LYMPHOMA THERAPY

therapy

The therapy at Lymphoma should be started immediately after the diagnosis is made to prevent further disease progression. When treating the Hodgkin lymphoma come both the chemotherapy as well as radiation therapy in combination. Surgical treatment is not used because the disease is systemic and removal of the corresponding lymph nodes is likely to result in further lymph node enlargement. Which chemotherapeutic drugs are used depends on the Type of lymphoma disease as well as according to the stage. The medication is repeated until a certain number of cycles has been reached. Radiation therapy may then be used. At an advanced stage, 8 cycles of chemotherapy are usually carried out, which corresponds to a period of six to seven months. In the earlier stages, two cycles are usually given, followed by radiation therapy. If the disease continues to spread in the body during or after therapy, one speaks of a progress, and high-dose chemotherapy becomes necessary.

In addition, a stem cell transplant will be necessary in these cases. One speaks of an early relapse if more than three months have passed after the end of therapy but not yet a full year. The one year mark has already been exceeded in the case of a late relapse. Both chemotherapy and radiation therapy have a variety of side effects. Despite the constant further development of the medication, these side effects are decreasing, but can never be completely prevented. With the chemotherapeutic drugs of the newer generation, nausea and vomiting, which were often uncontrollable in the past, can be controlled with the help of combination preparations, but dangerous changes in the blood count often occur, which weaken the immune system so much that there is an increased risk of infection. For this reason, regular blood counts are absolutely necessary. Since there is a general inhibition of cell division, hair loss is to be expected with most chemotherapeutic agents. Furthermore, the nerve cells in the body can be damaged with tingling and numbness, but also paralysis with loss of function of individual parts of the body.

The side effects of radiation therapy tend to be localized to the irradiated area and range from slight reddening of the skin to burns, choking disorders, loss of taste and smell. Most patients report fatigue during radiation therapy.
The treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphomas depends on the corresponding subgroup and is very complex. In principle, however, it also consists of chemotherapy combined with radiation treatment. Further therapy options are cytokine therapy, in which the immune system is to be stimulated, and antibody therapy. A stem cell transplant can also be considered here if there is no response. In the case of very slow disease progression of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, there is the option of initially foregoing therapy and closely monitoring the patient's blood count. Treatment may then be necessary in the further course.

Read more on the topic: Non-Hodgkin lymphoma

In the case of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, treatment only makes sense if the stage is very advanced or the patient has symptoms at an early stage. Treatment options include: chemotherapy and monoclonal antibodies. Neither surgical treatment options nor radiation therapy play a role in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Here, too, there are numerous extensive treatment schemes that provide for the combined administration of chemotherapeutic agents. The treatment of a patient who becomes ill for the first time is called first-line therapy. If there is a relapse, this therapy is called second-line therapy.

forecast

The Hodgkin lymphoma is a malignant disease that has a good cure rate. Between 80 and 90% of patients can be cured. The longer the relapse-free period, the higher the chance of recovery.
The prognosis of a chronic lymphocytic leukemia is very good. Although no cure is possible with medication, the disease can be contained and can remain asymptomatic for a long time. In many cases no treatment is necessary. The most common complication is infection, which can partially turn the development of the disease into a negative.
The forecast of the Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (Lymphoma) depends on the corresponding subgroup. The constant further development of the drugs has led to a 5 year survival rate of 90%. If there is an early relapse, the chances of recovery are worse than for later relapses.

Read more on: Lymphoma Prognosis