Lymphoma Treatment: Watch and Wait

• The lymphoma is slow growing (indolent)
• The lymphoma may not respond well to chemotherapy or radiation therapy in its current state
• The patient is living comfortably with little side effects from the disease

This is not to say the medical professionals are giving up or refusing treatment.  Often during this time the patient will:

• Receive periodic medical tests including scans and blood tests
• See their doctors on a regular basis
• Be told symptoms which to report to their doctor immediately

When there is a change in the patients status, conventional treatments are used to reduce or eliminate the lymphoma.  This may include chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.

Why would the medical profession take this approach? To quote an NCI study: "Patients with advanced indolent lymphoma often have long survival in spite of frequent relapses. The inability of combination chemotherapy or radiation therapy (RT) to render patients disease free has led to radically divergent treatment approaches. "   To put things in a clearer light: studies have been done to determine if watch and wait, as described above, gives equal or better treatment than aggressive treatments from the start.  Promising results have come from such approaches to treatment.   Chemotherapy and radiotherapy have side effects which may reduce the patient's quality of life.  If the patient is not in danger and their quality of life can be extended until the lymphoma is either aggressive or problematic - the patient benefits.

Is this for you or your loved one?  Maybe - the choice depends on many factors.  Education on treatment choices for the particular patient and lymphoma is key - ask your doctor.  It is not unreasonable to ask for a second opinion, from your current medical facility or another - this is not an unreasonable request and your current doctor should not take offense in the medical sense (ask your insurance if you can do this - some plans will pay for a second opinion, some may not).

Treatments are improving rapidly to include new immunotherapies.  It is hoped that treatments evolve to the point where the lymphoma can be treated effectively from the start and watch and wait is unnecessary.

Watch and Wait Resources

• PubMed Citation: Debate on the conservative and aggressive treatment options for the optimal management of indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Nov 2002
• PubMed Citation: The treatment of indolent lymphomas: watchful waiting vs. aggressive combined modality treatment, 1988
• National Cancer Institute: Adult Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma 

For more information on Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, please see the following pages: :

• Adult Nonhodgkin's Lymphoma: Chemotherapy
• Adult Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Treatment
• Adult Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Introduction

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Updated November 24, 2005