Answers to the top questions about lymphoma (Part 2)
To help you learn more about this type of cancer, which affects both children and adults, this is the second of two blog posts that will answer the top questions about the symptoms and treatment options for this disease.
What are they symptoms of lymphoma? Symptoms can vary depending on the type of lymphoma. The most common symptoms include:
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Fever without an infection
- Drenching night sweats
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Feeling full after eating a small amount
- Itching
- Cough, trouble breathing, or chest pain
- Chills
- Swollen abdomen
- Severe or frequent infections
- Easy bruising or bleeding
How is lymphoma treated? If your non-Hodgkin lymphoma is slow growing, or indolent, your doctor may recommend active surveillance. That means you won’t undergo active treatment immediately. Instead your doctor will regularly monitor your condition, usually every few months, to see if it progresses.
If treatment is required, it may include chemotherapy, radiation, bone marrow transplant, and drugs to boost your immune system’s ability to fight the disease, including new chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies and a new, recently FDA-approved medication for stage 3 and 4 Hodgkin lymphoma called brentuximab vedotin (sold under the brand name Adcetris), and stem cell transplants. The type of treatment you receive will depend on the type and stage of lymphoma you are diagnosed with. A health advisor can connect you with top specialists in the treatment of lymphoma, as well as provide evidence-based information about treatment options and clinical trials.