo treatments last for Hodgkin lymphoma?
What is the standard of care for Hodgkin lymphoma?
What are the second-line treatments for Hodgkin lymphoma?
What happens after chemo for lymphoma?
After finishing your treatment for lymphoma, you will have regular follow-up appointments at the hospital. These involve conversations and physical tests with a member of your medical team. One of the tests you are likely to have in the first few months after chemotherapy is your full blood count (FBC).
How many rounds of chemo is normal for Hodgkin's 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.
How long does it take to recover after ABVD chemo?
It can last anywhere from 2 hours to all day, depending on your wait time, infusion center size, how your body responds to the medication, and other factors. Rest – ABVD patients usually get two weeks off between infusions to recover. You'll probably start to feel better around Day 5-7.
What happens after ABVD chemo?
Hair loss from ABVD usually begins 10 - 14 days after the first doses. ABVD hair loss is often noticeable, and a wig or hair piece may be desired to camouflage the absence of hair until it grows back. Hair usually begins to grow back within a few weeks of the last cycle of ABVD chemo.
Which type of Hodgkin lymphoma has best prognosis?
Nodular sclerosing Hodgkin lymphoma has a higher survival rate than other types of classic Hodgkin lymphoma, with the five-year survival rate being greater than 90%.
How likely is Hodgkin's lymphoma returning?
Up to 90% of recurrences happen before the five-year mark. The occurrence of relapse after 10 years is rare. After 15 years, developing lymphoma is the same as its risk in the normal population. Even with a recurrence, many people with Hodgkin lymphoma go on to live long lives.
What is the next treatment after chemotherapy?
Adding a new drug that works in a different way can continue to shrink the cancer after the initial treatment. This approach is sometimes called "switch maintenance." Usually this involves switching from chemotherapy to another type of treatment, such as immunotherapy or targeted therapy.
What happens after chemotherapy is finished?
After chemotherapy ends, you will have regular appointments with your oncologist or haematologist to monitor your health, manage any long-term side effects, and check that the cancer hasn't come back or spread.
What should you not do during chemotherapy?
9 things to avoid during chemotherapy treatmentContact with body fluids after treatment. ... Overextending yourself. ... Infections. ... Large meals. ... Raw or undercooked foods. ... Hard, acidic, or spicy foods. ... Frequent or heavy alcohol consumption. ... Smoking.More items...•
What are the biggest problems associated with the ABVD therapy that can cause debilitating and even fatal consequences for patients?
Common side effects of ABVDRisk of infection. This treatment can reduce the number of white blood cells in your blood. ... Bruising and bleeding. ... Anaemia (low number of red blood cells) ... Feeling sick. ... Loss of appetite. ... Pink or red urine. ... Sore mouth and throat. ... Constipation.More items...
How long does ABVD chemo stay in your system?
It generally takes about 48 to 72 hours for your body to break down and/or get rid of most chemo drugs.
How long is a cycle of ABVD chemo?
Each cycle lasts 4 weeks (28 days). You have chemotherapy on day 1 and day 15. You might have between 2 and 8 cycles, taking 2 to 8 months in total. You then start a new cycle of treatment.
What is the treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma?
Chemo is the main treatment for most people with Hodgkin lymphoma (other than some people with nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma, or NLPHL). Sometimes chemo is followed by radiation therapy. Chemo is given in cycles that include a period of treatment followed by a rest period to give the body time to recover.
How does chemo help with Hodgkin lymphoma?
Chemotherapy for Hodgkin Lymphoma. Chemotherapy (chemo) is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemo is usually injected into a vein under the skin or taken as a pill. Chemo drugs enter the bloodstream and travel throughout the body to reach and destroy cancer cells wherever they may be. Chemo is the main treatment for most people ...
How long does chemo last?
In general, each cycle lasts for several weeks. Most chemo treatments are given in the doctor’s office, clinic, or hospital outpatient department, but some may require a hospital stay.
What is the most common treatment for CHL?
The combinations used to treat cHL are often referred to by abbreviations. ABVD is the most common regimen used in the United States: Adriamycin (doxorubicin) Bleomycin. Vinblastine. Dacarbazine (DTIC) Other common regimens include:
What are the side effects of chemotherapy?
