Treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Main treatments for non-Hodgkin lymphoma

The treatment you'll have for non-Hodgkin lymphoma depends on:

• if it is fast growing (high grade) or slow growing (low grade)
• where it is in your body
• the type you have
• if it has spread to other parts of your body
• what symptoms you have
• your general health

You may be offered a combination of treatments including chemotherapy, other medicines that target the cancer cells and radiotherapy.

Your specialist treatment team will:

• explain the treatments, the benefits and side effects
• work with you to make a treatment plan that's best for you
• help you to manage the side effects of treatment

If you have any questions or worries, you can talk to your specialist team.

Fast-growing non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Fast-growing (high grade) non-Hodgkin lymphoma needs to be treated straight away.

Treatment can often get rid of it completely but sometimes you may need further treatment.

Slow-growing non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Treatment for slow-growing (low grade) non-Hodgkin lymphoma does not get rid of it but can keep it under control for many years.

If you have slow-growing non-Hodgkin lymphoma, you can sometimes delay treatment if you do not have symptoms (this is sometimes called watch and wait).

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses medicines to kill cancer cells. It's sometimes given alongside steroid medicine.

You may have chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin lymphoma:

• as a first treatment, with or without other targeted medicines
• as a second treatment if your first treatment does not work or your lymphoma comes back
• before a stem cell transplant

Targeted medicines and immunotherapy

Targeted medicines kill cancer cells or stop them from growing as quickly.

Immunotherapy is where medicines are used to help your immune system kill cancer.

You may have targeted medicines or immunotherapy for non-Hodgkin lymphoma:

• as a first treatment with chemotherapy
• after your treatment, to keep the lymphoma under control for as long as possible
• if your cancer comes back after treatment or if treatment does not work

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells in your glands (lymph nodes).

You may have radiotherapy for non-Hodgkin lymphoma:

• as a first treatment, if you have low grade lymphoma
• after chemotherapy and targeted medicines, if you have high grade lymphoma
• as part of a stem cell transplant
• to help manage symptoms if the lymphoma has spread to other parts of your body

Stem cell transplant

A stem cell transplant is where damaged blood cells are replaced with healthy ones.

You may have a stem cell transplant if:

• your cancer has come back after treatment
• other treatments are not working

Watch and wait

If your cancer is slow growing (low grade), you may not need to have treatment straight away.

Instead you’ll have regular tests to monitor your lymphoma. You’ll be offered treatment when tests show you need it.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and fertility

Some treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma can affect your ability to have children (fertility).

Speak to your specialist team before treatment if you want to have children in the future.

What happens if you've been told your cancer cannot be cured

If you've been diagnosed with advanced non-Hodgkin lymphoma that has spread to other parts of the body (advanced cancer), it is sometimes harder to treat.

The aim of treatment will be to slow down the growth and spread of the cancer, to help with the symptoms and help you live longer.

Finding out cancer cannot be cured can be very hard news to take in.

You'll be referred to a team of doctors and nurses called a palliative care team or symptom control team.

They will help you to manage your symptoms and make you feel more comfortable.

The palliative care team can also help you and your loved ones get any other support you need.