Lymphoma treatment and diagnostics abroad

Lymphoma is a group of cancers of the lymphatic system that develop from lymphocytes. It is divided into Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphomas, which have many subtypes. Treatment depends entirely on the subtype: some lymphomas are curable, others can be controlled for a long time.

Below are hematology-oncology clinics abroad: compare their capabilities, doctors and prices for diagnostics and treatment.

Types of lymphoma

• Hodgkin lymphoma — more common in young people and responds well to treatment.
• Aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphomas (for example, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma) — grow fast but are often curable.
• Indolent (slow-growing) lymphomas (follicular, marginal zone) — develop over years; treatment is sometimes not needed straight away.
• T-cell lymphomas — rarer forms that need an experienced centre.

Symptoms of lymphoma

• painless swelling of lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or groin;
• unexplained fever, night sweats, weight loss (B symptoms);
• fatigue, itchy skin;
• cough or breathlessness when chest nodes are involved, abdominal pain when abdominal nodes are involved.

Diagnosis

• Lymph node biopsy with immunohistochemistry and molecular tests — defines the exact subtype; review by a reference laboratory often changes the diagnosis.
• PET-CT — sets the stage and assesses the response to treatment.
• blood tests, LDH and, when indicated, bone marrow examination.

Lymphoma treatment abroad

• Chemoimmunotherapy — chemotherapy combined with monoclonal antibodies (such as rituximab) is the backbone of B-cell lymphoma treatment.
• Radiotherapy — in early stages or for residual disease.
• Targeted drugs (including BTK inhibitors) — for certain subtypes.
• CAR-T cell therapy and bispecific antibodies — for relapsed aggressive lymphomas.
• Bone marrow transplant — high-dose chemotherapy with autologous or allogeneic transplantation in relapse.
• Watchful waiting — for indolent lymphomas without symptoms.

Why patients choose treatment abroad

• accurate pathological and molecular diagnosis;
• access to CAR-T therapy and new drugs;
• bone marrow transplant programmes.

See clinics in the hematology-oncology section.

Send a request with your biopsy report — Clinics Direct coordinators will obtain a hematologist's second opinion and treatment prices free of charge.