According to Children's Hospital Boston, lymphoblastic lymphoma is a type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This disease originates in the lymphatic system, which is part of your immune system. If you develop this form of cancer, your body begins to produce abnormal lymphocytes that divide and grow at a heightened rate, causing tumors to form within the lymph nodes as well as your bone marrow, brain, lungs or even heart. Treatment for this form of lymphoma is dependent on a number of factors, including stage, age and health.
Step 1
Talk to your doctor about chemotherapy. Unlike some forms of lymphoma, lymphoblastic lymphoma is a relatively aggressive disease, warns the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. This means you'll likely need some form of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy helps destroy cancer cells and slow the progression of the disease. It can be administered orally or intravenously.
Step 2
Undergo radiation therapy. Sometimes, you may need radiation therapy to shrink tumors and kill cancer cells associated with lymphoblastic lymphoma, especially if a large mass develops. In this form of treatment, radiation is administered externally to damage the DNA of cancer cells. This causes them to cease dividing and die.
Step 3
Consider surgery to remove tumors associated with this disease. Though not as commonly used as chemotherapy or radiation therapy, you may need to have a surgical procedure to remove a malignancy placing pressure on a major vessel.
Step 4
Take any medication prescribed by your oncologist. At times, doctors prescribe medications to help boost your immune system, explains MayoClinic.com. If lymphoblastic lymphoma originates in the B cells, you may be prescribed a medication to help your immune system target the abnormal cells and attack them. Since lymphoma impairs the immune system, your doctor may also prescribe an antibiotic to prevent the occurrence of infection.
Tips and Warnings
- Consult your doctor about a stem cell transplant. This method of treating lymphoma doesn't directly kill cancer cells. Instead, it increases the amount of chemotherapy or radiation therapy that can be given to a patient. This is especially beneficial when standard doses fail to produce expected results.
