Leading-Edge Lymphoma Treatment

You’ve come to the right place for one of the best cancer treatment centers for lymphoma. Northside Hospital Cancer Institute treats more lymphoma patients than any other community hospital in the nation. Patients have access to leading-edge treatments and personal support from a team of specialists dedicated to your well-being. 

Your Team of Lymphoma Cancer Treatment Specialists

At Northside, you’re never alone in the fight against lymphoma. Our experienced team of specialists attends to your individual needs, upon diagnosis and continuing through treatment, survivorship - and on to wellness.

Our lymphoma team includes experts in hematology, specifically blood and marrow transplant, pathology, medical and radiation oncology. 

Other Northside Hospital Cancer Institute benefits include:

• One of the largest and most successful Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) programs in the Southeast.
• New treatment options in our clinical trials program, one of the largest community-based oncology/hematology programs in the nation.
• Nurse navigators can help you throughout the treatment process.
• Research nurses (when applicable) to help you understand if you qualify for a clinical trial.
• Social workers who you can lean on for social, emotional and spiritual support.
• Dieticians for health and nutrition.
• Rehabilitation specialists to help you maintain strength and energy for daily activities.

MEET OUR LYMPHOMA TEAM

More About Lymphoma

Lymphoma is a blood cancer that starts in white blood cells called lymphocytes. 

Lymphocytes are a part of your immune system, and they travel through your body to fight infection. They can be found in your lymph nodes, spleen, thymus, bone marrow and other parts of the body.

There are two main types of lymphoma: Non-Hodgkin’s and Hodgkin’s.  

• Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas are much more common. They involve cells called B lymphocytes (B cells) and T lymphocytes (T cells). 
• Hodgkin's lymphomas are less common. What makes them distinct is the existence of unusually large B lymphocytes called Reed-Sternberg cells. In Hodgkin’s lymphomas, tumors often spread from one lymph node to the next.

Lymphoma Symptoms 

Lymphoma symptoms often are similar to those of a cold, the flu or a respiratory infection — only they don’t go away. They commonly include:

• Swollen lymph nodes (often in the neck, armpits, or groin).
• Ongoing tiredness or lack of energy.
• Fever.
• Unexplained weight loss.
• Night sweats.
• Chills.
• Unusually itchy skin.
  

Lymphoma Risk Factors 

Doctors don’t know the exact cause of lymphoma, and the risk factors vary depending on the type of lymphoma. However, in general, some risk factors include:

• Age. Most lymphomas occur in people over age 55, but some types are more common in young adults.
• Gender. Generally, men are a little more likely to develop lymphoma — but women are more likely to develop certain types.
• Immune system problems. Lymphoma is more likely if you have an immune system disease, or if you take medication to limit the immune system (such as after an organ transplant).
• Infections. Having the Epstein-Barr virus (which causes infectious mononucleosis) or HIV infection may increase the risk of lymphoma. 

Diagnosing Your Lymphoma 

There are no screening tests to detect lymphoma. In many cases, people go to the doctor because they feel like they have a cold or the flu. However, the doctor might suspect lymphoma upon seeing and feeling swollen lymph nodes during a physical exam.  

If lymphoma is suspected, the next steps to diagnose it might include: 

• A blood test to look closer at the type and number of blood cells.
• Diagnostic imaging such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), or positron emission tomography (PET).
• A lymph node biopsy, during which Northside experts skillfully remove part or all of a lymph node to check it for lymphoma cells.
• A bone marrow biopsy, during which doctors use a needle to get a sample of bone marrow and check it for lymphoma cells.

Advanced Lymphoma Treatment Options 

At Northside, lymphoma cancer treatment plans are carefully designed to meet your personal needs and address your specific type of lymphoma. Complete care and comprehensive support makes Northside one of the best cancer treatment centers for lymphoma.

Sometimes lymphoma grows so slowly that the best option is to watch it closely. Other times, your doctor will recommend chemotherapy, targeted therapy drugs, radiation therapy or a combination to kill the cancer cells.

The Northside Hospital Cancer Institute Immunotherapy Program also offers best-in-class chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell immunotherapy to treat certain types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In this therapy, some of your own immune cells are removed, genetically modified to fight cancer better, multiplied, and then put back into your body to attack the cancer. 

For some forms of lymphoma, a bone marrow transplant may be recommended. The Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) Program at Northside Hospital Cancer Institute is one of the largest and most comprehensive programs of its kind in the Southeast. Our Program has some of the best survival rates in the nation. 

Northside participates in clinical trials for CAR T-cell therapy, which may be a treatment option for patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In fact, our Research Program is one of the largest community-based oncology/hematology programs in the nation, giving you access to innovative care and the opportunity to help scientists create better cancer treatments. 

Lymphoma Support & Survivorship

Lymphomas affect people of all ages and these cancers are very treatable. 

How you and your doctors decide to treat your lymphoma will depend on exactly what kind it is, where it is and how far it has spread. At Northside, our cancer nurse navigators can help you to understand your lymphoma treatment options and to coordinate your care. They’re here to lend their support and guidance, answer your questions, and connect you with our full range of support and survivorship resources.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ALL OF OUR NHCI SUPPORT & SURVIVORSHIP SERVICES