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Lymphoma Cancer Treatment Options

Overview

Lymphoma Cancer at Spokane CyberKnife

Facts About Lymphoma Cancers

Lymphoma is a cancer that starts in cells that are part of the body’s immune system. Knowing which type of lymphoma you have is important because it affects your treatment options and your outlook (prognosis). If you aren’t sure which type you have, ask your doctor so you can get the right information.

Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

• Hodgkin’s lymphoma (or Hodgkin’s disease) most often begins in the larger, more central lymph nodes of the body including those along the largest blood vessels of the neck, central chest, abdomen along the spine, and armpit and groin areas where the vessels return from the arms and legs.
• It is named after the British doctor Thomas Hodgkin, who first described the disease in 1832.According to the American Cancer Society, more than 8,000 people will be diagnosed with Hodgkin’s in the United States each year.
• Hodgkin’s is very treatable and often curable. More than 75 percent of patients with Hodgkin’s live longer than 10 years after diagnosis.
• Hodgkin’s is usually treated with radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy.

Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

• NHL is a cancerous growth of cells that make up the lymph nodes.
• NHL is eight times more common than Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The American Cancer.
• Society expects that 63,000 people will be diagnosed with the disease annually.
• Since the 1970s, the number of people with NHL has increased significantly.
• Researchers are studying to see whether a gene makes people more likely to develop NHL.
• There are about 30 types of NHL, and the best treatment depends on the exact type. All types of NHL are treatable, and many are curable.
• NHL is usually treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biologic therapy and/or a stem cell transplant. Depending on your cancer and overall health, you might receive only one of these treatments or several in combination.

Staging of Lymphoma

The stage of lymphoma is a term used to describe the extent of the disease:

Stage I: Single lymph node or non-lymph node region is affected.
Stage II: Two or more lymph nodes or non-lymph node regions are affected on the same side of the diaphragm (the muscle under the lungs).
Stage III: Lymph nodes or non-lymph node regions above and below the diaphragm are affected.
Stage IV: The cancer has spread outside the lymph nodes to organs such as the liver, bones or lungs. Stage IV can also refer to a tumor in another organ and/or tumors in the distant lymph nodes.

Talk to your physician to find out exactly which stage you have. Determining the stage and exact type of lymphoma (by microscopic examination of tissue from a biopsy) are essential steps toward planning the best treatment to cure your disease.

Treatment Options for Lymphoma

Treatment options depend on the type of lymphoma, its stage and your overall health. Treatment may include chemotherapy or radiation therapy, either alone or in combination. It may help to talk to several specialists before deciding on the best course of treatment for you, your disease and your lifestyle.