Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system — part of the body’s immune defences. It is important to know that many lymphomas are among the most treatable, and often curable, of all cancers, provided they are diagnosed accurately and treated correctly.

At Indian OncoCare, lymphoma treatment is planned and supervised personally by Dr. Harish Kancharla, DM (Medical Oncology, AIIMS Delhi), MD (Internal Medicine, PGIMER Chandigarh), Senior Consultant – Medical Oncology & Hemato-Oncology at Yashoda Hospitals, Somajiguda, Hyderabad, working with haemato-pathologists and radiation oncologists as one team.

When to see a lymphoma specialist

See a specialist for:

A painless, persistent swelling of a lymph node in the neck, armpit or groin
Unexplained fevers, drenching night sweats or weight loss (the “B symptoms”)
Persistent tiredness, itching, or breathlessness

Swollen glands are usually due to infection, but a node that is persistent, painless and enlarging should be assessed.

How lymphoma is diagnosed

The single most important test is a biopsy of an affected lymph node — ideally an excisional (whole-node) biopsy rather than a needle sample, because the architecture of the node is needed to identify the exact type. The tissue undergoes detailed immunohistochemistry, and staging is done with a PET-CT and often a bone marrow test. Lymphoma is broadly divided into Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin types, and further into many subtypes — each with its own treatment.

Treatment options

Lymphoma treatment is chosen from the exact subtype and stage:

Chemotherapy — usually a combination regimen, often given with immunotherapy.
Immunotherapy — antibody therapies (such as anti-CD20) and, for selected relapsed cases, CAR-T cell therapy.
Targeted therapy — for particular subtypes.
Radiation therapy — for localised disease or as part of combined treatment.
Stem cell (bone marrow) transplant — mainly for relapsed or high-risk disease.

Some slow-growing (indolent) lymphomas are safely watched rather than treated immediately — a considered strategy, not neglect.

Why choose Indian OncoCare

As a hemato-oncologist, Dr. Harish Kancharla, DM (Medical Oncology, AIIMS Delhi), MD (Internal Medicine, PGIMER Chandigarh) is trained specifically in blood and lymphatic cancers. Treatment is delivered through Yashoda Hospitals, Somajiguda, Hyderabad, with accurate haemato-pathology and coordinated care. See our cancer services and related pages for leukemia, multiple myeloma and bone marrow transplant.

Support for patients and families

A cancer diagnosis affects the whole family, and practical support matters as much as medical treatment. Our patient support resources help you prepare for consultations and understand each step, while our financial guidance can help you understand treatment costs and the insurance or assistance options that may be available.

You can find more guidance and checklists in our patient resources section. Patients travelling from outside Hyderabad or from abroad usually begin with an online consultation before continuing in person — see our international patients page for how this is coordinated.

Frequently asked questions

Is lymphoma curable?

Many lymphomas, including Hodgkin lymphoma and several non-Hodgkin types, are highly treatable and often curable, even at advanced stages.

Why do I need a whole-node biopsy?

Because identifying the exact subtype needs the node’s structure, which a small needle sample may not show. The subtype decides the treatment.

What does “watch and wait” mean?

For some slow-growing lymphomas, careful monitoring without immediate treatment is the evidence-based choice, with treatment started when needed.

Who supervises my treatment?

Dr. Harish Kancharla, DM (Medical Oncology, AIIMS Delhi), MD (Internal Medicine, PGIMER Chandigarh), a hemato-oncologist, plans and reviews your treatment personally.