How to prevent lymphoma recurrence

There are many patients with lymphoma. This disease has caused many people to lose their normal lives, so many patients are troubled by the disease. Lymphoma recurrence is a common problem and a very scary problem. Therefore, understanding the recurrence rate can help patients make a comprehensive evaluation of their condition. So is the recurrence rate of lymphoma high? How can we prevent recurrence?

Even for patients with malignant tumors who achieve complete remission after chemotherapy or combined radiotherapy, the tumor cells are not completely eradicated. The so-called complete remission is only a preliminary treatment success in the clinical sense. Many cells remaining in the body will still cause tumor recurrence.

As for the recurrence, it varies according to the tumor type, each person's physical condition and nursing situation. The risk of recurrence is relatively high in the first two years after the end of treatment. Although the initial treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma is relatively effective and the complete remission rate is also high, about one-quarter to one-third of cases will relapse.

There are big differences between different types of lymphoma. The recurrence rate of peripheral T-cell lymphoma is very high. Most indolent lymphomas cannot be completely cured with current treatments and may relapse sooner or later. Burkitt lymphoma rarely relapses one year after the end of treatment.

To prevent recurrence, you can take the following measures:

Single-drug maintenance therapy: Clinical research data show that single-drug rituximab can help delay the recurrence of lymphoma, and the specific usage is once every 2-3 months. It is not clear whether it can reduce the chance of recurrence.

Regular follow-up examinations: Patients going to the hospital for regular follow-up examinations can effectively reduce the recurrence rate of lymphoma. The risk of recurrence is relatively high in the first two years after the end of treatment, so the frequency of follow-up examinations should be higher, usually once every 3 to 4 months, once every six months after two years, and once a year after five years, and this should be continued for life. The specific items of the examination depend on the location of the lesion and the type of pathology.

Patients who have undergone treatment must not think that there will be no recurrence after being cured. They must not take follow-up examinations lightly. Usually, a follow-up examination is conducted every 3 to 4 months after treatment. After two years, a follow-up examination can be conducted every six months. After five years, a follow-up examination can be conducted once a year. This should be maintained for life so that the patient can keep track of tumor recurrence at any time.