What is the treatment for Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma?
Three types of standard treatment are used: • Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping the cells from dividing. When chemotherapy is taken by mouth or injected into a vein or muscle, the drugs enter the bloodstream and can reach cancer cells throughout the body (systemic chemotherapy). When chemotherapy is placed directly in the spinal column (intrathecal chemotherapy), a body cavity such as the abdomen, or an organ, the drugs mainly affect cancer cells in those areas. Intrathecal chemotherapy may be used to treat childhood non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that has spread, or may spread, to the brain. When used to prevent spread to the brain, it is called CNS prophylaxis.The way the chemotherapy is given depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated. • Combination chemotherapy is treatment using 2 or more anticancer drugs. • Radiation therapy (in certain patients) is a cancer treatment that uses
