The general health and age of the patient For low-grade lymphomas, which usually grow very slowly and cause few symptoms, the doctor may suggest waiting until the disease shows signs of spreading before starting treatment. Sometimes, surgery is recommended 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 damage cancer cells and stop their growth.
Radiation therapy is generally given in the outpatient department of a hospital or clinic. Most often, patients receive radiation therapy 5 days a week for 5 to 6 weeks. Weekend rest periods allow time for normal tissue to recover. The methods used to treat lymphomas are very powerful and often causes side effects. Fortunately, most side effects are temporary.