Types of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma We Treat
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, also called non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, is a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system, which is part of the body’s immune system. B-cell lymphomas make up most of all non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases in the U.S.
Our multidisciplinary Cancer Care team has significant experience treating patients with these conditions including:
- Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL)
- Burkett lymphoma
- Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
- Follicular lymphom
- Indolent lymphoma
- Mantle cell lymphoma
- Marginal zone lymphoma
- Peripheral T cell lymphoma
- Small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL)
- T cell lymphoma
- Waldenström macroglobulinemia
Symptoms & Diagnosis
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma can feel like or lead to:
- Swollen, painless lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or groin
- Coughing, trouble breathing or chest pain
- Fever
- Pain, swelling or a feeling of fullness in the abdomen
- Soaking night sweats
- Unexplained weight loss
- Weakness and tiredness that don’t go away
If you have non-Hodgkin lymphoma symptoms like these, talk to your doctor right away so we can learn more about what is causing them and, if needed, find a treatment plan that works for you.
We use different tests to determine if you have non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Your care team will start with a physical exam, including checking your lymph nodes to see if they are swollen. We will take tissue samples (biopsies) to test your lymph nodes for cancer. Your surgeon may remove the entire lymph node (excisional biopsy) or just a portion (incisional biopsy) for testing.
We may run other tests to confirm your diagnosis or to find out more about your lymphoma to build your personalized care plan. These tests may include:
- Blood tests to check protein levels, liver function, kidney function and uric acid level
- Bone marrow biopsy
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- CT scans of the chest, abdomen and pelvis
- Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
If these exams are abnormal, we refer you for a cancer consultation with an oncologist who has experience treating lymphoma.
We know learning you have lymphoma can feel scary. That’s why we are committed to seeing you for a cancer consultation as quickly as possible — often within 48 hours — after your diagnosis so we can discuss treatment options, order additional tests and address any questions without delay.
Treatments
Every cancer is unique, and you deserve a personalized care plan for your diagnosis tailored to your needs, stage and type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Each week, the Cancer Care team convenes a tumor board that brings together experts from across disciplines to collaborate on customized care plans for you. This collaboration has one common goal — to make sure you get the best possible care. Our multidisciplinary team of specialists, including hematology, medical and radiation oncologists who collaborate with radiologists and pathologists, is here to care for you through every part of your treatment.
If your lymphoma does not need treatment right away, we may recommend active monitoring, or watchful waiting, which does not interfere with the success of any future treatment that may be needed. We also offer a range of evidence-based lymphoma treatments to care for more advanced disease.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy may be a first-line treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. At El Camino Health, we are skilled in administering several different types of chemotherapy drugs that are effective in treating non-Hodgkin lymphoma. We also offer targeted therapy, a precise approach that finds a unique combination of drugs to combat your lymphoma cancer. We analyze your tumor to learn about its protein and chemical makeup, then use the latest research to find which drugs will have the greatest impact fighting it. We collaborate with you on the right combination of anticancer drugs, anti-nausea medicine and pain medication for your needs.
Radiation
Your care team may recommend radiation therapy alongside chemotherapy and other lymphoma treatments. Radiation oncologists at our Radiation Treatment Center have treated thousands of patients and our state-of-the-art radiation treatments, including stereotactic radiosurgery, adaptive radiation therapy and intensity-modulated radiation therapy, treat lymphoma with speed and precision.
Our team of radiation oncologists and medical oncologists also collaborate to offer radioimmunotherapy, a treatment where a radioactive substance is linked to an antibody that targets the cancer cells before being injected into your body, enabling more effective and precise targeting.
Blood or Platelet Transfusion
If you undergo chemotherapy and experience a drop in your blood count (a test that checks the number and type of cells in your blood), your care team may recommend a blood or platelet transfusion to get your blood count back to a normal level.
Clinical Trials
We are always looking for the next opportunity to improve detection, ease treatment and find better cures for your non-Hodgkin lymphoma. That’s why we collaborate with other medical centers and the National Cancer Institute on lymphoma cancer clinical trials ranging from innovative chemotherapy to CAR-T cell therapy to novel approaches to ease treatment.
If you’re interested in participating in this leading-edge research, talk to your care team to find a study that’s right for you.
Cancer Awards & Accreditations
Our superior Cancer Care has earned us a three-year accreditation as a comprehensive community cancer program from the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons (ACS). Accreditation ensures that the care you receive right here in your community is high-quality and uses evidence-based, national treatment guidelines.
We’re also an ACS Surgical Quality Partner and committed to the highest surgery standards.
Patients rate us highly, too. Based on PressGaney patient satisfaction surveys, our “likeliness to recommend” score is over 90%, and we’ve won the top patient experience award multiple years in a row.
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Cancer Patient Stories
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