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Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) uses high-energy beams or atoms to damage the DNA inside cancer cells. After enough damage, the cells cannot multiply, and they die.
Based on your subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and if it has spread, your care team may recommend radiation therapy. There are two main types:
- External-beam radiation therapy (EBRT) means radiation comes from a source outside your body.
- Internal radiation therapy means a radioactive substance is put inside your body so it can emit radiation from within.
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 Radiation Therapy Can Treat Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
For NHL, physicians most often use EBRT to treat cancer in the spleen or in lymph nodes in the neck, chest, armpits or groin.
For some subtypes of NHL, physicians use radioimmunotherapy. This treatment was developed by Fred Hutch Cancer Center. It’s a form of internal radiation therapy. It combines a targeted therapy, called rituximab, with a radioactive atom. The rituximab targets B cells, a type of immune cell. It concentrates radiation in these cells and tells your immune system to attack them. Radioimmunotherapy is used mainly for B-cell lymphomas.
Why Choose Fred Hutch for Radiation Therapy for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Fred Hutch patients get radiation therapy from leading radiation oncologists who specialize in specific cancers. Your Fred Hutch radiation oncologist knows the most advanced options for treating your disease and will design a personalized treatment plan to target your tumor. Our clinics feature state-of-the-art equipment so your care team can deliver the right treatment for you.
The risks and side effects depend on the type of radiation therapy. In general, radiation therapy may cause some body-wide side effects, like fatigue or lower levels of blood cells. Other effects will be more focused around the area being treated.
Your Fred Hutch care team will explain what to expect. We’ll talk with you before radiation therapy about the risks and side effects that might happen with the kind of treatment you’re receiving.
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. We also offer integrative medicine, including acupuncture. 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. With EBRT, you get treatment daily, Monday through Friday, for several weeks. A radiation oncologist decides the dose and schedule of your EBRT treatment.