What is an Indolent Lymphoma?

Indolent lymphoma is a type of lymphoma which moves very slowly through the body. It is also known as low grade lymphoma. When a patient's lymphoma is identified as indolent, it can be a determining factor in the approach to treatment. Some treatments are not suitable for this type of lymphoma, and others may not be well advised, depending on the patient's specific situation.

Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphocytes, blood cells which comprise part of the immune system. There are a number of different kinds of lymphoma, which can involve different types of lymphocytes and move at different rates. When a patient is diagnosed with lymphoma, part of the diagnostic process involves a detailed examination of the patient's lymphocytes to determine which types are involved and to determine whether the cancer is high or low grade.

In patients with indolent lymphoma, the cancer moves so slowly that the patient may survive for a decade or more without aggressive treatment. Some treatments may not be effective because of the way the cancer is developing and spreading, while in other cases, chemotherapy, radiation, and other options can knock out the cancer, allowing the patient to go into remission.

Sometimes, a doctor may recommend taking a conservative approach to indolent lymphoma treatment. Instead of actively treating the patient's lymphoma, the doctor may wait and see, monitoring the patient for emerging problems and controlling complications of the lymphoma as they emerge. The costs and potential prognosis with aggressive treatment may not be worth it in these cases, making a no treatment approach a better option. In patients who are not being actively treated for the cancer, regular follow-up visits are needed to check on the spread of the cancer and to go over any medical issues.

Because lymphoma is an umbrella term for a large family of cancers, and indolent lymphoma covers a number of different types of cancers within this family, it is a good idea to talk about specifics with a doctor. The doctor can go over the specific type of indolent lymphoma the patient has, the prognosis given the patient's condition, and other details which people can use when making an informed decision about treatment. Patients are never obligated to accept treatment, and they are also not obligated to refuse it; if a patient does not think that the conservative approach is appropriate, he or she can consult another doctor to get more information about options.