Treatment for lymphoma is usually chemotherapy, radiotherapy or both. If you are having treatment for lymphoma, the choice of treatment depends on:

• the type of lymphoma (Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin)
• the stage of lymphoma
• how fast it is likely to grow
• your age and general health
• your symptoms
• whether or not the disease has spread to other areas of the body
• whether or not you have had any treatments before
• what you want

In some cases, a bone marrow transplant is needed if the lymphoma has recurred (come back) or is likely to recur in the future.

Depending on where you live, the treatment of lymphoma may be managed by a group of health professionals called a multidisciplinary team. This team may include an oncologist (cancer specialist), a radiotherapist, a surgeon, a nurse, a social worker and other health professionals.

In some people with slow-growing tumours, doctors may recommend a watch and wait approach. This means they get regular check-ups, and are only treated when the lymphoma starts to grow faster.

If you are in complete remission from lymphoma, it’s best not to have a lot of CT scans as these can expose you to unnecessary radiation. For more information, visit the Choosing Wisely Australia website.

Cancer Council Australia gives more information about cancer treatments at www.cancer.org.au. Support is also available by calling the Cancer Council helpline on 13 11 20.