Lymphoma Treatment

The treatment approach to lymphoma depends on the type and stage of lymphoma and several other patient factors such as age and general health.

Factors that determine the therapy for lymphomas include:

Type of lymphoma

There are many types of lymphoma but they can be broadly divided into Hodgkin's and Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. In the case of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that is very small, the cancer may be surgically removed, with no need for any further treatment.

If the cancer is low-grade, a "watchful waiting" approach may be employed for non-Hodgkin's lymphomas as it may be many years before the cancer becomes bothersome. A much less common form of lymphoma called nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's lymphoma may be treated with a biological agent called rituximab.

Tumor stage

For stage 1 and 2 disease, when cancer is only present in one body part, radiotherapy is often used to treat patients. More advanced or aggressive disease, however, may require a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Treatment outline

Treatment is planned and administered by a team of specialists including a haematologist or a doctor who specializes in disorders of the blood, a medical oncologist or cancer specialist, a radiation oncologist or a cancer specialist specializing in radiation therapy and a hematopathologist who helps detect and diagnose the stage and type of the lymphoma. Other contributors include nutrition specialists, nurses and social workers.

Chemotherapy or the use of anti-cancer agents is often adopted as a primary treatment. It is administered in cycles over a few weeks, either by injection or in the form of pills. Some of the drugs used include cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, prednisone, fludarabine, chlorambucil, mitoxantrone, methotrexate, etoposide, cisplatin, ifosfamide, bleomycin and gemcitabine.

Radiation therapy is the mainstay of treatment for localized Hodgkin's lymphoma. Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. A machine that emits the radiation may be used or a radioactive material might be placed inside the body near the cancer site or administered intravenously.

Steroids can enhance the effects of chemotherapy in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

A biological agent called a monoclonal antibody may be administered in the case of some types of non-Hodgkin lymphomas. The most successful and commonly used of these is rituximab.

Further Reading

Last Updated: Jun 20, 2023

Dr. Ananya Mandal

Written by

Dr. Ananya Mandal

Dr. Ananya Mandal is a doctor by profession, lecturer by vocation and a medical writer by passion. She specialized in Clinical Pharmacology after her bachelor's (MBBS). For her, health communication is not just writing complicated reviews for professionals but making medical knowledge understandable and available to the general public as well.

Citations

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

  • APA

    Mandal, Ananya. (2023, June 20). Lymphoma Treatment. News-Medical. Retrieved on October 31, 2024 from https://www.news-medical.net/health/Lymphoma-Treatment.aspx.

  • MLA

    Mandal, Ananya. "Lymphoma Treatment". News-Medical. 31 October 2024. <https://www.news-medical.net/health/Lymphoma-Treatment.aspx>.

  • Chicago

    Mandal, Ananya. "Lymphoma Treatment". News-Medical. https://www.news-medical.net/health/Lymphoma-Treatment.aspx. (accessed October 31, 2024).

  • Harvard

    Mandal, Ananya. 2023. Lymphoma Treatment. News-Medical, viewed 31 October 2024, https://www.news-medical.net/health/Lymphoma-Treatment.aspx.

Comments

The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of News Medical.
Post a new comment
Post

While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

Read the full Terms & Conditions.

You might also like...
Researchers find the effect of pesticides on increased cancer risk is comparable to smoking for some cancers