Hodgkin Lymphoma: Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses strong X-rays or beams of other types of radiation to kill
cancer cells or stop them from growing. There are different kinds of radiation therapy.
And radiation can be used in many ways. It depends on the type of cancer and where
it is in the body.
For Hodgkin lymphoma, the radiation is aimed at the cancer from a machine outside
of your body. This is called external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). It's part of
the treatment for most people with Hodgkin Lymphoma.
When is radiation therapy used for Hodgkin lymphoma?
Your healthcare provider may advise radiation treatment if you:
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Have lymphoma that's only in 1 place in your body
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Have lymphoma in a few places that are close to each other
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Have lymphoma that is big to start with (called bulky)
-
Have residual lymphoma remaining after chemotherapy
Radiation may be the only treatment needed for some people with nodular lymphocyte-predominant
Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL).
Radiation may be part of your treatment if you are having a stem cell transplant.
In this case, radiation is given to most of your body over a short period of time.
This is known as total body irradiation. It's done to destroy your bone marrow. It
makes room for the new stem cells.
How is radiation therapy given?
Two techniques of external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) are commonly used. Many healthcare
providers prefer to use involved site radiation therapy (ISRT) . With ISRT, radiation is aimed at the lymph nodes that first had the lymphoma, as
well as at areas close by. Involved field radiation therapy (IFRT) aims the radiation at larger areas of affected lymph nodes than ISRT. With IFRT,
nearby organs may be exposed to radiation, too. For this reason, many healthcare providers
now use ISRT instead of IFRT.
For EBRT, a healthcare provider called a radiation oncologist will create your treatment
plan. During planning (called simulation), imaging tests such as CT, MRI, or PET scans
will be done. These will take pictures of the inside of your body. Imaging tests will
help show where you need treatment. They will help in taking measurements to find
the correct angles for aiming the radiation. The plan, created after simulation, shows
what kind of radiation you’ll have as well as the dose. It also shows how long the
treatment will last.
In most cases, radiation therapy is done 5 days a week, Monday through Friday, for
several weeks. The treatment is done by a radiation therapist. The experience is a
lot like getting an X-ray in that you do not feel anything, but it takes longer. Your
radiation oncologist can prepare you for how you may feel during and after the treatment.
Possible short-term side effects
Radiation therapy affects normal cells as well as cancer cells. Side effects of radiation
depend on the part of your body being treated. Some common side effects include:
Because in the short term radiation irritates the skin and makes it more sensitive,
stay out of direct sun exposure. If you are outside, cover your skin. Use sunscreen
during and after radiation treatment each day.
Possible long-term side effects
Long-term side effects depend on the part of your body being treated. Some of these
late effects are common and others are rare. One of the most serious, but rare, is
a higher risk for other cancers in the part of your body getting radiation. This is
a more significant problem for younger adults and children. Radiation can also cause
long-term damage to some organs. For example, radiation to the chest can damage your
thyroid gland or your heart. Talk with your healthcare providers about your risks
for long-term side effects.