When an individual is diagnosed with lymphoma, life is more than just getting the tests done and deciding on treatment. Through the course of treatment and years beyond that, hundreds of issues come and go. These include coping with immediate and late side-effects of treatment, understanding concepts of disease response, remission and relapse, arranging for finances to fund treatment, and looking for support from your family and from other lymphoma survivors. These issues need to be understood and tackled with as much promptness as the diagnosis and treatment.
Issues During Treatment
Treatment of lymphoma can be long and complicated. Each of the different types of treatment – chemotherapy, radiation, antibodies and stem cell transplantation - can give rise to its own issues and complications. Here is a discussion of some of the questions and problems faced during treatment.
- Side Effects of Lymphoma Treatment
- Why are Blood Tests Required Before Each Cycle of Chemotherapy?
- Fall in White Blood Counts During Chemotherapy
- Nausea and Vomiting with Chemotherapy
- Hair Loss With Chemotherapy
- Swallowing Problems with Radiation
- Diet During Chemotherapy
Financial Support for Cancer Patients
Cancer treatment can be very expensive. Some treatments and drugs that are required may not be covered under insurance or government grants. How can an individual be better prepared to tackle financial issues?
- Financial Help for Cancer Affected Individuals in the U.S.
- Financial Issues for Cancer Patients in the UK NHS
Understanding Treatment Response and Survival
Once treatment is complete, doctors will ask for a set of investigations to assess the response to treatment. If all disease seems to have disappeared, the individual is said to have had a complete response, and he or she is in remission. If disease comes back later it is called a relapse. The doctor might explain the chances of disease control with the help of some survival terms.
- Understanding Remission, Cure and Relapse
- Terms Used for Cancer Treatment Response Assessment
- Terms Used for Cancer Survival
Issues after Treatment
For those who win their initial battle with the disease, a number of other issues become important as the years go by. Cancer itself and its treatments have long-term effects. Here are some of the common problems that lymphoma survivors have to deal with in the years after lymphoma treatment.
- Cancer Related Fatigue
- Heart Damage – With Anthracycline Chemotherapy and Radiation
- Sex Life after Treatment
- Fertility Issues after Cancer Treatment
- Thinking and Memory Problems with Chemotherapy
- Second Cancers after Radiotherapy
You are Not Alone
It is important to realize that the battle against cancer does not have to be fought alone. Family members and loved ones can provide support to the affected individual. Many problems during treatment and beyond require emotional support. The internet provides an excellent opportunity to interact with others suffering from the same disease, and to learn from their experiences.
