Lymphoma treatment often involves multiple therapeutic options, making it essential to tailor the approach to each case. The specific treatment plan is determined based on factors such as the type of lymphoma, its staging, and the patient’s overall health.
Oncologists or haematologists typically collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of specialist centres, to identify the most-appropriate treatment option for each patient.
Patients are encouraged to actively engage in their care by gathering comprehensive information about their treatment. This includes understanding the available options, potential side effects and practical considerations such as the duration of hospital stays or the need for specific monitoring during treatment.
The following questions can help you prepare for treatment. They also include tips on talking to the doctor, treatment itself and aftercare.
The first person to contact about treatment options is usually the treating doctor. It may be helpful to ask them about the possible treatment options and have them explain everything to you during the conversation.
The doctor or the treating team can often provide information brochures or recommend websites for you to read. You may also be able to find out about individual treatment options yourself on the internet or by downloading information materials.
A variety of treatment options are also explained on this website, including chemoimmunotherapy, CAR T-cell therapy, stem cell transplants, radiotherapy and targeted therapies.
Try writing down the questions you want to ask the doctor beforehand so that you don’t forget them. The following FAQ can help you. It covers some important information about your new treatment so that you can discuss with your doctor.
Sometimes it can be helpful to get a second opinion to get more-comprehensive information about what treatment options are available.
Even if the second doctor agrees with the first, it can help you better understand the treatments available. Depending on whether the doctor practices privately or works at a larger cancer treatment centre, they may be able to explain certain treatments more thoroughly due to their specific medical expertise.
Cancer treatments are often referred to in terms of lines of treatment. The first drug treatment is usually the first line of treatment, which ends when the treatment is completed, if the drug is no longer effective or not well tolerated or if the disease progresses or recurs. If the disease recurs, this is called a relapse, which may lead to further treatment and additional lines of therapy.1-3 Depending on the type of treatment, it may be administered in several cycles (e.g. chemotherapy), a single dose (e.g. stem cell transplant or CAR T-cell therapy) or taken continuously as a tablet (e.g. some targeted therapies).4–7
In general, treatment either has a curative intent (i.e. the prospect of a cure) or – in more-advanced stages, it may be primarily intended to limit the spread of the disease (palliative therapy).8
If the treatment can be administered in an outpatient setting, it may be helpful to ask about the frequency of hospital visits, duration of each infusion and the post-infusion monitoring period. This will make it easier to assess what things to bring with you to pass time (such as a book, tablet, headphones, music, knitting, etc.). It can also be helpful to have an accompanying caregiver bring you to and from your treatment.
Firstly, it is important to find out the duration of your stay so you can pack everything you need. You may want to arrange a visit to the ward in advance so you can familiarise yourself with the area. In some cases, relatives or a caregiver may be able to accompany you. It is also often a good idea to have someone bring you to your treatment and pick you up afterward. It may also help to prepare a list of items to bring with you, such as warm, comfortable clothing, socks, or a blanket. You may also want to bring something to pass the time, like a book, tablet, headphones, music, or knitting. Additionally, essentials you might need, such as reading glasses, a power bank, a notepad, and a pen. It may also be useful to make a list of things you might need, e.g. warm and comfortable clothing, socks or a blanket, as well as things to pass the time (such as a book, tablet, headphones, music, knitting, etc.) and things you need (such as reading glasses, power bank, notepad and pen, etc.).
Lymphoma is a significant and potentially life-threatening disease. Family members and loved ones play a crucial role in providing support, gathering information and treatment decisions.
It may help to have a companion at your doctor’s appointments to listen to the information and takes notes, if necessary. As you will be discussing important questions with the doctor (such as how long the therapy lasts and how it works, whether a hospital stay is necessary, what side effects may occur and what else needs to be considered), it may be helpful to have someone there to support you.
If an inpatient hospital stay is required, relatives can be there to provide emotional support and help distract you from the treatment process. They can also help with practical tasks, like household chores, sorting through mail or taking care of children or pets, easing your stress during recovery.
Friends and relatives can also help provide mental and physical support during and after treatment, particularly as changes in the patient are usually first noticed by the people around them (such as the onset of side effects), and help monitor the patient’s well-being.
All medications can cause side effects, but you may not experience any of them. The specific side effects that can occur depend on the type of treatment you receive.9 The doctor and/or hospital staff will inform you of any potential side effects or provide you with informational brochures. If follow-up monitoring is necessary post treatment, it may be helpful to record changes or symptoms in a treatment diary.
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