Treatment for Lymphoma
What is the purpose of Chemotherapy?
My doctor prescribed chemotherapy. How does it work?
Chemotherapy, also known as “Chemo” is a treatment that uses drugs to kill cancer cells. The medications circulate throughout the body and can kill cancer cells that have scattered from its original location to another. Chemo is one of the most common treatments for cancer. The targets vary depending on the type of cancer and how far it has gone. The goal of treatment can be to eliminate all cancer and prevent it from recurring or returning. If this is not possible, you may be given chemotherapy to help slow or stop the spread of the cancer.
To know more about chemotherapy and how this works, visit the following links:
Note: Always consult with your oncologist, hematologist, or healthcare team for any questions about your treatment.
What are the other possible treatments for Lymphoma?
What are my options aside from Chemotherapy?
For cancer patients, there are a number of treatment options available. The treatments you receive will always be dependent on the stage and type of cancer you have. Furthermore, choosing the best and proper treatment for you is a personal decision. It’s important to first understand your diagnosis and consult with your doctor about the best possible treatments.
1. Surgery – Cancer surgery, like surgery for other diseases, is an operation or treatment that removes a tumor and potentially some nearby tissue. It is the oldest form of cancer treatment, and it continues to be effective in the treatment of a variety of cancers today. A “surgical oncologist” is a specialist who specializes in cancer surgery.
To know more about Cancer Surgery and how it works, visit the following links:
2. Immunotherapy – Some immunotherapy treatments help the immune system stop or slow the growth of cancer cells. Others help the immune system destroy cancer cells or stop the cancer from spreading to other parts of the body. Immunotherapy treatments can be used alone or combined with other cancer treatments.
To know more about how immunotherapy works, visit the following website:
3. Radiation Therapy – Radiation oncologists use radiation therapy to fight cancer and lessen tumor growth while protecting healthy tissue around. The use of high-energy x-rays or other particles to eliminate cancer cells is known as radiation therapy. This is used sometimes as the initial cancer treatment recommended by specialists. People may also undergo radiation therapy following surgery or medication-based therapies like chemotherapy.
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4. Hormone Therapy – Hormone therapy is a method of cancer treatment in which certain hormones are removed, blocked, or added to the body. Hormone treatment may also be used to help in the prevention or control of cancer symptoms. Considering the side effects is an important aspect of cancer treatment and care. This is referred to as palliative or supportive care.
To know more about Hormone Therapy, visit the following website:
There are a lot of treatment options to choose from. Always ask your doctor why a particular treatment is being prescribed for you and how it will fit into your overall cancer treatment plan.
To know more about the various cancer treatments, please visit the following website:
Note: Always consult with your oncologist, hematologist, or healthcare team for any questions about your treatment.
What if my first line of treatment didn't work?
My doctor is prescribing another set of chemotherapy. What will be the difference this time?
The effectiveness of your treatment varies a lot. Your first-line treatment might not work, might work for a while but then stop, or might produce major side effects. A second-line treatment, also known as second-line therapy, may be recommended by your doctor. You may be able to receive third-line therapy or further rounds of treatment depending on the type of cancer you have and the medications available.
Find out more about first treatment of chemotherapy:
Note: Always consult with your oncologist, hematologist, or healthcare team for any questions about your treatment.