Lymphoma Treatment
From About.com
To someone newly diagnosed with lymphoma, treatment options may be difficult to understand. Lymphoma can be treated in many ways - with chemotherapy, radiation, monoclonal antibodies or a combination of these. There are nearly 30 types of lymphoma, and often there are multiple treatment options for a single disease. Here is a guide to understanding lymphoma treatment.
- The Pre-Treatment Assessment
- Understanding the Types of Lymphoma Treatment
- Treatment of Hodgkin's Lymphoma
- Treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL)
The Pre-Treatment Assessment
After the diagnosis of lymphoma and finding out the exact type of Hodgkin's or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a number of tests are carried out to find out the extent of disease (the stage of lymphoma) and other factors that determine the prognosis. When all these investigations are complete, the oncologist counsels the patient regarding the best treatment options available.
Understanding the Types of Lymphoma Treatment
There are four main types of treatment for lymphomas - chemotherapy, radiation therapy, antibody therapy (or biological therapy) and bone-marrow or stem cell transplantation. They may be used alone or in combination to fight a particular type of lymphoma. Do you know how these treatments work?
- How does chemotherapy work?
- How does radiotherapy work?
- What is monoclonal antibody treatment?
- Understanding bone marrow and stem cell transplants
Treatment of Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Hodgkin’s lymphoma is usually treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Treatment options are based on the stage of lymphoma and some prognostic factors. Nearly all patients receive chemotherapy. Radiation is used when required usually after chemotherapy or occasionally as the only treatment in very early stage disease.
- Treatment options for Hodgkin's lymphoma
- ABVD chemotherapy
- BEACOPP Chemotherapy
- Extended field radiation therapy (EFRT)
- Involved field radiation therapy (IFRT)
Treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL)
There are nearly 25 different types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Some of them behave very differently from others. The treatment of all NHL is not the same but depends on the type and behavior of the particular type. Chemotherapy is usually the main treatment. Radiation or monoclonal antibody therapy may be added to chemotherapy in some situations for added benefit.
