Is it possible to delay treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma?

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Cancer is a malignant disease, usually it is necessary to screen, detect and treat as early as possible to achieve the highest efficiency. But non-Hodgkin lymphoma will probably be an exception. So can treatment be delayed for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and if so, how?

1. What is non-Hodgkin lymphoma?

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is cancer that originates in the lymphatic system. In non-Hodgkin lymphoma, tumors develop from lymphocytes. This cell can be found in the lymph nodes, spleen, and other organs of the immune system. It is for this reason that non-Hodgkin lymphoma can start in any part of the body and can spread to any organ in the body.

2. Is it possible to delay treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma?

If you have slow-growing non-Hodgkin lymphoma, your doctor may advise you to temporarily not need treatment! This is called “delay and watch,” and it may be an option if the patient does not present with pain or any other symptoms.
If you wait without treatment, your doctor will carefully monitor the progress of the disease, and treatment will not begin unless the doctor notices signs that the lymphoma is starting to become active.
Concern about the safety of temporarily not conducting treatment even though cancer has been detected is very obvious. But according to experts, this option is not unreasonable.
According to Dr. Henry Tsai, hematologist and oncologist at Eisenhower Desert Cancer Care (Eisenhower Desert Cancer Care) in Rancho Mirage, California, USA, certain types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma will not affect the patient's life for many years, and with these types of slow progression, it may be possible to temporarily delay treatment. Despite delaying treatment, some patients end up requiring treatment, while others never need treatment.

3. When can treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma be delayed?

According to the director of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Information Resource Center, Beatrice Abetti, delaying treatment and monitoring disease progression is the standard approach for patients with no known disease. widespread and asymptomatic.
Research shows that if done right, delaying treatment works. Over time, a lot of patients get just as good results as patients who receive immediate treatment.
The doctor may suggest delaying treatment if the patient has the following types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma:
Follicular lymphoma. Peripheral lymphoma. Lymphocytic lymphoma. Delaying treatment may also be considered when:
The patient is asymptomatic. Lymph nodes are small, do not grow quickly or cause problems. Blood test results were normal. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma does not affect the heart, lungs, kidneys, or other vital organs. Delaying treatment and monitoring may also be the best option for some patients diagnosed with extensive non-Hodgkin lymphoma for which treatment is unlikely to be effective. Even if the disease has spread, it can remain stable for years.

4. How is treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma done?

Delaying treatment and monitoring does not mean total passivity. If the decision is made to delay treatment, the doctor will closely monitor the progress of the disease to detect changes. Usually patients will return for regular check-ups every 3 to 6 months, or even at shorter intervals.
During each follow-up visit, the doctor will:
Ask the patient and find out if the patient has anything unusual. Clinical examination. Indications for blood tests, for imaging diagnostics. The patient may need to start treatment if the doctor detects abnormality, such as:
An enlarged lymph node, or non-Hodgkin lymphoma affecting a new lymph node. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma affects bones or other organs. Decrease in red blood cell count. The number of lymphocytes in the blood increases. The spleen grows enlarged. Anemia is getting worse.

5. Pros and cons of delaying treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma

5.1 Advantages The greatest advantage of delaying treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma is that the patient does not have to face the unwanted effects of the treatment. Not having chemotherapy means that patients do not have to suffer from problems such as fatigue, infections or hair loss.
The next benefit of delaying treatment is that the lymphocytes will not become resistant to the therapeutic drugs, which is a dilemma for some patients. Once the drug is resistant, the treatment will no longer be effective.
Delaying treatment also means that the patient will not have to be hospitalized, stay in the hospital, so there will be no restriction on activities, work and daily activities.
5.2 Cons Delaying treatment means there is a risk of the cancer progressing to a more advanced form. At the same time, for some patients, delaying treatment will feel unacceptable, but these patients, after careful consultation, understand that delaying treatment is essentially a treatment strategy. feasible, they will accept this option. Delaying treatment is part of treatment recommendations for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

6. How long can delay treatment last?

About half of patients can delay treatment for at least 3 years, some patients can prolong it for 10 years or more, even never needing treatment.
There is no way to know in advance whether treatment will be needed in the future, but treatment may be needed if:
The symptoms are severe and cause problems. Lymph nodes are enlarged and variable. Organs or bone marrow are affected.

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Reference source: webmd.com
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