These depend on the type and dose of drugs given and how long treatment lasts. Common short-term side effects include: Hair loss. Mouth sores. Loss of appetite. Nausea and vomiting. Diarrhea.
Is Adcetris a chemo drug?
Another drug that can be considered as chemo is brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris). This is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), which is a monoclonal antibody attached to a chemo drug. For more on this drug, see Immunotherapy for Hodgkin Lymphoma.
Does chemo cause bruising?
Easy bruising or bleeding (from having too few blood platelets) Fatigue (from having too few red blood cells) These side effects are usually short-lived and go away over time after treatment ends. If serious side effects occur, chemo may have to be delayed or the doses reduced.
How does chemotherapy work for Hodgkin lymphoma?
Many people with Hodgkin lymphoma receive chemotherapy through a port-a-cath placed under the skin. Learn more about catheters and ports in cancer treatment.
How to give Hodgkin lymphoma a systemic treatment?
Common ways to give systemic therapies include an intravenous (IV) tube placed into a vein using a needle or by taking a pill or capsule by mouth. The types of systemic therapies used for Hodgkin lymphoma include: Chemotherapy. Immunotherapy. Each of these types of therapies is discussed below in more detail.
What is the first step in recurrent Hodgkin lymphoma?
Most often, the first step is to give a second-line chemotherapy treatment, such as ICE, ESHAP, DHAP, gemcitabine-based treatments, or brentuximab vedotin (see "Chemotherapy," above) to regain control over the recurrent Hodgkin lymphoma.
What is the second line of treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma?
There are several second-line treatments available for Hodgkin lymphoma. These are used if the lymphoma does not go into complete remission with the first treatment or if it comes back after first-line treatment with ABVD or BEACOPP, also known as a recurrence. The goals of second-line treatment may be to control the disease and its symptoms, but in many cases, they are given in preparation for an autologous bone marrow/stem cell transplant (see below) with the intent to achieve complete remission and cure.
How long does chemotherapy take?
A chemotherapy regimen, or schedule, usually consists of a specific number of cycles of treatment given over a set number of weeks or months. There are many different types of chemotherapy that may be used to treat Hodgkin lymphoma.
What is standard of care for Hodgkin lymphoma?
This section explains the types of treatments that are the standard of care for Hodgkin lymphoma. “Standard of care” means the best treatments known. When making treatment plan decisions, you are encouraged to consider clinical trials as an option.
What is radiation therapy?
Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy x-rays or protons to destroy cancer cells. A radiation oncologist is a doctor who specializes in giving radiation therapy to treat cancer. Radiation therapy for Hodgkin lymphoma is always external-beam radiation therapy, which is radiation given from a machine outside the body. A radiation therapy regimen, or schedule, usually consists of a specific number of treatments given over a set number of days or weeks.
What is the procedure to remove Hodgkin lymphoma?
Some common surgical procedures to treat Hodgkin lymphoma include: Exploratory Laparotomy: This is surgery to look at the organs inside your belly. Biopsy and/or removal of organs may be needed. Splenectomy: Removal of the spleen. Please see further information on splenectomy her e.
How to treat Hodgkin lymphoma?
Part of your treatment plan may include surgery. Some common surgical procedures to treat Hodgkin lymphoma include: 1 Exploratory Laparotomy: This is surgery to look at the organs inside your belly. Biopsy and/or removal of organs may be needed. 2 Splenectomy: Removal of the spleen. Please see further information on splenectomy her e.
What is the lymph system?
The lymph system helps to manage fluid volume and fight disease. When there are malignant (cancerous) cells that form in the lymphatic system, it is called lymphoma. Hodgkin lymphoma is diagnosed based on certain characteristics in the cells. There are many types of lymphoma other than Hodgkin lymphoma.
What type of test is used to determine if a person has cancer?
These tests can include: CAT scan (CT scan). Positron emission tomography scan (PET scan) . Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) . Ultrasound. Procedures, such as: Biopsy: A biopsy takes cells from the cancer, or a piece of the cancer, to see what type of cancer it is and how it behaves.
