Life after Lymphoma Treatment: Focusing on Health

Posted in: Cancer by Dr. Tarang Krishna Posted Date: 08 Sep, 2019

It is difficult to know when the lymphoma treatment is completed and what to expect after the treatment. In this article, we’ll provide information about recovery from the side effects that affect your body during lymphoma cancer treatment. 

The Recovery Package

It is hard to adjust to the changes after lymphoma treatment. After several months of hospital stay and regular appointments with a physician, you are likely to feel anxious or unsure of what to expect after treatment. 

National Cancer Survivorship Initiative (NCSI) has created an easy recovery package for the patients and this package will be available to many cancer hospitals by 2020. This recovery package consists of many strategies to find out your individual needs so that you are prepared for the future. The recovery package includes:

• Identifying your emotional, physical and social needs. This is also termed as holistic needs assessment (HNA). Your medical team will guide you and support you throughout the recovery package.
• The hospital team completes your treatment summary. This summary includes information about your treatment, its long-term effects and what lymphoma relapsing symptoms to be aware of after the treatment. 
• A cancer care review or discussion between your guardian or practice nurse is given to you. The review also covers all the financial impacts of cancer and prescription charges, as well as the possible late effects of cancer treatment. 
• Well-being and health events, such as Lymphoma Action Life workshops, are organized to help you prepare for the future. These events give you practical advice on how to stay healthy after lymphoma cancer treatment.
• If the recovery package is not available in your region, you must be supported by your hospital team. Ask the key worker who you must contact in case of concerns or queries. 

How Soon Will It Take to Feel Better?

Just like any other medical treatment, lymphoma treatment also takes time to recover and you may still face certain side effects after the treatment ends. How fast you recover depends on the following factors.

• The lymphoma cancer treatment you had
• The intensive treatment takes more time to recover than regular treatment 
• Your age
• What side effects had during the treatment
• Your general fitness
• How you feel about yourself
• Whether you have any other health condition

If you have to get back to studies, work or other responsibility after the treatment, remember that you won’t be in full strength right away. You must have realistic goals and don’t try to overstretch your ambitions or goals. You might observe different cancer effects on your body. But it will get better eventually at different times, depending on your health condition. 

Difficulty in Eating

You may notice difficulty in eating and drinking during the treatment. You will experience mouth ulcers or sore mouth. This problem usually gets better within two to three weeks after the treatment. You may try to consume more fluid-containing food items or drink healthy smoothies whenever you find difficulty in eating.

Changes in Weight

You may have gained or lost weight at the time of lymphoma treatment. This happens due to potential changes in your taste, appetite metabolism and digestive system. If you have lost weight, try to follow an active routine full of exercises to improve your appetite. If you have gained weight during the treatment, you have to follow healthy weight training to get back to shape over a few months. 

Hair loss (Alopecia)

If you had hair loss during the lymphoma treatment, it will start growing back after the treatment is complete. Most people get full head hair within just three to six months after the chemotherapy and six to twelve months after the completion of radiotherapy. How quickly your hair grows depends on various factors like the type of treatment you had, how to responded to the treatment, ethnicity, and your general health.

About The Author

Dr. Tarang Krishna

Dr. Tarang Krishna, Director at Cancer Healer Center, is the perfect epitome of perseverance and dedication.

He has an impressive educational background to his credit. He completed his under-graduation in Medicine and Surgery from Pune, India and did his MD (Hom) from Agra University, India.Thesis on MD was on "Treatment of cancer" where he presented cases of almost 100 patients and the response of the medicines in the treatment of cancer. He then completed his Ph.d in Oncology from the United Kingdom and his thesis on the ‘Efficacy of Medicines in the Treatment of Cancer’ is greatly commemorated and honored.

He befittingly represents alternate medicine and has contributed significantly towards the development and research of immunotherapy.

Through his nationwide chain of “Cancer Healer Center” clinics he strives to offer superior cancer treatment, using immunotherapy.