Lymphoma

Lymphoma is a form of blood cancer, or hematologic cancer. Lymphomas are divided into Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Within those two main types of lymphoma are sub-types. For example, B-cell lymphoma is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Lymphomas can occur in adults and children.

Types of Lymphoma

These are some of the more common forms of lymphoma:

• Hodgkin lymphoma
• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
• B-cell lymphoma, a form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, occurs in B lymphocytes (or B cells, a type of white blood cell)
• T-cell lymphoma, a form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, occurs in T lymphocytes (or T cells, a type of white blood cell)
• Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), a common type of B-cell lymphoma
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), two closely related types of B-cell lymphoma
• Mantle cell lymphoma, a type of B-cell lymphoma
• Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), a type of T-cell lymphoma that starts in the skin (sometimes called lymphoma of the skin)
• Follicular lymphoma, a (usually) slow-growing form of B-cell lymphoma

Lymphoma Treatment at Rush for Adults

Your lymphoma care treatment options will depend on many factors, such as the type of lymphoma you have, how much it has spread and how aggressive it is.

Your care may include molecular profiling, which analyzes your unique genetic makeup to provide personalized recommendations.

Your Rush cancer care team will discuss treatment options with you, including some of the following:

Chemotherapy

You may receive a single drug or a combination of drugs to destroy cancer cells or stop them from growing.

Immunotherapy

This treatment, which includes monoclonal antibodies, uses your own immune system to fight your cancer. New agents or combinations may be available for your type of lymphoma through clinical trials at Rush.

Stem Cell Transplant

Immature blood cells called stem cells can get transplanted into your body to replenish your blood. A stem cell transplant allows you to receive higher doses of chemotherapy and radiation therapy to treat your cancer.

Radiation Therapy

You may receive radiation therapy, which uses high-energy X-rays to treat your cancer. Targeted radiation therapy, which selectively delivers radiation to only cancer cells, may be available for your type of lymphoma through clinical trials at Rush.

Clinical Trials

Hematologists at Rush are continually investigating potential new treatment options through clinical trials. Your providers will talk to you about any trials you may qualify for.

CAR-T Cell Therapy

For some patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma that has not responded to other therapies, Rush offers CAR-T cell therapy. CAR-T cell therapy involves genetically modifying your own T-cells to attack your cancer.

Lymphoma Treatment at Rush for Children

Rush pediatric cancer experts through Rush University Children's Hospital offer specialized lymphoma care for children.

• Chemotherapy is often the main treatment for children with lymphoma. Chemotherapy can reach and destroy cancer cells throughout the body.
• If cancer returns after treatment, some children may need high-dose chemotherapy followed by stem cell transplantation.
• Radiation therapy is rarely used to treat lymphoma in children because it can cause serious long-term side effects.

Rush Excellence in Lymphoma

• Multiple locations for your convenience: Rush lymphoma care provides cancer experts in downtown Chicago, Oak Park, Lisle and Aurora/Fox Valley. That allows you to choose care closer to home. This can be particularly convenient for lymphomas that can often be treated as a chronic disease, such as follicular lymphoma.
• Comprehensive lymphoma care: Many lymphoma patients at Rush University Medical Center receive care through The Coleman Foundation Comprehensive Lymphoma Clinic. In the clinic, your care team brings their expertise together to develop an individualized treatment plan for you. Your team may include hematologists, bone marrow transplant physicians, radiologists, pathologists, radiation oncologists and nurse practitioners.
• Complementary therapies: Rush offers complementary therapies along with traditional cancer treatments. Our supportive oncology program provides psychosocial counseling, nutritional counseling, acupuncture and massage.
• Emotional and financial support: Your team can also connect you to other resources, such as financial counseling and transportation assistance, to help you and your family address the physical, social and emotional challenges of cancer treatment. Waterford Place Cancer Resource Center in Aurora offers a wide range of free supportive services to anyone affected by a cancer diagnosis.
• Targeted, personalized options: Rush offers genetic profiling and molecular testing for most lymphomas. This genetic profiling can help us determine the most effective treatments for you based on your DNA. Targeted therapies typically have fewer side effects than conventional chemotherapy.
• Nationally recognized cancer care: Cancer care at Rush University Medical Center is ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.