Lymphoma is perhaps one of the most well-known cancers all over the world. In the past, it was considered a disease with no cure like most cancers at the time, but thanks to modern medicine and the advent of chemotherapy regimens and other more advanced tailored therapies, the outcome of patients with lymphoma is continuously improving. In this article, we will discuss the different treatment modalities of lymphoma, their efficacy, and the anticipated side effects of their administration.
Why treating lymphoma is different?
Cancer in general manifests in different forms including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. On the other hand, new therapies including immunotherapies are available to target cancer cells with minimal effect on healthy cells. In surgery, the main aim is to remove most of the tumor and leave the rest for chemotherapy or radiotherapy. In some cancers, however, the situation is different where there is no single solid tumor to be removed and to cause remission. This is the case in lymphoma and leukemia. In lymphoma, the whole lymphoid system may be affected, and that includes lymph nodes which are found all over the body as well as the spleen and liver.