Lymphoma Treatment: Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Each drug has one or more methods to kill cells - most stop certain cell growth by interrupting the cell division process.

Chemotherapy is called a systemic treatment because the drugs enter the bloodstream, travel through the body, and can kill cancer cells throughout the body.

Chemotherapy is delivered many different ways depending on the drugs and treatment. Intravenous means delivered by inserting a needle in a vein, orally is by mouth, and via catheter or port is by a tube inserted into the chest via a surgical procedure.

Combination Chemotherapy is the use of a number of drugs together to combat the cancer. They often have acronyms for names like CHOP and ABVD.

Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) are the use of high doses of chemotherapy with a rescue of the immune system afterwards. More on the Transplantation Information Page.

Clinical trials are new treatments often used for people who are not responsive to conventional treatment or who wish to help researchers test new therapies.

Chemotherapy can be very tough on both body and spirit. Side effects are common - some drugs cause hair loss, nausea, and low blood cell counts. The side effects vary by drug and combination of drugs. You can read more about these effects when researching individual drugs and drug combinations.

Chemotherapy is the culmination of years of research and clinical trials - many of the mainstream combinations are very effective treatments. New drugs are in development by many pharmaceutical companies, promising new, effective treatments.

Resources

Chemotherapy Drugs

There are many, many different drugs currently in use for cancer and a number of those are used for lymphoma:

A List of Drugs and Drug Information Resources

Chemotherapy Regimes

Hodgkin's Disease: ABVD, Stanford V, MOPP

Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: CHOP

Catheters

See the updated page The Facts About Intravenous Catheter Lines

Side Effects

Peripheral Neuropathy - nerve damage from chemotherapy (do your feet or hands tingle?)

Hair loss (alopecia) is common with some chemotherapy drugs. Headcoverings may help cope.

Supportive Care

Surviving Lymphoma - information on helpful issues

Coping Information from NCI

Support Information from NCI

Bone Marrow and Peripheral Blood Cell Information

Bone Marrow / Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplant Information Page

Clinical Trials

Trial information is on a new Trial Page

Related Articles

Return Links - Therapy:

[Chemo Drugs] [Radiotherapy] [Immunotherapy] [Transplants]

Return Links - Conditions:

[Adult Hodgkin's] [Adult Non-Hodgkin's]

[Childhood Hodgkin's] [Childhood Non-Hodgkin's]