What are the side effects of surgery?
These can be: Reaction to anesthesia (Anesthesia is the medication you are given to help you sleep through the surgery, not remember it and manage pain. Reactions can include wheezing, rash, swelling and low blood pressure). Injury to nearby organs.
Can you go to hospital for Hodgkin lymphoma surgery?
Recovery from surgery to treat Hodgkin lymphoma depends on the extent and type of the procedure you have had. A hospital stay may be needed. You will be told how to care for your incision (cut made during surgery) before leaving the hospital.
How long does it take for chemo to work?
The drugs circulate throughout the body in the bloodstream. A course of chemotherapy is made up of a number of cycles. You have treatment, usually over 1 to 3 days, depending on the particular combination of drugs. Then you have a break of a few weeks to allow your body to recover from the effects of the chemotherapy. Then another cycle begins.
Can you take things in to the cancer day clinic?
You usually have treatment into your bloodstream at the cancer day clinic. You might sit in a chair for a few hours so it’s a good idea to take things in to do. For example, newspapers, books or electronic devices can all help to pass the time. You can usually bring a friend or family member with you.
Can you get leukaemia from chemotherapy?
Your treatment might increase the risk of you getting another type of cancer in the future. If you have had chemotherapy to treat Hod gkin lymphoma, you have a small increased risk of getting leukaemia in the future (between 1 and 3%).
Can you bring a friend to chemo?
You can usually bring a friend or family member with you. You have some types of chemotherapy over several days. You might be able to have some drugs through a small portable pump that you take home. For some types of chemotherapy you have to stay in a hospital ward.
Can you have children with Hodgkin lymphoma?
Loss of fertility. Some chemotherapy used to treat Hodgkin lymphoma can cause damage to your ovaries or testicles. This can mean that you can't have children (infertility). It is difficult for doctors to say definitely whether this will happen to you.
Checking how well the chemotherapy is working
How the cancer responds to chemotherapy is important for determining a prognosis (the expected outcome of the disease) and planning other treatment. The response is measured both partway through the treatment and after it is finished. Imaging tests, such as CT scans, MRIs and PET scans, measure whether a tumour has become smaller.
Chemotherapy drugs used for Hodgkin lymphoma
The most common combination used to treat HL is called ABVD. This chemotherapy is given every 2 weeks for 2 to 8 months, depending on the stage and response to treatment. ABVD includes doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine.
Side effects
Side effects can happen with any type of treatment for HL, but everyone’s experience is different. Some people have many side effects. Other people have only a few side effects.
Information about specific cancer drugs
Details on specific drugs change regularly. Find out more about sources of drug information and where to get details on specific drugs.
Questions to ask about chemotherapy
Find out more about chemotherapy and side effects of chemotherapy. To make the decisions that are right for you, ask your healthcare team questions about chemotherapy.
What is lymphoma made of?
Lymphoma is a cancer that begins in cells in the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is made up of tissue, vessels, and a fluid called lymph. Lymphocytes are the main cells in the lymphoid tissue and are an important part of your immune system. They help the body fight infection. Organs that have lymphoid tissue include your:
Can chemo cause infection?
Infection can be a serious side effect of strong chemo. Find out the factors that affect your risk of infection. Simply answer a few questions, and then print your results to share with your doctor.
Does chemo slow down the growth of cancer cells?
Chemo stops or slows the growth of cancer cells. Often, cancer cells are fast growing. But chemo also damages healthy cells that divide quickly. These healthy cells can include cells in the bone marrow that make blood, cells in the lining of the gut and mouth, and hair cells. Damage to healthy cells is what causes many chemo side effects. Here's how it works:
How to remove lymph nodes?
Surgeons may recommend removing one or more lymph nodes through an open excisional biopsy. During staging – To determine if a patient’s lymphoma is confined to one specific area or if it has spread throughout the body, surgeons may perform a procedure known as a staging laparotomy.
What is the surgical removal of the spleen?
When treating symptoms such as pain, weakness and appetite loss – A splenectomy (the surgical removal of the spleen) may be recommended for patients who are experiencing a reduced quality of life due to Hodgkin lymphoma side effects.
