How to Use Radiation for Lymphoma
A lymphoma is any cancer of the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system consists of lymph nodes and a network of vessels that carry lymph throughout the body. Lymphomas may be classified into Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Hodgkin's lymphoma is highly treatable with radiation and was the first type of cancer to be treated in this manner.
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Instructions
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Select external beam radiation. This is the most common type of radiation therapy for lymphomas and will deliver a focused beam of radiation with a linear accelerator. This device moves around the body so it can target the desired area with minimum radiation exposure to healthy tissue. In addition to treating the tumor, radiotherapy may also reduce the size of a swollen liver or spleen. The patient will typically receive radiotherapy in a series of sessions over an average of two to 10 weeks.
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Conduct a simulation to determine the best method of directing the radiation. Measure the patient's body and mark the skin with small dots to indicate the target sites for the radiation. It may also be necessary to use a device to immobilize the patient during the treatment sessions.
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Determine the radiation dosage. A radiation oncologist will select the amount of radiation to use based on the particular type of lymphoma, its current stage and the specific objective of the treatment.
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Perform radioimmunotherapy (RIT) for lymphomas that have an associated antigen. This type of radiotherapy uses an antibody that corresponds to an antigen that's only produced by the lymphoma. The antibodies are tagged with a radionuclide that delivers lethal radiation to the target cell.
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Combine radiotherapy with chemotherapy. Early stage lymphomas may be treated with radiation alone, but later stages typically require a multi-modal approach that includes chemotherapy. Radiotherapy may also be combined with chemotherapy to prepare a lymphoma patient for a tissue transplant.
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