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CancerQuest > Introduction to Patient Information > Introduction to Cancer by Type > Lymphoma: Introduction > Lymphoma: Treatment

Lymphoma: Treatment

Specific treatment plans for lymphoma depend on the type and stage of disease. As our focus is on the biology of the cancers and their treatments, we do not give detailed treatment guidelines. Instead, we link to organizations in the U.S. that generate the treatment guidelines.

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) lists the following treatments for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma:

• Surgery: For more details about this type of treatment view the section on Surgery.

• Radiation Therapy: Radiation is used to treat disease confined to one area of the body, often seen in patients with stage I or II lymphoma. Radiotherapy uses high energy rays to kill lymphoma cells. For more details view the section on Radiation Therapy

• Chemotherapy: Often several chemotherapy drugs are given in combination. A combination commonly administered used to treat non-Hodgkin lymphoma is known as C.H.O.P., which includes cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan®, or Neosar®), doxorubicin or hydoxydoxorubicin (Adriamycin®), vincristine (Oncovin®) and prednisone.⁽¹⁾For more details on this treatment view the section on Chemotherapy.

• Antibody-based treatments: Antibodies are injected into the patient and recognize, bind and destroy lymphoma cells.⁽¹⁾ Rituximab (Rituxan®) is a human-mouse hybrid antibody that may be administered to lymphoma patients. It binds to a specific subset of B lymphocytes and causes their death.⁽²⁾ Rituximab may be used alone or in conjunction with chemotherapy. For more details on this method view the section on Antibody-based treatment. Learn more about this drug from the manufacturer here.

• Stem Cell Transplantation: For details on this treatment view the section on Stem Cell Transplantation.

The NCCN also lists chemotherapy and radiation as treatments for Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Watch the full interview with lymphoma survivor Behr Champana.

The National Cancer Institute website contains information about treatments for Childhood Hodgkin's Lymphoma and Adult Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

For more information about how these and other cancer treatments work, refer to the Cancer Treatments section.

Learn more about Lymphoma treatment at the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University.

Information about clinical trials:

• General clinical trial information from CancerQuest
• Click here for information about clinical trials from the National Cancer Institute.
• Click here for information about clinical trials from Georgia Clinical Trials Online.
• Click here for information about clinical trials at the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University

References for this page:

1. Learn About Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin's type. American Cancer Society. Accessed October 2010. [http://www.cancer.org/cancer/non-hodgkinlymphoma/index]
2. Long J, Versea L. "Treatment approaches and nursing considerations for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma." Semin Oncol Nurs. (2006 May);22(2):97-106. [PUBMED]