what to expect for non-hodgkins treatment

Chemo is the main treatment for most people with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Depending on the type and the stage of the lymphoma, chemo may be used alone or combined with other treatments, such as immunotherapy drugs or radiation therapy. Which chemo drugs are used to treat non-Hodgkin lymphoma?

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What should I expect after treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma?

There are many types of non-Hodgkin lymphomas, which can require different treatments and can have very different outlooks. Your care after treatment will depend on the type of lymphoma you have, what type of treatment you receive, and how well treatment works. Even if you’ve completed treatment, your doctors will still want to watch you closely.

How is non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) treated?

Chemo is the main treatment for most people with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Depending on the type and the stage of the lymphoma, chemo may be used alone or combined with other treatments, such as immunotherapy drugs or radiation therapy. Which chemo drugs are used to treat non-Hodgkin lymphoma?

What questions should I ask my doctor about non-Hodgkin's lymphoma?

For non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, some basic questions to ask your doctor include: Do I have non-Hodgkin's lymphoma? What type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma do I have? What stage is my condition? Is my condition aggressive or slow growing? Will I need more tests? Will I need treatment? What are my treatment ...

Is it possible to live with non-Hodgkin lymphoma that doesn't go away?

Learning to live with lymphoma that doesn’t go away can be difficult and very stressful. There are many types of non-Hodgkin lymphomas, which can require different treatments and can have very different outlooks. Your care after treatment will depend on the type of lymphoma you have, what type of treatment you receive, and how well treatment works.

How long does treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma take?

A short course of treatment usually takes about 6 to 12 weeks. Or you might have a longer course of chemotherapy and a targeted drug, without radiotherapy. Whether you have radiotherapy depends on factors such as where the lymphoma is in the body and how fit you are.

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

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is usually treated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy, although some people may not need treatment straight away. In a few cases, if the initial cancer is very small and can be removed during a biopsy, no further treatment may be needed.

How many rounds of chemo is normal for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma?

Most doctors will give 6 cycles of R-CHOP as first-line treatment. After several cycles, doctors may get imaging tests such as a PET/CT scan to see how well treatment is working.

What are the treatment options for adults with non-Hodgkin lymphoma?

Depending on the type and stage (extent) of the lymphoma and other factors, treatment options for people with NHL might include:Chemotherapy for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.Immunotherapy for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.Targeted Drug Therapy for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.Radiation Therapy for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.More items...

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 serious is non-Hodgkin's lymphoma?

NHL is a serious condition but commonly has a relatively promising outlook. Most people with NHL survive at least 5 years after a diagnosis. However, older people are more likely to die from the condition. Other factors that affect the outlook include the stage and spread of the cancer.

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.

Which is more serious Hodgkin's or non-Hodgkin lymphoma?

The prognosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma is also better than that of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma since non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is often diagnosed at a more advanced stage. Both forms of blood cancer are treatable when caught early, however.

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 is the life expectancy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma?

The survival rate of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is generally lower than that of Hodgkin's lymphoma, but it's still often curable. The American Cancer Society reports an overall 5-year relative survival rate of 72 percent ....5-year survival rate.StageRelative 5-year survival ratedistant66.3%overall73.2%2 more rows•Feb 28, 2022

Is non-Hodgkin's lymphoma easy to treat?

Yes, NHL is a very treatable disease and curable in many cases, particularly with aggressive NHL. Before treatment begins, it is necessary to know how far the cancer has advanced. This is called the stage of the disease. The stages begin with I (least severe) and go through IV (most severe).

What is the first line of treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma?

Chemo is the main treatment for most people with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Depending on the type1 and the stage2 of the lymphoma, chemo may be used alone or combined with other treatments, such as immunotherapy drugs or radiation therapy.

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 k...

Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma (and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia)

Small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are considered different versions of the same disease. The main difference...

Extranodal Marginal Zone B-Cell Lymphoma – Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (MALT) Lymphoma

Gastric (stomach) MALT lymphoma, the most common type, often occurs as a result of a chronic infection with the bacterium H. pylori, and it often r...

Nodal Marginal Zone B-Cell Lymphoma

This rare type of lymphoma is generally slow growing (indolent), and it often doesn’t need to be treated right away. If it does need treatment, it...

