Some forms of aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma can be cured. Indolent non-Hodgkin lymphomas may be managed, but are not often curable. Overall, treatment is focused on destroying cancer cells and slowing disease progression. Symptoms caused by loss of healthy blood cells will also be needed. Treatment plans often include a combination of treatments. The exact plan will depend on the type of lymphoma, how aggressive the the disease is, symptoms, age, and overall health.

The treatment and management of lymphoma may include a combination of treatments including radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or both. If the cancer does not respond to chemo- or radiation therapy, other treatment options may include bone marrow or peripheral stem cell transplants.

The healthcare team will be made up of a variety of health professionals including doctors, surgeons, nurses, and pharmacists. It is important to maintain contact with your medical team, adhere to recommended treatment, and go to any recommended appointments for best outcomes possible.

Non-Hodgkin treatment may include:

Research studies help to determine whether or not new treatments are both safe and effective. If current treatment is not effective for your type of cancer you may wish to ask your doctor if you should consider participating in a clinical trial. You can find out about clinical trials at the US National Institutes of Health website.

REFERENCES:

Adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment (PDQ)—patient version. National Cancer Institute website. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/types/lymphoma/patient/adult-nhl-treatment-pdq. Accessed January 28, 2021.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T116014/Non-Hodgkin-lymphoma-NHL. Accessed January 28, 2021.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment. American Cancer Society website. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/non-hodgkin-lymphoma/treating.html. Accessed January 28, 2021.

Types of treatment. Leukemia & Lymphoma Society website. Available at: http://www.lls.org/lymphoma/non-hodgkin-lymphoma/treatment. Accessed January 28, 2021.

Last reviewed December 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Mohei Abouzied, MD, FACP