Therapy options according to stages

As already emphasized several times, the therapy is basically based on the cancer stage. An early stage is characterized by the fact that usually only individual, more superficial lymph nodes are affected. If the lymph node cancer is located in the breast or abdominal cavity, it is no longer one of the early stages.

In addition, the lymph gland cancer must not be too large, even if it is limited to only one lymph node. In early stages of lymph gland cancer, chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy shows the best results. In these cases, a short course of chemotherapy and two radiation treatments of the affected area are usually sufficient to kill all cancer cells.

The chemotherapy is usually carried out according to the above-mentioned ABVD scheme, as this scheme has comparatively few side effects with very good results. After each chemotherapy, radiation therapy is usually given even in the early stages. In the case of non-Hodgkin’s lymph node cancers, which represent a large proportion of lymph node cancers, the removal of the affected lymph node can also be carried out by surgery in the early stages.

If chemotherapy is subsequently administered, the chances of recovery are usually excellent. Middle stages are found when several lymph node regions on the same side of the diaphragm are affected. Here too, a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy is usually used.

Chemotherapy is usually carried out in four cycles with a total of ten different chemotherapy drugs. This is then also called polychemotherapy (“poly” = much). Radiotherapy is also carried out after this.

Since the combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy has more side effects, such as a higher rate of secondary tumors, this treatment option must always be weighed up well with regard to the risk-benefit ratio. In the advanced stages, chemotherapy is usually followed by six cycles of chemotherapy, which can be followed by radiotherapy after consultation with the doctor. Further information can be found here: Lymph node cancer – what is the prognosis?