- Several non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma treatments are available. Which treatment or combination of treatments is best for you will depend on the particulars of your lymphoma, such as the types of cells involved and whether your lymphoma is aggressive. Your doctor also considers your overall health and your preferences.
- If your lymphoma appears to be slow growing (indolent) and doesn’t cause signs and symptoms, you might not need treatment right away. Instead, your doctor may recommend regular checkups every few months to monitor your condition and whether your cancer is advancing.
- If your non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is aggressive or causes signs and symptoms, your doctor may recommend treatment. Options may include:
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Targeted drug therapy
- Engineering immune cells to fight lymphoma:
- Bone marrow transplant
- Immunotherapy
- Radiation therapy uses high-powered energy beams, such as X-rays and protons, to kill cancer cells. During radiation therapy, you lie on a table, and a large machine moves around you, directing the energy beams to specific points on your body.
- For certain types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, radiation therapy may be the only treatment you need, particularly if your lymphoma is slow growing and located in just one or two spots. More commonly, radiation is used after chemotherapy to kill any lymphoma cells that might remain. Radiation can be aimed at affected lymph nodes and the nearby area of nodes where the disease might progress.
