Life after treatment for lymphoma

Adjusting to life after treatment

Some people say that they feel pressure to return to “normal life”. It is important to allow yourself time to adjust to the physical and emotional changes, and establish a new daily routine at your own pace. Your family and friends may also need time to adjust.

Cancer Connect on 13 11 20 can help you connect with other people who have had lymphoma, and provide you with information about the emotional and practical aspects of living well after cancer.

Dealing with feelings of sadness

If you have continued feelings of sadness, have trouble getting up in the morning or have lost motivation to do things that previously gave you pleasure, you may be experiencing depression. This is quite common among people who have had cancer.

Talk to your GP, because counselling or medication – even for a short time – may help. Some people can get a Medicare rebate for sessions with a psychologist. Cancer Council may also run a counselling program in your area.

For information about coping with depression and anxiety, call Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636. For 24-hour crisis support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Follow-up appointments

After treatment, you will have regular appointments to monitor your health, manage any long-term side effects and check that the lymphoma hasn’t come back or spread.

Your follow-up schedule will depend on the type of lymphoma you were diagnosed with and the treatment you had. Your doctor may want to see you 3–4 times a year for the first couple of years. Check-ups will become less frequent if you have no further problems. Your doctor will talk to you about your follow-up schedule.

During these check-ups, you will have a physical examination, blood tests and, possibly, scans. Your doctor will also discuss any new symptoms or late effects of treatment. Between follow-up appointments, let your doctor know immediately about any health problems or new symptoms.

What if lymphoma returns?

For some people, lymphoma comes back after a period of remission. This is known as a relapse. Sometimes lymphoma doesn’t respond to treatment, and this is known as refractory disease. Most people with relapsed or refractory lymphoma will have more treatment.

Treatment for a relapse may include chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy and, sometimes, radiation therapy. Sometimes, if the cancer is more advanced or aggressive, your doctor may recommend that you have a stem cell transplant combined with high-dose chemotherapy or CAR T-cell therapy for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. People with refractory disease may be offered a different treatment than the one they first had.