Types of white blood cells in our body called lymphocytes try to defend the body against infection by foreign intruders like bacteria and viruses. Some of the good lymphocytes mutate irregularly into lymphoma and spread faster than the healthy ones. The different types of lymphoma fall under two main types: Non-Hodgkin and Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The methods used to treat them are as follows:

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a type of treatment that kills the unhealthy cells and stops them from multiplying in the body. The process works by inserting the medication through IV or by ingesting a pill through the mouth. This type of treatment works with people suffering from different types of lymphoma. The aggressive types of NHL are treated through medications, such as doxorubicin and vincristine, and the slow-working types use combinations of chemotherapy procedures.

Hodgkin’s lymphoma works with a combination of regimens like BEACOPP, ABVD, and AAVD. The medication is inserted through a catheter for some patients. There are second-line treatments involving ICE, DHAP/ESHAP, GVD, or Brentuximab vedotin to name a few.

Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a biologic method of treatment that works with all the different types of lymphoma. The main feature of this type of treatment is that it is aimed at improving the natural immune system so that the body can fight cancer internally. Inhibitors are ingested to stop the movement of the cancerous cells. Nivolumab and Pembrolizumab, both FDA-approved medicines, are used by doctors to treat Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

In the case of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a therapy is used to improve T-cells in the blood. These are then studied in the laboratory. The cells are then worked upon to include proteins named receptors. This cell re-enters the bloodstream. This process is called the chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy.

Radiation therapy
In this treatment method, the cancer is exposed to radiation over a specified period to eradicate all the unhealthy cells. The different types of lymphoma are treated through this procedure.

Stem cell transplantation
Stem cell transplantation or bone marrow transplantation is a method useful for all lymphoma patients. In this process, the hematopoietic stem cells, blood-forming cells found in the bone marrow, are used as a medicine that is implanted into the bloodstreams. Before recommending this type of treatment, the doctor states all the risks. There are two types of stem cell transplantation: allogeneic and autologous.

Clinical trials
Another method of treatment of the different types of lymphoma in clinical trials. In this, doctors try newly developed and unconventional methods to cure cancer. Clinical trials are available in cancer welfare centers and patients can apply for them under the advice of their oncologist.

There are various treatment methods available to treat lymphoma in patients. The treatment procedures work differently in different people based on the cancer they have. So, the doctor’s recommendation is crucial.