Splenic Marginal Zone B-Cell Lymphoma

This is typically a slow-growing lymphoma. If it is not causing symptoms, it is often watched closely without treating it right away.About 1 in 3 p...

Lymphoplasmacytic Lymphoma (Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia)

The main treatment for this lymphoma is usually chemo or rituximab. For more detailed information see Treating Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia.

Primary Central Nervous System (CNS) Lymphoma

This lymphoma begins in the brain or spinal cord. It often develops in older people or those with immune system problems caused by AIDS or drugs gi...

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.

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 a spinal tap?

Lumbar puncture (spinal tap). If there's a concern that the lymphoma may affect the fluid around your spinal cord, your doctor might recommend a procedure to remove some of the fluid for testing. During a spinal tap, the doctor inserts a small needle into the spinal canal in your lower back.

Why is it important to be well prepared for an appointment?

Because appointments can be brief, and because there's often a lot of information to discuss, it's a good idea to be well prepared. Here's some information to help you get ready, and what to expect from your doctor.

How to deal with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma?

Maintain a strong support system. Keeping your close relationships strong will help you deal with your non-Hodg kin's lymphoma. Friends and family can provide the practical support you'll need, such as helping take care of your house if you're in the hospital. And they can serve as emotional support when you feel overwhelmed by cancer.

Can you give chemo to a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patient?

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. It might also be an option if your lymphoma comes back after your initial treatments.

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 diffuse lymphoma?

A common treatment is 6 courses of CHOP chemo 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. If no active lymphoma is seen on the PET/CT, the patient may be observed without further treatment. If the PET/CT scan is positive (shows possible active lymphoma), radiation may be needed. Sometimes, the doctor will order a biopsy of the chest tumor to confirm that lymphoma is still present before starting radiation.

How to treat malignant gastric lymphoma?

If the lymphoma is large, is causing symptoms, or is growing, it can be treated with radiation therapy to the stomach, rituximab, chemo, chemo plus rituximab, or a targeted drug such as ibrutinib (Imbruvica) or zanubrutinib (Brukinsa). The chemo drugs used are the same as those used for follicular lymphoma, and may include single agents such as chlorambucil or fludarabine or combinations such as CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone) or CVP (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone).

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 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.

How often is R Chop given?

This regimen, known as R-CHOP, is most often given in cycles 3 weeks apart. Because this regimen contains the drug doxorubicin, which can damage the heart, it may not be suitable for patients with heart problems, so other chemo regimens may be used instead.

What is the name of the drug that is given to lymphoma patients?

To treat lymphoma that might have reached these areas, chemo may also be given into the CSF. This is called intrathecal chemo. The chemo drugs most often used for intrathecal chemo are methotrexate and cytarabine.

How long does chemo last?

Each chemo cycle generally lasts for several weeks.

What happens when you kill lymphoma cells?

Killing the lymphoma cells releases their contents into the bloodstream. This can overwhelm the kidneys, which can’t get rid of all of these substances at once. This can lead to the build-up of certain minerals in the blood and even kidney failure. The excess minerals can lead to heart and nervous system problems.

What are the side effects of chemo?

Common side effects can include: Hair loss. Mouth sores. Loss of appetite. Nausea and vomiting. Diarrhea or constipation. Increased chance of infection (from a shortage of white blood cells)

What is the most common combination of drugs?

Often drugs from different groups are combined. One of the most common combinations is called CHOP. This includes the drugs c yclophosphamide, doxorubicin (also known as h ydroxydaunorubicin), vincristine ( O ncovin) and p rednisone. Another common combination leaves out doxorubicin and is called CVP.

Can chemo be used for non-Hodgkin lymphoma?

When might chemo be used? Chemo is the main treatment for most people with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Depending on the type and the stage of the lymphoma, chemo may be used alone or combined with other treatments, such as immunotherapy drugs or radiation therapy.

What is the treatment 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.

What is the next step for a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patient?

When you’re diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), the next step is to find out the stage of your cancer. That tells you how much lymphoma is in your body, where it is, and if it has spread outside your lymph system, the network that carries immune cells throughout your body. Your doctor uses that information to decide ...

