Treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma

The main treatment options for NHL are chemotherapy, targeted cancer drugs, steroids, radiotherapy and stem cell transplant.

Chemotherapy uses anti cancer (cytotoxic) drugs to destroy cancer cells. You might have a combination of different chemotherapy drugs. 

Targeted cancer drugs work by ‘targeting’ the differences that help a cancer cell grow and survive. Rituximab is a common targeted drug for NHL.

Radiotherapy uses high energy rays to kill cancer cells. You might have it as part of your NHL treatment.

A stem cell transplant allows you to have high doses of chemotherapy. You then have new stem cells which go into the bone marrow so you can start making blood cells again.

CAR T-cell therapy is a type of immunotherapy. It is also called adoptive cell transfer. It's a possible treatment for some children and adults with leukaemia. It is also a treatment for some adults with lymphoma. 

Surgery isn’t a common treatment for NHL. You might have surgery to remove your spleen for a rare type of NHL called splenic marginal zone lymphoma. 

After your treatment, you have regular follow up appointments. These are to check how you are and see whether you have any problems or worries. 

NHL that does not respond to treatment is called refractory lymphoma. NHL that comes back after treatment is called relapsed disease.