For low-grade lymphomas, which usually grow very slowly and cause few symptoms, the doctor may decide to wait until the disease shows signs of spreading before starting treatment. In addition, surgery may be needed to remove a large tumor. Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphomas usually is a combination of several drugs. The drugs travel through the bloodstream to nearly every part of the body.
Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells.
Radiation therapy is generally given in the outpatient department of a hospital or clinic. Most often, patients receive radiation therapy five days a week for five to six weeks. Often, patients are referred to medical centers such as Jefferson Cancer Center that specialize in treating lymphomas. Also, patients may want to talk with the doctor about taking part in a research study of new treatment methods, called clinical trials. Since the methods of treating lymphomas are very powerful, treatment often causes side effects.