You’ll have the treatment that’s right for you – the treatment will be different depending on which type of lymphoma you have and your individual needs. Even patients who have the same type of lymphoma won’t have the same treatment.
For many patients, their treatment is split into different phases. Each phase of your treatment will have a different aim – it might be to get rid of the lymphoma cells entirely, or it might be to consolidate any previous treatment, or it might be to maintain the low levels of lymphoma cells in your blood after initial treatment.
Your healthcare team will discuss this with you before you start your treatment, but you can always ask them any questions at any point in your treatment if you’re not sure about something.
Below are some of the types of treatment you might have if you have lymphoma.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is used to kill cells and stop them dividing. Although this type of treatment is aimed at the cancer cells, the treatment also affects normal cells which divide quickly, like the hair and gut.
If you have chemotherapy, you will be given anti-cancer drugs. You might take a single drug or a combination of different drugs. Sometimes these will be given in your vein (intravenously) or sometimes you’ll need to take tablets. You’ll usually have several courses (sometimes called blocks or cycles) of chemotherapy during your treatment.
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy uses high energy rays, usually X-rays, to kill cancer cells in a specific area. It can be an effective treatment for diseases which affect a particular part of the body, such as lymphoma.
Biological therapies
Your treatment plan might include biological therapies. These drugs identify proteins on the surface of the affected cells and kill them.
Steroids
Steroids are very effective in killing lymphoma cells and are sometimes included in treatment regimes alongside chemotherapy and biological therapies, Steroids can make some chemotherapy treatments more effective and reduce any sickness you may get, but can sometimes be used alone to shrink down the lymphoma.
Stem cell transplants
Sometimes, people with lymphoma have a stem cell transplant. This is where a patient receives chemotherapy to reduce the lymphoma in their bone marrow, then receives blood stem cells from another healthy individual (a donor).
Supportive care
As well as the active treatment you’ll receive to reduce the lymphoma, some patients also have a type of treatment called supportive care. Supportive care is treatment to reduce infections, provide blood and platelet transfusions, and, in some cases, medicines to reduce bruising and bleeding.
Palliative care
Some patients might also be put in touch with a palliative care team. They’re experts in managing your symptoms, improving your quality of life and helping you take care of your general health. They’re able to support both you and family members.