Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) often responds very well to modern treatments. This does not mean that it is always curable, but it does mean that treatment can often provide long cancer-free periods, reduced symptoms and improved quality of life for many patients. Certain types of NHL often remain dormant for long periods of time and require little or no treatment, while other types of NHL require immediate treatment. Response to treatment depends on the type of NHL and stage/grade of the disease.
Childhood cancer cells tend to rapidly reproduce and grow faster than most adult cancer cells. Therefore, even though the cancer appears to be contained to one tumour or swollen gland, it has almost always spread beyond its origin. In order to kill all the lymphoma cells present throughout the body, a systemic treatment plan of chemotherapy is the preferred method. Fortunately, because their cells are multiplying so quickly and chemotherapy drugs target rapidly growing cells, children tend to respond better to chemotherapy than adults.
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