Can you get a biopsy sample for Hodgkin lymphoma?
Hodgkin Lymphoma Surgery. Surgery can be used to obtain biopsy samples for diagnosing and classifying Hodgkin lymphoma, but it is rarely used as a treatment, considering that lymphomas do not often produce solid tumors in the way that many other cancers do.
Can you have surgery for extranodal lymphoma?
However, surgery may be used in rare cases of extranodal lymphoma, where the condition develops outside of the lymph nodes (in the thyroid gland or the stomach, for instance). Other instances in which surgery may be used to address Hodgkin lymphoma include: During diagnosis – When diagnosing lymphoma, it’s typically ideal to examine an entire lymph ...
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.
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.
What is the abbreviation for B-cell NHL?
Many chemotherapy regimens for B-cell NHL include the monoclonal antibody rituximab (Rituxan), which is usually abbreviated with the letter R and placed at the beginning or end of the regimen abbreviation, such as R-CHOP or CHOP-R (cyclophosphamide [Cytoxan], doxorubicin [Adriamycin], vincristine [Oncovin], and prednisone [Deltasone]).
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.
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.
How to cope with lymphoma after treatment?
Adjusting to life after treatment for lymphoma. Finishing treatment for lymphoma can bring a range of emotions. Some of these are likely to be positive but others might be harder to cope with. Dealing with challenges can have an impact on how you feel overall and on your self-esteem. Be patient with yourself.
What does it feel like to be alone after lymphoma treatment?
You might have a sense of facing the unknown and a general feeling of uncertainty. Some people describe feeling ‘lost’ or alone after treatment. After getting used to regular hospital appointments, you might feel unsettled or anxious without so much contact with your medical team. You might feel unsure about what to expect in the future. Some people worry about the possibility that their lymphoma will come back (relapse) or get worse.
What happens after cancer treatment?
After treatment, patients will move to a follow-up pathway that suits their needs, and ensures they can get rapid access to clinical support where they are worried that their cancer may have recurred. NHS England long-term plan.
Can you connect with someone who has lymphoma?
Each person’s experience with lymphoma is unique, but connecting with other people who have been treated for lymphoma can be a helpful source of support. You could be in touch with someone who might be able to relate to your experience through out peer-support buddy service or closed Facebook support group.
Can lymphoma cause bleeding?
Low blood counts can increase your risk of developing infections, and can make you bruise or bleed more easily (for example, with nosebleeds, bleeding gums or heavier periods) than before you had treatment. While your blood counts are building back up, take steps to lower your risk of infection and bleeding.
Treatment Overview
Therapies Using Medication
Radiation Therapy
Bone Marrow Transplantation/Stem Cell Transplantation
Specialist to consult
Physical, Emotional, and Social Effects of Cancer
- In cancer care, different types of doctors and other health care professionals often work together to create a patient’s overall treatment plan that combines different types of treatments. This is called a multidisciplinary team. Cancer care teams include a variety of other health care professionals, such as physician assistants, nurse practitioners, oncology nurses, nurse practitio…
Progressive Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Systemic therapy is the use of medication to destroy cancer cells. This type of medication is given through the bloodstream to reach cancer cells throughout the body. Systemic therapies are given by a medical oncologist, a doctor who specializes in treating cancer with medication, or a hematologist, a doctor who specializes in treating blood disorders. Common ways to give syste…
Remission and The Chance of Recurrence
- Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy x-rays or protons to destroy cancer cells. A radiation oncologist is a doctor who specializes in giving radiation therapy to treat cancer. Radiation therapy for Hodgkin lymphoma is always external-beam radiation therapy, which is radiation given from a machine outside the body. A radiation therapy regimen...
If Treatment Does Not Work
- A stem cell transplantation is a medical procedure in which specialized cells, called hematopoietic stem cells, are collected from the the blood circulating through the body, called peripheral blood, so they may develop into healthy bone marrow. Hematopoietic stem cells are blood-forming cells found both in the bloodstream and in the bone marrow. Sometimes, the stem cells are collected …