Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Other Treatment

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Other Treatment

Radiation therapy is often the treatment of choice for early-stage or nonaggressive (indolent) non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Radiation therapy may be used alone or combined with other treatment options, such as chemotherapy, for later or more advanced NHL.

Stem cell transplant (also called bone marrow transplant) is used to treat relapsed aggressive NHL. One study showed that stem cell transplant improved survival rates in people with aggressive NHL.⁶

A growth factor called G-CSF may be used along with chemotherapy for newly diagnosed NHL. G-CSF is a protein that is produced naturally in the body. G-CSF can help you tolerate chemotherapy better and have less risk for serious infections.

What to think about

Radiation therapy often cures early-stage or nonaggressive (indolent) non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

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, doctors use the term remission because cancer can return. It is important to discuss the possibility of recurrence with your doctor.

Palliative care

If your non-Hodgkin's lymphoma gets worse, you may want to think about palliative care. Palliative care is a kind of care for people who have illnesses that do not go away and often get worse over time. It is different from care to cure your illness, called curative treatment. Palliative care focuses on improving your quality of life—not just in your body but also in your mind and spirit. Some people combine palliative care with curative care.

Palliative care may help you manage symptoms or side effects from treatment. It could also help you cope with your feelings about living with a long-term illness, make future plans around your medical care, or help your family better understand your illness and how to support you.

If you are interested in palliative care, talk to your doctor. He or she may be able to manage your care or refer you to a doctor who specializes in this type of care.

For more information, see the topic Palliative Care.

End-of-life issues

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is often a progressive condition. If you have been diagnosed with NHL, you may wish to discuss with your family and your doctor the health care and other legal issues that arise near the end of life.

A time may come when your goals or the goals of your loved ones may change from treating or curing an illness to maintaining comfort and dignity. You may find it helpful and comforting to state your health care choices in writing (with an advance directive or living will) while you are still able to make and communicate these decisions. Think about your treatment options and which kind of treatment will be best for you. You may wish to choose a health care agent to make and carry out decisions about your care if you become unable to speak for yourself. For more information, see the topic Care at the End of Life.

Last updated:	April 22, 2008
Author:	Bets Davis, MFA
Reviewed By:	Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine, Douglas A. Stewart, MD - Medical Oncology
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC