Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

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Report to your doctor any problems you have, as soon as they appear. If you are having a problem, you may need to make some new appointments.

Treatment if the condition gets worse

You may be offered the following treatment options if your disease progresses:

• Radiation therapy may be used alone or in combination with other treatments if non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) recurs. Targeted radiation therapy uses monoclonal antibodies to deliver radiation directly to lymphoma cells.
• Chemotherapy often effectively treats recurrent NHL. Sometimes a person may take one type of chemotherapy for several cycles and later be switched to different medicines if the first medicines are no longer working.
• Stem cell transplant is often used to treat recurrent lymphoma. Stem cell transplant may be offered as part of standard treatment or in a clinical trial. Talk with your doctor to see if a clinical trial may be available for your type of recurrent disease.
• Biological therapy may be used to treat recurrent lymphoma.

What to think about

Survival rates have improved as a result of clinical trials. Clinical trials provide evidence about new medicines and treatments that may help people who have non-Hodgkin's lymphoma live longer and have a better quality of life. If you are interested in taking part in a clinical trial, check with your doctor to see if there are any clinical trials available in your area.

Your doctor may use the term "remission" instead of "cure" when talking about the effectiveness of your treatment. Although many people with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are successfully treated, the term remission is used because cancer can return. It is important to discuss with your doctor the possibility of recurrence.

Even after effective treatment for NHL, you may be at slightly higher risk for other types of cancer, especially melanoma, lung, brain, kidney, and bladder cancers. Be watchful for any symptoms of cancer.

For more information about specific treatments, see the following topics:

• Adult Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma - Health Professional Information[NCI PDQ]
• Adult Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma - Patient Information[NCI PDQ]

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma can also occur in children and adolescents, but it is not very common. When children get NHL, it is not the same kind that is common in adults. Also, treatments for children and adolescents are different from treatments for adults.

For more information about treatments for children and adolescents, see the following topics:

• Childhood Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma - Health Professional Information[NCI PDQ]
• Childhood Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma - Patient Information[NCI PDQ]