Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Home » Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma » NHL Treatment

Questions to Ask Your Doctor about Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
(Free Handout)

Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Treatment

Advertising Disclaimer

Treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) depends on the type, location, grade, and stage of disease, as well as the patient's age and overall health.

In patients who have slow-growing, localized, early-stage NHL (Stage 1 or 2), radiation therapy is the main form of treatment. In patients who have slow-growing nonlocalized, late-stage NHL (Stage 3 or 4), the treatment plan is not so well defined. Because of the unhurried growth of such tumors, chemotherapy and radiotherapy—which selectively destroy rapidly-dividing cells—cannot eliminate all of the cancer cells. Therefore, these tumors usually are not "curable" and treatment options may include single agent chemotherapy, combination chemotherapy, or chemotherapy plus radiation therapy.

In some cases (e.g., elderly patients, patients who have additional health problems), physicians and patients choose to delay treatment until symptoms appear; however, recent studies suggest that the patient's survival is improved when treatment is begun as soon as possible after diagnosis.

In patients who are diagnosed with slow-growing NHL associated with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (condition in which too much of the antibody immunoglobulin M [IgM] is produced), the physician may recommend plasmapheresis prior to chemotherapy. Plasmapheresis involves separating the plasma and its components, including IgM, from the blood, and eventually re-transfusing the blood back into the patient.

Patients who have intermediate-grade, aggressive, early-stage NHL (Stage 1 or 2) usually are treated with combination chemotherapy or radiation therapy plus chemotherapy. If the patient has health problems that do not permit the use of chemotherapy, radiation therapy may be used alone.

Patients who have intermediate-grade, aggressive, late-stage NHL (Stage 3 or 4) may be treated with combination chemotherapy (plus radiation therapy for individuals with bulky tumors), or high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplantation.

These patients may be given growth factors to aid the recovery of bone marrow cells and prevent infections after chemotherapy treatment. In December 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved plerixafor injection (Mozobil™) to be used in combination with growth factors to increase the number of blood stem cells for bone marrow transplantation. This drug is approved for use in adults with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or multiple myeloma (cancer of the plasma cells). Side effects include diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, headache, joint pain, dizziness, and injection site reactions.

High-grade, highly-aggressive NHL (e.g., Burkitt's lymphoma, Burkitt's-like lymphoma, lymphoblastic lymphoma) are treated with intrathecal chemotherapy—chemotherapy injected directly into the spinal fluid—to prevent the spread of cancer to the brain and central nervous system (CNS).

Unfortunately, some of these patients have certain conditions or characteristics that make them less responsive to this treatment. In these cases, the oncologist may recommend high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplantation or biological therapies.

Patients with acute T-cell leukemia/lymphoma generally have a poor prognosis. New antiviral drugs for HIV/AIDS have shown some promise against this type of lymphoma. This is because HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection is related to HTLV-1 (human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus)—the virus that is associated with human T-cell lymphoma.

Clinical Trials
Many advances are being made in the treatment of NHL. However, continued advances in the field often depend on patient participation in clinical trials. Through the use of clinical trials, improved treatment outcomes and the development of additional risk appropriate strategies can be secured. NHL patients should discuss clinical trial options with their physicians.

© 1998-2009 Healthcommunities.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Resources

	Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Your Cancer The more knowledge you have, the easier it is to make decisions about your cancer treatment. Print this free handout to take with you on your next office visit.	Advertising Disclaimer
	Join Our Non-Hodgkin's Disease Forum Do you have a question, want to share medical advice, or just need to discuss your situation with someone else having a similar experience? The healthchannels forum is a resource for everyone to share and discuss their health and medical needs with others.
	Living with...Share your story Do you have a personal health story that you would like to share with others? As a source of free patient education, our goal is to provide our users with trustworthy information and support from others. That's why we've started our "Living with..." sections.
	Our "Living With..." support pages are a place to share experiences about living with a certain condition, disease, disorder, or illness and for loved ones of those dealing with health-related issues. Many people, especially when newly diagnosed, find comfort in knowing that others are having a similar experience. Help others by sharing your story. View stories already submitted. National Cancer Survivors Day is June 7, 2009 Share your survival story and help others in the fight against cancer. Read stories already submitted
To quickly access health information from your website's browser, download Healthcommunities.com's healthchannels toolbar. Advertising Disclaimer