Non-Hodgkins Lymphomas (cont.)
Biological therapy
People with certain types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma may have biological
therapy. This type of treatment helps the immune system fight cancer.
Monoclonal antibodies are the type of biological therapy used for lymphoma.
They are proteins made in the lab that can bind to cancer cells. They help the
immune system kill lymphoma cells. People receive this treatment through a vein
at the doctor's office, clinic, or hospital.
Flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, weakness, and nausea may
occur. Most side effects are easy to treat. Rarely, a person may have more
serious side effects, such as breathing problems, low blood pressure, or severe
skin rashes. Your doctor or nurse can tell you about the side effects that you
can expect and how to manage them.
You may want to ask the doctor these questions before having biological
therapy:
- What will the treatment do?
- Will I have to stay in the hospital?
- How will we know if the treatment is working?
- How long will I be on biological therapy?
- Will I have side effects during treatment? How long will they last?
What can we do about them?
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Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy (also called
radiotherapy) uses high-energy rays to kill
lymphoma cells. It can shrink tumors and help control pain.
Two types of radiation therapy are used for people with lymphoma:
- External radiation: A large machine aims the rays at the part of
the body where lymphoma cells have collected. This is local therapy because
it affects cells in the treated area only. Most people go to a hospital or
clinic for treatment 5 days a week for several weeks.
- Systemic radiation: Some people with lymphoma receive an injection of
radioactive material that travels throughout the body. The radioactive
material is bound to monoclonal antibodies that seek out lymphoma cells. The
radiation destroys the lymphoma cells.
The side effects of radiation therapy
depend mainly on the type of radiation therapy, the dose of radiation, and
the part of the body that is treated. For example, external radiation to
your abdomen can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. When your chest and
neck are treated, you may have a dry, sore throat and some trouble
swallowing. In addition, your skin in the treated area may become red, dry,
and tender. You also may lose your hair in the treated area.
You are likely to become very tired during external radiation therapy,
especially in the later weeks of treatment. Resting is important, but
doctors usually advise people to try to stay as active as they can.
People who get systemic radiation also may feel very tired. They may be
more likely to get infections.
If you have radiation therapy and chemotherapy at the same time, your
side effects may be worse. The side effects can be distressing. You can talk
with your doctor about ways to relieve them.
You may want to ask the doctor these questions before having radiation
therapy:
- Why do I need this treatment?
- When will the treatments begin? When will they
end?
- How will I feel during treatment?
- How will we know if the radiation treatment is working?
- Are there any lasting side effects?
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