Lymphoma is a cancer that develops within the lymphatic system or the body’s germ defense system, which comprises the spleen, bone marrow, and lymph nodes (and glands). The condition has two main types—Hodgkin’s lymphoma (also known as Hodgkin’s disease), and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Doctors recommend lymphoma course of treatment to destroy all traces of cancerous cells (if possible) while easing cancer symptoms and improving patient life quality. Some may respond well and have prolonged remission.

Treatments are typically chosen based on several different factors.

• Lymphoma type
• Cancer stage or progression rate
• Patient health, age, and preferences

Most cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (roughly 80%) respond well when the cancer is localized to a specific area of the body. That said, using the right treatment approach is necessary.

1. Watch and wait
In cases of slow progressing non-Hodgkin lymphomas, doctors may opt to wait and surveil the cancer with periodic testing and monitoring. A course of treatment will be decided once symptoms begin to interfere with quality of life.

2. Radiation therapy
Radiotherapy is a treatment that direct high-powered energy rays (or protons) directly at cancerous cells to kill them.

3. Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy employs powerful drugs, either intravenously or orally, to destroy cancerous cells.

4. Bone marrow transplant
Also referred to as stem-cell transplants, this therapy uses high dose radiation and chemotherapy to suppress bone marrow before it infuses the body with healthy bone marrow stem cells (either from a donor or the patient) in order to rejuvenate bone marrow.

5. Targeted therapies
Sometimes referred to as biological therapies, these immunologies may take the form of cancer vaccines, monoclonal antibody therapy, anti-angiogenesis, gene therapies, or radioimmunotherapy. However, many are still experimental in nature and must be undergone via patient participation in a clinical trial.