Coping with the side effects of therapy
Your treatment for aggressive non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) can be an emotionally and physically challenging time. But, regardless of whether your induction therapy will be immunotherapy plus chemotherapy together, or either one of them alone, there will be things that you can think about doing to help yourself cope with the treatment period.
Many people have heard a lot about the side effects of cancer treatments and they can often feel afraid of them. But it is important to bear in mind the following points:
- Not all people have side effects
- Different drugs may have different side effects
- Side effects, when they do occur, may be mild
- Many side effects can be eliminated or made more tolerable
Nevertheless, immunotherapy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy all have potential side effects that you should be aware of, and exactly what you experience will depend on the specific drugs you are being prescribed. You should discuss all potential side effects in detail with your doctor before you begin treatment.
More information can also be found in the patient leaflets that come with your medication as well as in the immunotherapy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy pages of Lymphoma Life.
Find out more about the side effects of immunotherapy for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Find out more about the side effects of chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Find out more about the side effects of radiotherapy for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma