There are many ways to treat non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The main ones are chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which are often used together. Some people might have targeted therapies, immunotherapy, stem cells transplant or, rarely, surgery If you have non-Hodgkin lymphoma, you might need one of these, or a combination of them.
Your doctors will talk to you about what treatments they recommend and what the best options are for you.
Yarn with your doctor, specialist, nurse or Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker about which treatment you might have.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy, or ‘chemo’ is one of the main treatments for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Chemo involves you taking strong drugs to kill or slow the growth of the cancer cells.
Many people have chemo in cycles – usually two days every three weeks, or one day every three weeks. Some people have chemotherapy tablets at home, but most need to go to a hospital or clinic. But you usually don’t need to stay in hospital for chemo.
Your doctor may recommend that you need to have chemotherapy at the same time as you are having radiotherapy Most chemo comes as injections into your arm or hand that drip in over a few hours. Some chemo or medications come as tablets. If you’re having chemo, your doctor will tell you exactly how it will work for you.
Chemo can make people feel sick for a while, but there are things they can do to help.
Yarn with your doctor, nurse or Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health worker Mob who have had chemo before say that spending time on Country, traditional healing, bush medicines and engaging in cultural practices can help.
Read more about chemotherapy and side effects.
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy, also called radiation therapy, uses X-rays to destroy cancer cells in one part of your body.
Most people who have radiotherapy have it every day (Monday to Friday) for 4-6 weeks, and each session can take 15 minutes. But it might be different for you.
You can only have radiotherapy in cities and some big towns – see this list. If your doctor thinks radiotherapy would help, and you don’t live near a radiotherapy site, assistance is available for travel and accommodation for you and your family.
Yarn with your doctor, nurse or Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health worker or social worker.
Read more about radiotherapy.
Targeted therapies
Targeted therapies are newer drugs for certain types of lung cancer to try to stop the cancer growing. They are usually in the form of tablets that you can take at home.
If your doctor thinks they might help, here are some questions to ask.
Read more about targeted therapy.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is treatment with drugs that help your immune system attack the cancer cells.
Yarn with your doctor, nurse or Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health worker, and with mob who have had the treatment.
Read more about immunotherapy.
Stem cell transplant
Stem cell transplant usually happens after chemo. The chemo might be given in high doses, to kill all the cancer cells which can also lead to the bone marrow losing all the normal, healthy cells.
A stem cell transplant is given to restore the bone marrow and allow new healthy cells to start being produced. The stem cells might be from your own body, or from a close (blood) relative, or someone who has donated theirs to be used.
A stem cell transplant can mean a stay in hospital of 3-4 weeks.
Yarn with your doctor, nurse, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health worker.
Read more about stem cell transplant.
Surgery
Surgery is rarely used to treat non-Hodgkin lymphoma. . If you do need to have surgery, you’ll need to stay in hospital and have an anaesthetic and an operation.
The doctor will talk to you beforehand about what is going to happen.
Yarn with your doctor, nurse, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker or social worker. If you need to travel away from home for surgery, assistance is available for travel and accommodation for you and your family.
Read more about surgery.