Symptoms may be the same as before or new symptoms may be experienced. Refractory lymphoma is lymphoma that has not responded to initial treatment or the lymphoma gets worse or stays the same.
Sometimes a scan part-way through treatment shows that the treatment is not working as well as hoped. We also know from research, that not everyone responds the same way to various treatments. It is not fully understood why this is the case. Research into genes and the genetic makeup of various cancers is being researched to see why some people respond to treatments and why others do not.
This may be due to some specific gene mutations. Patients who have refractory disease may be offered a different type of treatment than was first given. This is a list of some of the treatment options for relapsed lymphoma. Treatment options are changing fast as researchers understand lymphoma further and new treatments are introduced.
Check specific subtypes to learn more. There are many treatments that are currently being tested in clinical trials in Australia and around the world for patients with both newly diagnosed and relapsed lymphoma. Close Menu. About Lymphoma What is Lymphoma? What is the lymphatic system? What is the immune system? Symptoms of Lymphoma Possible causes of lymphoma? View all publications or call 13 11 20 for free printed copies. Cancer Connect Talk to someone who has experienced cancer. Looking for transport, accommodation or home help?
Practical advice and support during and after treatment. Fear of the cancer coming back How to manage your anxiety about recurrence. Your coping toolbox Strategies for dealing with difficult situations. We are conducting a research study about the support needed by people affected by cancer, including anyone with a current or past cancer diagnosis, and anyone caring for someone affected by cancer.
This information will be used to plan CCNSW services and to campaign for broader health system changes to improve the quality of life of people affected by cancer. More treatment options are becoming available for relapsed lymphoma all the time. Our pages on different types of lymphoma give more specific information on how each type is treated if it has relapsed more than once.
Stuart was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in He was initially treated with 6 months of chemotherapy but his lymphoma relapsed quickly so he had further treatment with surgery and radiotherapy. Stuart went back to work in September but by October, the lymphoma had relapsed again. He had an autologous stem cell transplant and has now been in remission for over 2 years.
There are many treatment options for relapsed or refractory low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In this video, Professor Simon Rule talks about treatment options for relapsed or refractory low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and Maureen shares her experience of being treated for relapsed follicular lymphoma. If you have had a long remission before your relapse, or if your lymphoma is not widespread, you are more likely to have less intensive treatments when you relapse.
If you relapsed very quickly or your medical team feel you are at high risk of relapsing again, you might be offered more intensive treatment, such as a stem cell transplant. Other treatments might be available through clinical trials. If you are interested in taking part in a clinical trial, ask your medical team if there is one that might be suitable for you.
You can also search our database at Lymphoma TrialsLink. Linda was first diagnosed with follicular lymphoma in at the age of She was treated with chemotherapy as part of a clinical trial and went into remission. She relapsed 10 years later, in , and was offered a choice of treatments. She had oral chemotherapy with chlorambucil, which kept her lymphoma under control. She had radiotherapy in Many people with low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma relapse more than once.
You are likely to receive a number of different treatments over the course of your lymphoma, which aim to keep it under control.
If you have a partial remission your lymphoma has got smaller but has not gone completely but your lymphoma is not causing problems, you are likely to go on active monitoring. Most people with low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma only need treatment from time to time when their lymphoma gets worse and starts to cause troublesome symptoms.
The treatment options for low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma that has relapsed again are similar to those used for first relapse. If you relapse several times in a short space of time, your medical team might recommend a more intensive approach, such as a stem cell transplant.
Trevor was diagnosed with follicular lymphoma in at the age of Trevor has received several types of treatment including several courses of chemotherapy and chemo-immunotherapy, an autologous stem cell transplant using his own stem cells and in January , an allogeneic donor stem cell transplant. For most people, lymphoma is treatable. This is the case even if it comes back several times. The range of treatment options for lymphoma is improving all the time. In some people, however, lymphoma keeps relapsing.
The best treatment options might have been tried already. Together, you and your medical team decide whether to continue active treatment, taking into account how likely it is to work.
You also consider the possibility of more severe side effects from stronger treatments, and whether you are well enough to cope with them. You and your medical team might talk about your life expectancy. If you have a limited life expectancy without or indeed with treatment, you might want to consider what is important to you and your loved ones. It might be helpful to think about what symptoms and worries you have that could affect whether or not you decide to continue with active treatment.
For some people, maintaining independence and quality of life might outweigh the prospect of further treatment to gain a few weeks or months of life. Ending active treatment is a deeply emotional and personal decision. If you are no longer having active treatment for your lymphoma, your medical team should continue to offer you palliative and supportive care.
Palliative care aims to control your symptoms and improve your quality of life. At the end of life , palliative care is given to make your final days as comfortable as possible.
If you, or someone close to you, are ending active treatment for lymphoma, you might find it helpful to get in touch with our Helpline Services. You might also find sources of support on our list of useful organisations. If you would like further information or would like to talk about any aspect of your lymphoma, please contact us. What is relapsed or refractory lymphoma?
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