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Lymphoma Information Network » Lymphoma Info » Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Treatment
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Treatment
Treatment for Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphomas (NHL) differs from patient to patient. The regimen used depends on the type of NHL, the stage, and whether the disease is aggressive or indolent. The following is a list of typical treatments:
- Chemotherapy
- Chemotherapy is the use of cytotoxic (cell damaging) medicines to target and kill tumors. The drugs work by interrupting the DNA of fast-growing cells, preventing them from growing or reproducing. Chemotherapy can lead to a variety of side effects. For more information, click here.
- Radiation
- Radiation therapy uses high doses of X-rays, gamma rays, or other types of ionizing (damaging) radiation to kill cancer cells. It may be applied to the whole body or to a specific zone. For more information on radiation and its side effects, click here.
- Immunotherapy
- Immunotherapy uses the body’s own immune system to attack and remove cancer cellsDoctors inject a patient with a special type of antibody, or cell marker, that binds to antigens on a cell’s surface. For more information on immunotherapy, click here.
- Radioimmunotherapy (radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies)
- Radioimmunotherapy combines monoclonal antibody therapy with radioactive isotopes. Though it was developed in the 1980's, radioimmunotherapy is just now beginning to gain widespread acceptance. In the United States, it has been approved by the FDA for treatment of certain refractory and relapse NHL's. The Zevalin® regimen has been approved by the FDA as a first-line treatment of certain follicular lymphoma patients.
- Bone marrow transplantation
- For patients with very advanced disease, extremely high does of chemotherapy may be needed. This type of chemotherapy wipes out the body’s entire immune system, including the bone marrow that produces blood cellsSo, patients need a bone marrow transplant in order to recover. Click here for more information on bone marrow transplantation.
- Watch and Wait
- This treatment option is used for patients with indolent, low-grade cancers in the early stages. In some cases, early stage cancers don’t respond well to treatment, so it’s more efficient to wait until the cancer has progressed to a treatable stage before prescribing chemotherapy and radiation. For more information on this treatment approach, click here.
- Clinical Trials
- New treatment methods are always being researched. If you wish to take part in a clinical trial, talk to your doctor.
These individual therapies may be combined for optimum treatment. Chemotherapy is often given in combination with radiation for advanced cancers, and some B-cell and T-cell cancers are treated with chemo and immunotherapy.
Sponsored Links
SupportGroups.com builds awareness and support for Hodgkin's Lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. If you are a friend or parent of a person that has been diagnosed with Lymphoma, or you have been diagnosed with Lymphoma, you are not alone. Share personal experiences, evaluate information and get support during times of need, illness, treatment or recovery.
Treatment Resources
- If you have ongoing medical conditions or are going through treatment, it is recommended that you wear a medical ID bracelet. This can inform medical professionals about your condition and can help ensure the appropriate medical care.
- Patients who are looking for more advanced treatment or who have lymphoma that does not respond to standard treatment may want to consider a clinical study. Click here to find clinical trials in your area.
Related Pages
For more information on Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, please see the following pages:
The information provided on the Lymphoma Information Network is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her health professional. This information is solely for informational and educational purposes. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Neither the owners or employees of LymphomaInfo.net nor the author(s) of site content take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading this site. Always speak with your primary health care provider before engaging in any form of self treatment. Please see our Legal Statement for further information.
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Featured Treatment
Zevalin® (Ibritumomab tiuxetan) is a form of radioimmunotherapy (a radiolabeled monoclonal antibody) for treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory, low‑grade or follicular B‑cell non‑Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). "Refractory" refers to a disease that does not respond to treatment.
Zevalin is the first radioummunotherapy treatment to be FDA-approved as a first-line therapy for lymphoma. Read more...
Cancer Support Groups
 SupportGroups.com aims to build awareness and provide support for Hodgkin's Lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. If you are a friend or parent of a person that has been diagnosed with Lymphoma, or you have been diagnosed with Lymphoma, you are not alone. Share personal experiences, evaluate information and get support during times of need, illness, treatment or recovery.
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Did You Know?
Since the early 1970s, incidence rates for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma have nearly doubled. Incidence rates for Hodgkin’s disease have declined about 60%. Better means of diagnosis has also increased the number as doctors better understand cancer of lymphocytes verses other diseases.
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