Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is a blood cancer with more than 60 subtypes. It is one of the most common cancers in the U.S. It happens when a type of white blood cell called a lymphocyte changes and grows out of control.
Each year at Fred Hutch Cancer Center, we care for more than 3,000 patients with NHL — including more than 60 rare subtypes. We provide all standard therapies. Our experts are national leaders in NHL research and have developed many of these approaches.
Many of our NHL patients take part in clinical trials — led by world-renowned physicians from Fred Hutch — to get promising therapies that are not available anywhere else.
Fred Hutch: A Leader in NHL Treatment
In the past 10 to 15 years, research into targeted therapies and immunotherapies has found new ways to control NHL or put it into remission. Fred Hutch was one of the first cancer centers in the nation to offer both of the cellular immunotherapies approved for NHL by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Your First Appointment
From the first time you come to see us, your NHL team will begin getting to know you and your family. What are your questions? What are your concerns?
At your first appointment, your hematologist-oncologist will also explain your disease, including your subtype. They will tell you how it’s treated and which tests you need to help plan your individual care. Before you leave, your team makes sure you understand the next steps.
Learn About NHL
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is a blood cancer with more than 60 subtypes. It is one of the most common cancers in the U.S. It happens when a type of white blood cell called a lymphocyte changes and grows out of control.
Treatment
Patients with different subtypes of NHL respond to treatments in different ways. You are unique, and your care team will design a treatment plan specifically for — and with — you. At Fred Hutch, physicians with knowledge and experience in your NHL subtype will design and provide your care.
For one person with NHL, watchful waiting might be the first step. Someone else might start with chemotherapy, targeted therapy or immunotherapy. Over time, other options, like radiation therapy or a blood or marrow transplant, might be recommended. We combine treatments to fit your unique case.
NHL Care Team
At Fred Hutch, we surround you with experts who focus completely on cancer care. A handful of people make up the core of your care team. You will have a hematologist-oncologist and a registered nurse who are experienced in caring for people with NHL. At some visits, you might see an advanced practice provider. Most patients get part of their treatment from infusion nurses. A patient care coordinator will schedule your visits.
Our Approach to Treatment
The safest, most effective and most widely accepted therapies for cancer are known as the “standard of care.” For many patients, these therapies will be a large part of their treatment. At Fred Hutch, we provide all standard therapies for NHL. We know how to choose the right ones for you and how to deliver them to give you the best chance at a full recovery.
Our physicians and researchers are always asking how we can make NHL treatments more effective and reduce side effects as much as possible. This is why we conduct clinical trials (also called clinical studies). Through these studies, we are able to offer you therapies that aren’t offered everywhere. A trial therapy today may become the new standard of care tomorrow.
Along with treating your cancer, a group of world-class professionals is here to support you. This team includes nurses, dietitians, physical therapists, social workers and psychologists. We integrate supportive care services to promote your physical, mental and emotional well-being.
Role of the Caregiver
When someone close to you is diagnosed with NHL, you might step into the role of caregiver. Being a caregiver can mean many things, from lending a hand with daily living tasks to helping with medical decisions. It can also mean dealing with your own emotions and stress.
At Fred Hutch, caregivers are valuable members of a patient’s care team. We see every day that your presence and your support make a difference. We also see that what your friend or family member is going through affects you, too.
Part of our mission is to help you take care of yourself. Caring for yourself is good for your physical, mental and emotional health. It also helps you give your best to your loved one. Our social workers, Spiritual Health team and Patient and Family Resource Center staff are here to help support you.
Latest Treatments and Clinical Trials
Physicians and scientists from Fred Hutch and UW Medicine are testing new treatments for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and discovering new ways to use current NHL treatments.
Through this work, we are looking for answers to two main questions: How can we do even better at controlling or curing NHL? How can we make treatments less toxic and easier on patients?
We have clinical trials for all stages of NHL, from early to advanced. These trials test dozens of medicines for different NHL subtypes. Some of the therapies we are studying are:
- Chemotherapy regimens
- Antibody therapies and other targeted therapies
- Immunotherapies, including cellular immunotherapies and checkpoint inhibitors
When your care team designs your treatment plan, they will give you the choice to join clinical trials that match your situation. If you decide to join one, you will see the same physicians and nurses as you would for standard therapy.
Your care team will talk with you about if you might want to join a particular study and why. This can help you make the decision that is best for you.
