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Chemotherapy uses medicines to kill fast-growing cells (like cancer cells) or to keep them from dividing (which is how cancers grow). It is a systemic treatment. This means the medicines will travel throughout your body and destroy cancer cells wherever they may be.
Your hematologist-oncologist prescribes your chemotherapy and other medicine-based treatments, like targeted therapies. They also set your treatment schedule.
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Care Tailored to You
You and your family are our top priority. At Fred Hutch Cancer Center, we offer comprehensive and compassionate care — personalized to you. You'll have access to the latest treatment options, clinical trials and supportive care services.
How Chemotherapy Can Treat Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Most people with NHL start treatment by getting chemotherapy. For NHL, chemotherapy can be used on its own or with other treatments. Many people go into complete remission with a mix of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Based on your disease, your care team may recommended a different combination, like chemotherapy plus immunotherapy. Chemotherapy is also part of the process for a blood or marrow transplant.
Why Choose Fred Hutch for Chemotherapy for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
At Fred Hutch Cancer Center, patients get chemotherapy care from leading physicians who specialize in lymphoma. They are experts in their field. We often have clinical trials testing new drugs or new drug combinations for NHL. So, we are able to offer you therapies that aren’t offered everywhere.
Your Fred Hutch hematologist-oncologist partners with the rest of your care team. They work closely with your radiation oncologist and pathologist. They design a treatment plan for you to target your disease and have the least impact on healthy tissue. Your hematologist-oncologist also works closely with you to manage any chemotherapy side effects. Your whole team helps you take the best possible care of yourself during treatment.
Many Fred Hutch patients with NHL receive a mix of medicines called CHOP. This combination works against many subtypes of NHL. CHOP stands for:
- Cyclophosphamide
- Doxorubicin hydrochloride (hydroxydaunorubicin)
- Vincristine (Oncovin)
- Prednisone
For some people, another combination works better. Your Fred Hutch physician will recommend the medicines that are most likely to work for your subtype.
For B-cell lymphomas, physicians often use chemotherapy along with a targeted therapy called rituximab.
Common chemotherapy side effects include:
- Fatigue
- Hair loss
- Mouth sores
- Skin reactions
- Loss of appetite or weight loss
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
- Increased risk of infections
- Easy bruising or bleeding
If your Fred Hutch care team recommends chemotherapy, we’ll explain what to expect based on the medicine you’re getting.
Your care team at Fred Hutch is here to help you prevent or prepare for side effects and to relieve any side effects you have. The most important step you can take is to let your team know what you’re feeling. We’ve helped many patients and families through this process and know ways to ease your experience.
Often, there are medicines to help, like anti-nausea drugs. Based on the side effect, there may be a range of other helpful options too, like diet changes, physical therapy and emotional and practical support. Fred Hutch researchers continue to look for the best ways to keep side effects at bay.
Your care team at Fred Hutch will explain your treatment schedule. We’ll also talk with you about the recovery process, like how long you can expect side effects to last. Chemotherapy is given in cycles. You’ll get a dose and then have a rest period, usually two to six weeks, before the next treatment.