Lymphoma, non-Hodgkin - Complications of non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Introduction
- Symptoms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Causes of non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Diagnosing non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Treating non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Complications of non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Some people treated for non-Hodgkin lymphoma experience long-term problems, even if they have been cured.
Some of the main complications of non-Hodgkin lymphoma are described below.
Weakened immune system
Having a weakened immune system is a common complication of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and it can become more severe while you are being treated.
However, your immune system will usually recover in the months and years after treatment.
If you have a weak immune system, you are more vulnerable to infections, and there is an increased risk of developing serious complications from infections. In some cases, you may be advised to take regular doses of antibiotics to prevent infections occurring.
It is also important to report any symptoms of an infection to your GP or care team immediately because prompt treatment may be needed to prevent serious complications. This is particularly important in the first few months after treatment.
Symptoms of infection include:
You should also make sure all of your vaccinations are up to date. However, it’s important to speak to your GP or care team about this because it may not be safe for you to have ‘live’ vaccines (vaccines containing a weakened form of the virus or organism being vaccinated against) until several months after your treatment finishes.
Examples of ‘live’ vaccines include the shingles vaccine, the BCG vaccine (against tuberculosis) and the MMR vaccine (against measles, mumps and rubella).
Infertility
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy for non-Hodgkin lymphoma can cause infertility. This is sometimes temporary, but it can be a permanent.
Your care team will estimate the risk of infertility in your specific circumstances and let you know what your options are.
In some cases, it may be possible for men to store samples of their sperm and women to store their eggs before treatment, so these can be used to try for a baby afterwards.
Other health issues
Treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma can increase your risk of getting conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, thyroid disease, diabetes and cataracts at a younger age than normal. Having a diagnosis of cancer can also increase your risk of suffering from depression.
You should report unexpected symptoms, such as increasing shortness of breath, to your GP for further advice.
Second cancers
Having treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma can increase your risk of developing another type of cancer in the future. This is known as a 'second cancer'.
The risk of getting cancer is particularly increased after cancer treatment because chemotherapy and radiotherapy damage healthy cells as well as cancer cells. This damage can then cause the affected cells to become cancerous many years after treatment.
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