Follow-up after lymphoma treatment

At the end of your treatment for lymphoma, you will have a meeting with your doctor or specialist nurse. They will explain:

• how often you will have follow-up appointments

• any possible signs of the lymphoma returning that you should be aware of

• any possible late effects of treatment.

Your specialist doctor or nurse may give you and your GP a letter with this information and a list of the treatments you had. This is called a treatment summary.

When will I have follow-up appointments?

How often you have follow-up appointments depends on:

• the type of lymphoma you had

• the treatment you had

• your situation.

Your specialist doctor or nurse will explain what to expect.

To begin with, your appointments may be every 3 months or so. After 2 years, you may have fewer appointments. Or you may stop having appointments.

Instead of appointments, some people are asked to get in touch when they need to see their lymphoma team. You are given advice on what to look out for and when to book an appointment, if needed.

If have any concerns in between appointments, you can always contact the hospital. You do not need to wait until your next appointment.

Sometimes lymphoma comes back. This is called a relapse or recurrence. If lymphoma comes back, it is usually discovered when symptoms develop. Your doctor or specialist nurse will tell you what to be aware of.

Possible signs and symptoms include:

• new lumps or swellings

• heavy drenching sweats at night

• unexplained high temperatures, over 38°C (100.4°F)

• unexplained weight loss

• extreme tiredness

• general itching or a rash that does not go away

• a cough or breathlessness that does not get better.

You may have other new symptoms that are worrying you. If you have any symptoms, it is important to have them checked. Contact your specialist doctor or nurse for advice. They can arrange for you to have an appointment if needed. Lymphoma that comes back can often be treated again.