Treatments

Cutaneous Lymphoma Treatments

There is no cure for cutaneous lymphoma, but most types are treatable and not life threatening.

To determine the best course of treatment for you, your physician will consider factors such as your age, overall health, medical history and tolerance for specific medications, procedures and therapies. The type of T-cell lymphoma, extent and location of the disease and expectations for the course of the disease are also factors in determining the best treatment.

Treatment options may include:

• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy drugs are used to destroy cancer cells. Drugs may be put on the skin as a cream or gel injected into a vein.
• Other drug therapies: Other drug therapies may include retinoids, corticosteroids and targeted drugs. Some are applied to the skin, while others are taken by mouth or given as an injection.
• Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy uses a radiation machine that emits X-rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.
• Photodynamic laser therapy: This therapy uses a certain type of light and a special chemical to kill cancer cells.

Clinical trials are currently being conducted using biological therapy, also called immunotherapy. Immunotherapy tries to get your own body to fight cancer by using materials made by your own body or in a laboratory to boost, direct or restore your body's natural defenses against disease.