Outcomes
Indolent non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) is rarely cured completely by treatment, but most people can live with the disease successfully for many years, with just a few small lifestyle changes.
You will probably experience periods of feeling well with no signs of disease (remission) followed by periods when your symptoms return (relapse).
The treatment you receive will help stop your symptoms coming back for as long as possible. This can delay the progression of your NHL and help you live longer than you might if you had not started a treatment plan, as well as helping improve your quality of life.
It is important to remember that everyone’s experience of NHL is different. We can give you a good idea of what most people experience, and you will find many patient stories on Lymphoma Life that you can read and compare. However, your experience of NHL will be individual to you and the best person to talk to about what you can expect is your own doctor or specialist nurse.
Remission from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and the importance of treatment
Although a remission can usually be achieved with treatment, many indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphomas relapse at some time in the future, typically after a period of between 1.5 and 4 years, although this period could be much longer.
It is impossible to predict how long a remission will last for a particular individual because everyone’s experiences are so different.
Some indolent NHL patients relapse with a different form of NHL, such as an aggressive lymphoma.
It is therefore very important that patients who have had treatment for indolent NHL should have regular check-ups and tests, as recommended by their doctor or specialist team, even if they are feeling perfectly well.
How will I feel when I’m in remission from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
Your quality of life can be generally very good when you’re in remission
When you’re in periods of remission you will experience far fewer symptoms than you would during times of relapse. And many people find that they can carry on life reasonably normally during these times. However, different people will have different experiences of remission, and your doctor can advise you about how to make living with your disease as easy as possible.
You may notice some symptoms during remission, most commonly tiredness
Because indolent non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) grows slowly, you are unlikely to notice any sudden changes in symptoms. Your health is more likely to change slowly, from month to month.
If you do notice any symptoms or changes in your general health, or if you are worried about anything to do with your NHL, you should speak to your doctor about it.
Your healthcare team and various patient organisations can offer lots of advice to help you live successfully with your non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Your doctor or nurse should be able to put you in touch with patient organisations in your area. And there are also tips that you can start with in the Living in Remission section of Lymphoma Life.
Find out more about living in remission from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
What will happen if I’m on ‘watch and wait’?
If your doctor has recommended ‘watch and wait’, you probably have advanced-stage non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) but are not experiencing any symptoms.
Clinical studies have shown that, in suitable patients, the outlook in ‘watch and wait’ patients is no different from that of patients who start treatment at the time of diagnosis. However, research into the benefits and risks of the ‘watch and wait’ approach is ongoing. Delaying treatment until it is needed can reduce the immediate impact on your life.
As long as you remain well, if your lymph nodes are small and are not getting bigger quickly, and if there is no evidence that the lymphoma is affecting the function of any of your major organs, then you can stay on ‘watch and wait’.
In time, you will probably go on to need active treatment, such as immunotherapy plus chemotherapy. In general, this usually happens about 18 months after the start of the ‘watch and wait’ approach, but this will be different for everybody.
Find out more about ‘watch and wait’ if you have non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
What can radiotherapy do for me?
If you’re having radiotherapy or are due to receive it, you will probably have early-stage non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) in which just one or two groups of lymph nodes are affected.
Generally, radiotherapy can achieve a cure in about half of patients. In the other half, NHL will relapse at some time, usually in other lymph nodes. If this happens, you will probably go on to have immunotherapy plus chemotherapy.
Find out more about radiotherapy for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
What can induction treatment do for me?
If you’re having, or are due to receive, induction treatment (usually immunotherapy plus chemotherapy), you probably have advanced-stage, indolent non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) with symptoms.
Although it is unlikely to cure you, induction treatment can help reduce your symptoms and give you a remission, as well as delaying the time at which your symptoms will come back.
In general:
- Around three out of four patients with symptomatic, advanced-stage, indolent NHL experience a remission after their first course of treatment.
- This remission generally lasts for between 1.5 and 4 years, but can be considerably longer. After that, the lymphoma frequently relapses. Further treatment may then be necessary and treatment-free intervals become shorter. Patients typically live for between 7 and 10 years. However, these figures also depend significantly on the age and the general health of the patient.
Find out more about induction treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
What can maintenance treatment do for me?
If you’re having, or are due to get, maintenance treatment (immunotherapy alone), you probably have advanced-stage, indolent non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) and are in remission after successful induction treatment.
Studies in people with relapsed NHL have shown that, on average, following induction therapy, maintenance therapy can increase the length of remission by up to 3 years compared with patients who do not receive maintenance therapy. It can also help patients live longer overall, and in some cases can help eradicate the disease altogether.
Find out more about maintenance treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma