Indolent (slow-growing) lymphomas may not require immediate treatment, but rather a “watch and wait” approach with routine monitoring. Aggressive (fast-growing) lymphomas, on the other hand, may need a combination of options such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy or stem cell transplantation.
Does low grade lymphoma require immediate treatment?
Low-grade (slow-growing) lymphomas, the ones that occur more often in older people, may not require immediate treatment if there are no symptoms. Early, aggressive therapy does not improve survival for most low-grade lymphomas. Low-grade lymphoma that is advancing or causing symptoms may be treated in a variety of ways.
What are the treatment options for lymphoma?
For higher-grade lymphomas, the main treatment is usually high dose chemotherapy often combined with immunotherapy, with or without radiation. Your doctor may recommend a bone marrow transplant or stem cell transplant.
Can non-Hodgkin lymphoma be prevented?
In general, both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma will continue to worsen unless it is treated. There is no definitive way to prevent lymphoma. But you may be able to lower your risk by taking precautions to avoid becoming infected with HIV. Radiation is the traditional treatment for Hodgkin disease that is localized to one group of lymph nodes.
What is the most common chemotherapy combination for non-Hodgkin lymphoma?
The most common chemotherapy combination for the first treatment of aggressive NHL is called CHOP and contains 4 medications: 1 Cyclophosphamide (available as a generic drug) 2 Doxorubicin (available as a generic drug) 3 Prednisone (multiple brand names) 4 Vincristine (Vincasar)
Which lymphoma has no cure?
Often, patients with FL have no obvious symptoms of the disease at diagnosis. Follicular lymphoma is usually not considered to be curable, but more of a chronic disease. Patients can live for many years with this form of lymphoma. To learn more about FL, download the Follicular Lymphoma Fact Sheet.
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 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma vs Hodgkin's lymphoma?
The primary difference between Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma is the type of lymphocyte that is affected. Hodgkin lymphoma is marked by the presence of Reed-Sternberg lymphocytes, which a physician can identify using a microscope. In non-Hodgkin lymphoma, these cells are not present.
What are the 3 main types of lymphoma?
Each type of lymphoma can cause different symptoms and need different treatment.Hodgkin lymphoma. ... Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. ... Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) ... Lymphoma in children and young people.
Is Hodgkin's lymphoma treatable?
Overall, treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma is highly effective and most people with the condition are eventually cured.
Does all lymphoma need treatment?
It varies a lot depending on the type of lymphoma you have and your individual circumstances. Some people need treatment soon after diagnosis or a treatment course, but others don't need treatment for many years. Some people never need treatment.
Which is more treatable Hodgkin's or non Hodgkin's lymphoma?
Hodgkin's lymphoma is one of the most curable cancers. It typically has a better outlook than non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. However, many factors can affect your outlook, such as: your age.
Is B cell lymphoma Non Hodgkins?
Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). NHL is a cancer of the lymphatic system. It develops when the body makes abnormal B lymphocytes. These lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that normally help to fight infections.
Is Burkitt lymphoma malignant?
Burkitt lymphoma is a form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in which cancer starts in immune cells called B-cells. Recognized as a fast growing human tumor, Burkitt lymphoma is associated with impaired immunity and is rapidly fatal if left untreated.
What is the treatment for B-cell lymphoma?
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 Burkitt lymphoma?
Burkitt lymphoma is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). NHL is a cancer of the lymphatic system. It develops when the body makes abnormal B lymphocytes. These lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that normally help to fight infections.
What is lymphoblastic lymphoma?
Listen to pronunciation. (LIM-foh-BLAS-tik lim-FOH-muh) An aggressive (fast-growing) type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in which too many lymphoblasts (immature white blood cells) are found in the lymph nodes and the thymus gland. These lymphoblasts may spread to other places in the body.
What is the treatment for lymphoma?
Radioimmunotherapy – Radiation therapy and immunotherapy are combined into one treatment, using biologic substances to deliver radiation directly to lymphoma cells. Sometimes, stem cell transplantation is also used after one or more of these treatments.
How to treat non-Hodgkin lymphoma?
Because non-Hodgkin lymphoma does not produce solid tumors the way that many other cancers do, surgery is not usually used to treat the condition. Instead, one or more of the following treatments may be recommended to destroy cancerous cells throughout the body: 1 Chemotherapy – Powerful medications are delivered to destroy cells that divide at an unusually rapid rate 2 Radiation therapy – Radioactive materials are used to damage abnormal cells 3 Immunotherapy (biologic therapy) – Man-made antibodies or genetically modified immune cells are used to trigger an immune response against cancerous cells 4 Radioimmunotherapy – Radiation therapy and immunotherapy are combined into one treatment, using biologic substances to deliver radiation directly to lymphoma cells
What is the difference between aggressive and Indolent lymphoma?
Indolent (slow-growing) lymphomas may not require immediate treatment, but rather a “watch and wait” approach with routine monitoring. Aggressive (fast-growing) lymphomas, on the other hand, may need a combination of options such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy or stem cell transplantation. Because non-Hodgkin lymphoma does not produce solid ...
Can non-Hodgkin lymphoma be treated?
Because non-Hodgkin lymphoma does not produce solid tumors the way that many other cancers do, surgery is not usually used to treat the condition. Instead, one or more of the following treatments may be recommended to destroy cancerous cells throughout the body:
What is it called when lymphoma returns?
