Key Features

100 Questions and Answers about Lymphoma
Peter Holman, MD, Jodi Garrett, RN, William "Bill" Jansen

  ▪ Concise, easy-to-read paperback book.
  ▪ The question and answer format mimics an actual physician consultation.
  ▪ Provides both the patient’s and physician’s perspective on lymphoma
  ▪ Written by an expert author team with extensive experience.
  ▪ Provides practical answers to questions about treatment options, quality of life, care giving, sources of
    support, and much more.

Table of Contents

Part 1. The Basics: Understanding the Immune and Circulatory Systems
Questions 1–10 introduce the immune and circulatory systems, describing their function and involvement in lymphoma through such questions as:
  ▪ What is the immune system?
  ▪ How do components of the immune system function?
  ▪ What are lymphocytes?
  ▪ How does the immune system fight infection?
  ▪ How is the immune system important in lymphoma?

Part 2. Diagnosis and Classification of Lymphoma
Questions 11–22 briefly outline the different types of lymphoma and describe their diagnosis and classification, including:
  ▪ What is lymphoma? What is Hodgkin’s disease? What is non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
  ▪ What are the symptoms of lymphoma?
  ▪ How is lymphoma diagnosed?
  ▪ How is bone marrow examination performed?

Part 3. Types of Lymphoma
Questions 23-44 provide a more detailed account of different types of lymphoma and the methods by which they are differentiated, including:
  ▪ What type of lymphoma do I have?
  ▪ What are the different types of Hodgkin’s disease?
  ▪ Can Hodgkin’s disease turn into non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma?

Part 4. Staging and Treatment of Lymphoma
Questions 45-57 discuss treatment options for various forms of lymphoma, including:
  ▪ What happens after I’m told that I have lymphoma?
  ▪ What is the IPI?
  ▪ Are all types of lymphoma treated the same way?
  ▪ How does my doctor know what treatment to recommend for my lymphoma?

Part 5. Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy
Questions 58-75 discuss the goals and side effects of two common forms of therapy for lymphoma, including:
  ▪ What is chemotherapy?
  ▪ What chemotherapy drugs are used to treat lymphoma?
  ▪ What are the side effects of chemotherapy?
  ▪ Will I need radiation therapy?
  ▪ What are the side effects of radiation therapy?

Part 6. Other Therapies
Questions 76-92 describe methods of treatment beyond chemotherapy and radiation therapy, including new treatments, experimental therapies, and alternative medicine, including:
  ▪ What is immunotherapy?
  ▪ What are monoclonal antibodies?
  ▪ What are lymphoma vaccines?
  ▪ What is a bone marrow or stem cell transplant?
  ▪ What is graft versus host disease?
  ▪ Should I seek complementary therapy?
  ▪ Should I enter a clinical trial? How do I find out what clinical trials are available?

Part 7. Coping with Lymphoma
Questions 96-100 address common concerns for the lymphoma patient’s daily life, such as:
  ▪ Can I continue to work?
  ▪ Should I join a support group?
  ▪ If I am dying, how do I cope?
  ▪ What happens if I have no insurance?
  ▪ Where can I find more information?

Appendix
A list of Web sites, organizations, and literature to help lymphoma patients and their families find additional resources on general and specific topics related to lymphoma.

Glossary
Index