There is no cure for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in the general sense, but there are effective treatments available that could help many people achieve complete or partial remission. After an extended time with no evidence of the disease (complete remission), you can consider your condition “cured.”
As a Roundup lawyer can explain, partial remission means that there is still evidence of disease in the body, but it is at a manageable level, and you can treat cancer as a chronic disease, with regular monitoring and maintenance drugs.
TREATING NON-HODGKIN’S LYMPHOMA
The treatment required to try to get non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma into remission varies based on your age, stage of disease, symptoms, location of cancer, and other factors. You will likely see a hematologist-oncologist (a doctor who specializes in blood cancers) who will design a plan to treat your cancer.
Your doctor may take a “wait and see” approach to treatment in some cases. This may be possible if you have an indolent subtype of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. These subtypes are not as aggressive and may not require treatment if they do not cause symptoms.
In most cases though, you will need to work closely with your doctor to put a treatment plan in place. You may require:
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Immunotherapy
- Combination therapy with both medication and radiation
- Stem cell transplant (bone marrow transplant)
Your doctor can help you understand the number of rounds of treatment you may require and how often you need it. You may need to go to the hospital or oncology clinic regularly for several weeks, then have a break before another round of treatment. Most people do not need to stay in the hospital during treatment unless they have complications or require a transplant.
Traditional treatments for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma can cause many side effects, some of which may be severe. These side effects may make it difficult to continue to work or live a normal life during treatment. They include:
- Increased risk of infection
- Nausea
- Hair loss
- Heart damage
- Lung damage
- Fertility concerns
- Fatigue
- Other cancers
SOME PEOPLE MAY BENEFIT FROM CLINICAL TRIALS
In some cases, more traditional treatments may not work, or the side effects may be too severe, and patients cannot tolerate them. When this occurs, the best option may be to participate in a clinical trial.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society report that clinical trials occur because scientists, doctors, and drug companies are researching diseases like non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma all the time. They want to find a more effective treatment, reduce side effects, or discover a cure. Once they develop a treatment, and there is reason to believe it may work, clinical trials may begin.
Discuss the possibility of participating in clinical trials with your doctor if other treatments are not working well. You may be among the first to receive drugs that could turn out to be the cure for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
THERE ARE KNOWN RISK FACTORS FOR A LESS FAVORABLE OUTCOME
While it is impossible for your doctor to tell you exactly how your body will react to treatment or how long you might be in remission, there are some known risk factors that could decrease your chances of having a positive outcome from treatment.
You may face a more difficult time getting into remission or staying there if you:
- Are over age 60
- Received an initial diagnosis of stage III or IV non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Have signs of disease in more than one organ in addition to the lymph nodes
- Have high serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) concentration
TALK TO AN ATTORNEY ABOUT YOUR CONDITION AND CASE TODAY
If you or a loved one have a non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis after exposure to Roundup weed killer or another glyphosate-based herbicide, you may be eligible to pursue compensation for your treatment, as well as related expenses and losses. There are many cases pending against the manufacturers of these chemicals.
At Zanes Law, we know that while there is no cure for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, you may be able to receive treatments for your symptoms. We want to fight for the damages to pay for those treatments. We can review your case for free now. Reach out to us to discuss your eligibility over the phone. Your consultation and sign-up can all be done in one call, or our representatives can meet with you in your home or hospital room.
Call us today at (833) 214-0917 to learn more or to get started.