As explained in the Stages section, if the cancer returns after the original treatment, it is called recurrent cancer .
What is the best doctor for lymphoma?
A medical oncologist or hematologist is most often the primary cancer specialist for people with lymphoma. Common ways to give systemic therapies include an intravenous (IV) tube placed into a vein using a needle or in a pill or capsule that is swallowed (orally).
What is partial remission?
Partial remission is when the lymphoma has regressed by more than 50% from its pretreatment state but can still be detected.
How does chemotherapy work for NHL?
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells, usually by keeping the cancer cells from growing, dividing, and making more cells. It is the main treatment for NHL. A chemotherapy regimen, or schedule, usually consists of a specific number of cycles given over a set period of time.
What is standard of care for NHL?
This section explains the types of treatments that are the standard of care for NHL. “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.
Why do doctors want to do clinical trials?
Doctors want to learn whether the new treatment is safe, effective, and possibly better than the standard treatment. Clinical trials can test a new drug, a new combination of standard treatments, or new doses of standard drugs or other treatments. Clinical trials are an option to consider for treatment and care for all stages of cancer.
What is systemic therapy?
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 generally prescribed by a medical oncologist, a doctor who specializes in treating cancer with medication, or a hematologist, a doctor who specializes in treating blood disorders. A medical oncologist or hematologist is most often the primary cancer specialist for people with lymphoma.
What happens if you have untreated lymphoma?
Untreated or advanced lymphoma results in a proliferation of abnormal white blood cells (lymphocytes) that spread throughout the lymphatic system. These abnormal cells crowd out normal white blood cells.
What is lymphoma in the body?
What is lymphoma? Lymphoma is a general name for a group of cancers of the blood that originate in the lymph glands. The lymph glands are organs of the immune system and are part of the body’s defense against infection and disease. Lymph glands are located throughout the body. Lymphoma is the result of change or mutation in ...
What are the complications of lymphoma?
Complications are caused by the rapid growth of abnormal white blood cells, which can spread throughout the lymphatic system and crowd out normal white blood cells that are needed to fight infection.
What organs do lymphoma affect?
The abnormal white blood cells formed in lymphoma can also accumulate in the organs of the body, such as the spleen, liver and kidney and interfere with normal organ function. Lymphoma can lead to life-threatening complications and death, especially if it is undetected and untreated.
How many people have lymphoma in 2010?
Lymphoma is a common cancer. As of 2010, about 628,415 people are living with lymphoma or are in remission, according to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (Source: LLS ). There are many types of lymphoma. The two main categories are:
What kind of specialist is needed for lymphoma?
These specialists include hematology oncologists, hematologists, and registered nurses who specialize in cancer and lymphoma care. Lymphoma treatment may include some combination of the following: Blood cell growth factors to increase the number of healthy white blood cells or red blood cells.
What happens when you have low red blood cells?
Lower numbers of red blood cells result in anemia and symptoms that include fatigue, shortness of breath, pale skin, and slow healing of wounds. Lymphoma that has spread to the bone marrow also reduces the number of platelet cells, which are needed for normal clotting. This results in easy bleeding and bruising.
What Is Lymphoma?
- Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymph (or lymphatic) system. It is part of the immune system. It collects and destroys invading organisms, such as bacteria and viruses, and abnormal cells. It protects the body from infection and disease. The lymph system is a network of tissue, vessels, …
Symptoms
- The main symptom of both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas is swollen lymph nodes in the neck, under the arms, or in the groin. Other symptoms include: 1. fever 2. night sweats 3. extreme fatigue 4. unexplained weight loss Because swollen lymph nodes caused by lymphoma usually are painless, they may get larger over a long time before the person notices. Also, fever may co…
Diagnosis
- Diagnosis usually begins with a physical exam. Your doctor will check for swollen lymph nodes and organs throughout your body. He or she will look for general signs of disease. You will be asked about your health habits and past illnesses and treatments, too. If your doctor suspects lymphoma, he or she will order blood tests to check the numbers and appearance of your blood …
Prevention
- There is no definitive way to prevent lymphoma. But you may be able to lower your risk by taking precautions to avoid becoming infected with HIV.
Treatment
- Radiation is the traditional treatment for Hodgkin disease that is localized to one group of lymph nodes. For more advanced stages of Hodgkin disease, combination chemotherapy with 3 or 4 different drugs is used. Treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma depends on the grade of lymphoma (low, or high), the stage of the disease, and the age and health of the patient. 1. Low-…
When to Call A Professional
- See your doctor if you notice swelling of one or more lymph nodes that persists for more than two weeks and/or you have other symptoms of lymphoma such as unexplained fever, weight loss and drenching night sweats.
Prognosis
- The outlook for patients with lymphoma depends on many factors. These include: 1. the type of lymphoma 2. the cancer's stage 3. the patient's age and general health 4. whether the cancer is newly diagnosed, responds to initial treatment, or has come back. With both types of lymphomas, it is important to be monitored throughout your life for the development of second cancers.
Additional Information
- Leukemia & Lymphoma Society h ttp://www.lls.org National Cancer Institute (NCI) http://www.nci.nih.gov/ American Cancer Society (ACS) http://www.cancer.org/
Further Information
- Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. Medical Disclaimer