What are the Pros and Cons of Chemotherapy for Lymphoma?

Deciding whether or not to go through chemotherapy for lymphoma is difficult. As with most other treatments, there are pros and cons to embarking on a course of chemotherapy. Typically, chemotherapy is a recommended form of treatment, since the side effects of this procedure can be largely controlled with medication.

Chemotherapy is a drug, or combination of drugs, that is injected into the body or given to a patient through oral tablets. Once this drug enters the body, the medication will seek out any tumors that are present. In most cases, these drugs attack and kill cancerous cells, though a patient may have to go through numerous chemotherapy treatments in order to get rid of cancer cells completely.

There are many different side effects associated with chemotherapy for lymphoma. Nausea, fatigue, hair loss, anemia, loss of blood, pain, memory malfunction, and other physical changes may occur as a result of chemotherapy. The degree to which a person experiences these side effects will vary from person to person. In many instances, medications can help a person to cope with the impact of chemotherapy.

Another reason why some people choose to skip chemotherapy treatment is that these treatments can be exhausting. Most people will have to go through numerous rounds of chemotherapy prior to eliminating cancerous cells. This frequently requires many trips to a hospital, and each session can take a long time to complete.

While there are some drawbacks of chemotherapy, there are also some benefits to going through chemotherapy for lymphoma. Many people are able to control lymphoma once treatments have been concluded. In some instances, cancerous cells can be completely eliminated. Thus, the main pro to chemotherapy for lymphoma is that this treatment may get rid of cancerous tumors.

After completing a chemotherapy session, it is crucial that patients eat properly. While some people may experience a loss of appetite, proper nutrition has been shown to speed the healing process. In many instances, cancer patients will be given a list of foods to consume in addition to a list of foods to eliminate from one's diet. This portion of a cancer treatment is vitally important.

Prior to embarking on a chemotherapy for lymphoma treatment, each patient should be given a thorough medical consultation. During this consultation, any questions about chemotherapy should be addressed. While difficult, chemotherapy is frequently the best way to stabilize or eliminate cancer altogether.