What is the treatment for NHL?

But there are some standard treatment approaches for specific stages of NHL: Stage I and stage II: You’ll most likely have chemotherapy, with or without other treatments, such as immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and radiation therapy. Surgery may be an option for people with some subtypes of NHL, but this is rare.

How do you get rid of lymphoma cells?

You can use your own stem cells or get them from a donor. Then, you get high doses of chemotherapy and radiation to kill all the lymphoma cells in your body. After that, the stem cells go into your body, where they grow and rebuild healthy blood cells over time.

How long do you live with NHL?

This means that people diagnosed with NHL are about 74% as likely as those who don’t have NHL to live for at least 5 years after their diagnosis.

What is stage 2 lymphoma?

Stage II is when the cancer is in two or more groups of lymph nodes either above or below your diaphragm, the thin sheet of muscle below your heart and lungs that separates your chest from your belly. Lymphoma is called stage IIE if it’s in one organ and the nearby lymph nodes. It might also have spread to other nodes that are on the same side of your diaphragm.

Living as a Cancer Survivor

For many people, cancer treatment often raises questions about next steps as a survivor.

Cancer Concerns After Treatment

Treatment may remove or destroy the lymphoma, but it is very common to have questions about cancer coming back or treatment no longer working.

How does non-Hodgkin's lymphoma affect your life?

Both your non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis and your cancer treatments may significantly impact your life. Everyday activities, such as preparing meals, cleaning, shopping, and even showering may become difficult. Working or attending school may be challenging. Special events such as weddings, birthdays, and other celebrations may become impossible.

Can Roundup cause non-Hodgkin's lymphoma?

Sometimes, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma happens for unknown reasons. However, sometimes, the diagnosis can be directly connected to exposure to a specific substance. For some people with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Roundup ® weed killer is the substance that caused their cancer.

Can I lower my risk of the lymphoma progressing or coming back?

If you have (or have had) lymphoma, you probably want to know if there are things you can do that might lower your risk of the lymphoma growing or coming back, such as exercising, eating a certain type of diet, or taking nutritional supplements. Unfortunately, it’s not yet clear if there are things you can do that will help.

Why do you need a CT scan for lymphoma?

You may need frequent blood tests to check that you have recovered from treatment and to look for possible signs of problems such as lymphoma recurrence. Blood counts can also sometimes become abnormal because ...

Why is it important to keep medical records?

It’s important to keep copies of your medical records to give your new doctor the details of your diagnosis and treatment. Learn more in Keeping Copies of Important Medical Records.

Why is my blood count abnormal?

Blood counts can also sometimes become abnormal because of a disease of the bone marrow called myelodysplasia, which can sometimes lead to leukemia. Some chemotherapy drugs can cause this disease. For more on this, see Myelodysplastic Syndromes.

What is a survivorship plan?

This plan might include: A schedule for other tests you might need in the future, such as early detection (screening) tests for other types of cancer, or tests to look for long-term health effects from your cancer or its treatment.

How to plan for cancer survivorship?

Talk with your doctor about developing a survivorship care plan for you. This plan might include: 1 A suggested schedule for follow-up exams and tests 2 A schedule for other tests you might need in the future, such as early detection (screening) tests for other types of cancer, or tests to look for long-term health effects from your cancer or its treatment 3 A list of possible late- or long-term side effects from your treatment, including what to watch for and when you should contact your doctor 4 Diet and physical activity suggestions

Does lymphoma go away after treatment?

You may be relieved to finish treatment, but find it hard not to worry about the lymphoma coming back. (When cancer comes back after treatment, it is called recurrence .) This is a very common worry if you’ve had cancer. For some people, the lymphoma may never go away completely. These people may get regular treatments with chemo, radiation, ...

Diagnosis

Treatment

Clinical Trials

Alternative Medicine

• No alternative medicines have been found to cure non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. But alternative medicine may help you cope with the stress of a cancer diagnosis and the side effects of cancer treatment. Talk with your doctor about your options, such as: 1. Art therapy 2. Exercise 3. Meditation 4. Music therapy 5. Relaxation exercises 6. Spirituality

See more on mayoclinic.org

Coping and Support

Preparing For Your Appointment