Non-hodgkin's Lymphoma : In Depth - Deciding on T...
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Researchers are always finding new treatments for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. People diagnosed with it now have more hope for survival than ever before.
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You may have just one type of treatment or a combination. Different types of treatment have different goals. Here are the most common types of treatment for lymphoma and their goals.
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Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. The drugs are designed to attack and kill cells that divide quickly. Cancer cells divide more quickly than most cells in the body. This means that the drugs used in chemotherapy mainly affect lymphoma cells. However, they can also affect fast-growing normal cells, such as cells in the digestive tract or cells in the hair roots. This is why chemotherapy causes some side effects.
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Chemotherapy has a distinct advantage over other types of treatment. It can reach all parts of the lymphatic system. And that means it can kill lymphoma cells all over your body. That's why many types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are treated with chemotherapy. Your doctor will decide about using chemotherapy for you based on the type of lymphoma you have.
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How you get chemotherapy and how often you get it depends on the drugs you take. Here is what is generally true for people with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who are getting chemotherapy as part of their treatment.
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The side effects from chemotherapy usually get better or go away when the treatment ends. The extent of these side effects varies. It depends on the specific drugs you take, how you take them, and how your body reacts to them. Talk with your doctor or nurse about what to expect and how to ease these side effects.
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The goal of radiation is to use high-energy X-rays to kill lymphoma cells and shrink tumors. This may also ease symptoms. To treat lymphoma, a machine directs radiation to the outside of your body. That's why it's called external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT). If you have stage I or stage II lymphoma, you may get radiation as your main (primary) treatment. And you are also likely to have chemotherapy.
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In some cases, radiation is useful for the treatment of lymphoma. Your doctor may recommend it for these reasons.
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If you're having treatment directed at just a small part of your body, you'll probably be able to have radiation as an outpatient. That means you can have it done at a hospital or clinic without having to spend the night. If you're preparing for a stem cell transplant, you will have the treatments as an inpatient, which means you'll have to stay in the hospital.
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External radiation therapy is the most common type given for lymphoma. You can have this as an outpatient in a hospital or a clinic. That means you don't need to stay overnight in the hospital. This type of radiation may come from a machine called a linear accelerator.
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If you have internal radiation treatment, you may need to stay in the hospital overnight. Generally, when internal radiation is used to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, the specific type used is called systemic radiation therapy.
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Radiation therapy can help you in your fight against cancer. To feel better, get plenty of rest, exercise, and eat well. This will give your body the extra strength it needs right now. Also, look to family and friends for support and comfort.
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Here's an overview of how you may feel after radiation treatments. Which symptoms you have depends mainly on which part of your body is treated.
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These treatments use substances that are also naturally made by your immune system. They work by killing lymphoma cells or slowing their growth. Or they get your own immune system to more effectively attack the lymphoma cells.
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All anticancer drugs target tumors in some way. Most conventional treatments, however, attack healthy cells as well as cancer cells. As a result, there can be serious side effects from the treatment. A new approach to cancer treatment may help reduce side effects. The new treatment is called molecularly targeted therapy. It takes a more direct aim at cancer cells. And that means less damage to healthy cells.
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Your doctor may suggest this type of treatment if one of these cases applies to you.
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Usually you get monoclonal antibodies by intravenous infusions. That means the medicine drips slowly into your vein through an IV needle, which is taped to your hand or arm. You may get these in your doctor's office or a clinic, and you'll get them for several weeks.
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Side effects following this treatment are usually mild. They may include ones such as these.
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Surgery is rarely used to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Your doctor may suggest it to treat extranodal lymphoma. This is lymphoma that starts in an organ, such as the spleen, thyroid, or stomach, rather than in the lymph nodes. During surgery, the surgeon removes the tumor and sometimes the surrounding lymph nodes or tissue as well.
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Stem cells are immature cells that are the "starter” cells for all types of tissues. The goal of a transplant is to help your body make new blood cells. The new stem cells replace the normal cells that were killed during high-dose chemotherapy used to treat the lymphoma.
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You and your doctor will need to carefully weigh the pros and cons of this procedure. A transplant allows for the delivery of much higher doses of chemotherapy than would otherwise be possible. This may cure an aggressive lymphoma. However, many people who need a transplant cannot withstand the side effects. Your doctor may recommend this procedure in the following cases.
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Stem cell transplants may be autologous, which means the stem cells come from your own body. Or they may be allogeneic, which means the stem cells come from a donor. Discuss the risks and benefits of each approach with your doctor beforehand. Here's a general description of how a stem cell transplant is done.
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The early side effects of a stem cell transplant aren't from the transplant but from the high-dose chemotherapy and radiation. These should go away over time while you are recovering from the transplant. You may also experience a strange taste in your mouth from the preservative used to freeze the stem cells. These are some common side effects. They vary depending on whether or not you had your stem cells from a donor. Ask your doctor which ones may be most likely for you.
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Key Points Hematopoietic or blood-forming stem cells are immature cells that can mature into blood cells. These stem cells are found in the bone marrow, bloodstream, or umbilical cord blood (see Question 1).
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The treatment options for people with lymphoma depend on the kind of lymphoma and its stage, as well as other factors. If the lymphoma is contained to the lymph nodes, it can be treated with radiation. If the lymphoma has spread, it's usually treated with chemotherapy alone or with radiation, depending on the type of lymphoma. If the lymphoma persists or recurs after treatment, it may be treated with high- or low-dose chemotherapy with bone marrow transplants.
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