Best Treatment Options for Non Hodgkin Lymphoma
Cancer is a life-threatening disease which can create havoc in one’s life. One typical type of cancer is known as Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma or NHL. This malaise affects the lymphatic system and spreads in the lymphoid tissues, which contain lymphocytes that are found all over the body. You can opt for any of the various Non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment options, but you should only proceed with your treatment plan with proper consultation with your medical professional.
Few common symptoms which are observed during NHL:
- Fever
- Swollen lymph nodes but no pain
- Sudden weight loss
- A persistent cough
- Breathing problems
- Excessive sweating
- Extreme fatigue
Diagnosis of NHL
The diagnosis of NHL is done through physical examination of lymph nodes. Blood tests are conducted to establish blood cell counts. The stage of the disease is identified through X-rays, MRI scans, CT scans, and biopsy.
Factors affecting Non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment
As the patient is diagnosed with NHL, the experienced medical experts offer treatment options which depend on different factors. These factors include:
- Type of lymphoma
- Stage of progression at the time of diagnosis
- Rate of growth
- Age and demographics of the patient
Treatment of NHL
A doctor’s expertise is required to assess the kind of treatment required for this disease since every patient needs a specific Non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment plan. The treatment is done under the guidance of an experienced oncologist, or a doctor who specializes in using a different process such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy, in order to eliminate cancerous cells from the body.
At times, the best thing to do is to observe minutely the disease’s behavior without taking any specific remedial action especially when “indolent” or slow-growing lymphomas are involved. Administering radical treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy too soon can create undesired side effects and do not help in curing the disease.
Aggressive treatment is not appropriate for all cases since there are few types of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma which do not respond favorably to conventional cancer treatments. Some of the Non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment methods include:
- Chemotherapy
- Targeted therapy
- Radiation therapy
- Stem cell transplant
- Bone marrow transplantation
- Immunotherapy
- Surgery is suggested in a few cases
There is no single type of solution which can be recommended for treating Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma since it is a complex disease which affects different people in varied ways. Besides, as the disease progresses, it may require basic changes to the treatment plan, especially if the cancer is not responding as expected to the initial mode of treatments.