Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.
Chemotherapy may be taken by pill, or it may be put into the body by inserting a needle into a vein or muscle. Chemotherapy is called a systemic treatment because the drugs enter the bloodstream, travel through the body, and can kill cancer cells throughout the body. Radiation given to the brain is called cranial irradiation. Radiation therapy may be used alone or in addition to chemotherapy. Treatment of AIDS-related lymphomas depends on the stage, histology, and grade of the disease, as well as the general health of the patient.