FOLLOW-UP CARE 

• After treatment for lymphoma ends, talk with the doctor about developing a follow-up care plan.
• This plan may include doctor visits and medical tests to monitor recovery for the coming months and years.
• Follow-up care after treatment for lymphoma is important to monitor for possible recurrence of the lymphoma and late effects of treatment.
• In general, each follow-up visit includes a discussion with the doctor, physical examination, and blood tests.
• Later visits may only be two to three times per year until five years has passed; then, annual visits should be continued with an oncologist.
• Special attention needs to be paid to cancer screening and detection, as well as to heart risk factors, for the person’s lifetime.
• For patients who received radiation therapy to the neck or chest, monitoring thyroid function is important.
• Follow-up care should also address the person’s quality of life, including emotional concerns.
• In particular, lymphoma survivors are encouraged to be aware of symptoms of depression and talk with their doctor immediately if they have such symptoms.
• It may be recommended that some patients get an immunization against certain infections, which may be repeated every five to seven years.

Side Effects

There are many possible side effects of treatment for Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

• Patients react to lymphoma treatment in different ways. Most side effects are mild and last only a short time. Other side effects may be serious or last a long time. When side effects occur, most:

1. 1. Can be helped with treatment.
   2. Do not last long.
   3. Clear up when treatment ends.

• The number of red cells may decrease in patients (this is called anemia) treated with chemotherapy. Blood transfusions or growth factors to increase red cells may be needed.
  
  
• Some common side effects from treatment for Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma are:

1. 1. Mouth sores
   2. Nausea
   3. Vomiting
   4. Diarrhea
   5. Constipation
   6. Bladder irritation
   7. Blood in the urine.

• Other side effects from treatment may include:

1. 1. Extreme tiredness
   2. Fever
   3. Cough
   4. Rash
   5. Hair loss
   6. Weakness
   7. Tingling sensation
   8. Lung, heart or nerve problems

• Fertility (the ability to conceive a baby) may be affected by lymphoma treatment in both men and women. Patients may want to talk to their doctors about this before treatment begins.

Updated:: 04/04/2019 []