You might still have some symptoms of lymphoma following a partial remission. Low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma is likely to respond well to treatment but it is unlikely to go into complete remission because the slow-growing cells in low-grade lymphomas are hard to get rid of completely.
Low-grade lymphoma is therefore usually treated with the aim of sending it into as good a partial remission as possible. This means that the lymphoma and any symptoms you have are reduced as much as possible. Low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma can often be controlled for many years and as treatment options improve, remissions are lasting longer.
However, low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma usually comes back relapses or gets worse progresses at some point. This might not be for many months or years. Although a relapse can be very distressing, many people are treated successfully again. Most people with low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma have several different treatments over the course of their illness. It helps some people to think of it as a long-term chronic disease that needs treatment from time-to-time. Your doctor visits are a good time to ask questions and talk about any changes or problems you notice or concerns you have.
During your follow-up visits, your doctor will ask you about any symptoms you are having, examine you, and may order blood or imaging tests.
Your doctor will probably want to see you regularly, usually every few months for the first year or so and gradually less often after that. Imaging tests may be done, based on the type, location, and stage of lymphoma. You may need frequent blood tests to check that you have recovered from treatment and to look for possible signs of problems such as lymphoma recurrence.
Blood counts can also sometimes become abnormal because of a disease of the bone marrow called myelodysplasia , which can sometimes lead to leukemia. Some chemotherapy drugs can cause this disease. For more on this, see Myelodysplastic Syndromes. Talk with your doctor about developing a survivorship care plan for you. This plan might include:. They are. Patients may undergo treatments over long periods, but most therapy can be administered in an outpatient setting.
Radiation therapy, chemotherapy or immunotherapy can be administered in an outpatient clinic of an oncology center. Short periods of hospitalization are sometimes required. Types of Treatment Doctors use several types of approaches and treatment combinations for NHL, some at different stages.
Clinical trials can involve therapy with new drugs and new drug combinations or new approaches to stem cell transplantation. Factors That Influence Treatment Each person should discuss treatment options with his or her doctor and ask for help understanding the benefits and risks of different treatment approaches. As you develop a treatment plan with your doctor, be sure to discuss: The results you can expect from treatment Potential side effects, including long-term and late-term effects The possibility of participating in a clinical trial, where you'll have access to advanced medical treatment that may be more beneficial to you than standard treatment To download lists of suggested questions to ask your healthcare providers, click here.
Pretreatment Considerations If you're of child-bearing age , talk with your doctor about the treatment's possible long-term effects on fertility. If your child is being treated for NHL , therapy may differ from that of the average adult. Children and adolescents with NHL should be referred to medical centers that have a specialized pediatric oncology team to ensure that young patients receive optimal treatment, support and follow-up care. With current treatments, NHL in most children is highly curable.
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