Lymphoma Treatment options

Departments Wards Charities

A treatment plan will be recommended for individual patients , depending on the type of Lymphoma which is diagnosed, it's stage and location in the body.

Your myeloma treatment will be co-ordinated by your specialist doctor (haematologist). They'll discuss all your options with you and together you'll decide what's most appropriate for you.

Specific Lymphomas react differently to different treatment, so recommended treatment may include one or a combination of the following treatment options.

The Cancer Therapy Team

The Cancer Therapy Team

The Cancer Therapy Team at Salisbury District Hospital offer ‘prehabilitation’ which is the work done to build up your physical and mental health, before your cancer treatment starts. This aims to put you in the best place possible to manage the treatment to come. For more information on the Cancer Therapy Team visit: Cancer Therapy Team

Macmillan Cancer Support have also put together the following information and videos: Prehabilitation videos for people living with cancer | Macmillan Cancer Support

Will I need treatment immediately?

Not everyone diagnosed with lymphoma will need to start treatment immediately. The timing of treatment will depend on the results from various tests and investigations, together with any symptoms you have.

Systemic Anti-Cancer Treatments (SACT)- inc. chemotherapy & immunotherapy Radiotherapy

Treatment with medication is known as systemic anti-cancer treatments (SACT), this can include treatments such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

This treatment may be given either as tablets or be injected into your body. These drugs travel in the blood stream helping to stop cancer cells wherever they are in the body. Specially trained staff give the treatments.

SACT is usually given over a number of weeks, which may or may not be followed by a rest period. This pattern constitutes one cycle of treatment, and a series of treatment cycles is referred to as a course of treatment.

The majority of people do not have to stay in hospital for this treatment, it will be given on the day unit. Some of these treatments have potential side-effects and it is important that you fully understand what these side-effects can be. The treatment will be fully discussed with you and you will be given written information as well.

Some people may be offered the opportunity to take part in a clinical trial. This is not suitable for all patients and if it is a possibility for you then the research nurse will come and talk to you and make sure you fully understand all the implications.

For information on the different medications used to treat lymphoma, visit Macmillan Cancer Support’s website where you will be able to find information on the medication you have been prescribed via their ‘A to Z list of cancer drugs’.

Alternatively, Cancer Research UK also provide information on medication which you may be prescribed, you can also search via the following link: Cancer drugs A to Z list | Treatment for cancer | Cancer Research UK

For full information on the Oncology Department at Salisbury District Hospital, please click here.

Lymphoma Action provide information on Systemic Anti-Cancer Treatments via the following links:

Lymphoma Action | Chemotherapy (lymphoma-action.org.uk)

Lymphoma Action | Targeted treatments and antibody therapy (lymphoma-action.org.uk)

Lymphoma Action | CAR-T cell therapy (lymphoma-action.org.uk)

Radiotherapy

This is a general term for the treatment of cancer with x-rays. It is often used on its own or as a combined treatment with surgery and / or chemotherapy. It works by destroying the cancer cells around, and in the area of the tumour. 

Further information about these treatments will be given to you, depending on which is believed to be the most beneficial for you.

The following websites provide more information on radiotherapy treatment for lymphoma:

Radiotherapy for lymphoma | Macmillan Cancer Support

Lymphoma Action | Radiotherapy (lymphoma-action.org.uk)

Stem Cell transplant

For younger and/or fitter lymphoma patients, a stem cell transplant may be recommended after their initial course of treatment. A stem cell transplant is a more intensive treatment that involves several steps.

The process uses a higher than normal dose of chemotherapy to remove as many myeloma cells from your bone marrow as possible. Unfortunately, this has the side effect of destroying healthy cells too, so to restore your bone marrow, stem cells are given to you, which multiply and build up the bone marrow again.

Usually, you will have your own stem cells collected before the high-dose chemotherapy is given and then returned afterwards.

For a small number of younger patients, an allogeneic stem cell transplant using stem cells from a donor may be considered.

The following websites provide more information on stem cell transplants:

Stem cell and bone marrow transplants | Macmillan Cancer Support

Lymphoma Action | Stem cell transplants (lymphoma-action.org.uk)

Supportive Treatments

You may also be prescribed other treatment to help prevent or manage potential side effects of your treatment. You might also be given other treatment to help with the symptoms and complications of lymphoma. 

Treatment for the different types of lymphoma

Macmillan Cancer Support have put together the following information on treatment for the two main categories of lymphomas:

Hodgkin lymphoma: Treating Hodgkin lymphoma | Macmillan Cancer Support

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma: Treating Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) | Macmillan Cancer Support

What if I am unwell after receiving cancer treatment?

Acute Oncology working hours: Monday – Friday 08.30 – 16.30

We provide advice and assessment for cancer patients who have severe symptoms or start to feel unwell as a result of Systemic Anti-Cancer Treatment (SACT) or cancer diagnosis. 

Our experienced team is made up of a coordinator and clinical nurse specialists (CNS) who liaise closely with your consultant haematologist to ensure you receive the best support and care.  

We provide telephone support to answer questions and triage your symptoms. This urgent advice line is manned by the Acute Oncology Team during office hours (Monday – Friday 08.30 – 16.00) and then covered by trained nurses out of hours.  

Our clinical team can provide advice on managing symptoms and if necessary, can invite you for a face-to-face assessment or organise admission to the hospital for further symptom control and investigations. 

Please note we are not a walk-in facility and any face-to-face assessments should be organised via the urgent advice line.  

Lymphoma Treatment options

Person Centred & Safe

Professional

Responsive

Friendly

Progressive

Lymphoma Treatment options

The Trust

Legal & Privacy

Sustainability

Join us on social media

Information & Resources

Person Centred & Safe

Professional

Responsive

Friendly

Progressive