Overview

This web page discusses Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which may have a different mechanism and treatment from other forms of cancer. Please see Cancer Overview for general information that is common to all forms of cancer.

Please see conventional, complementary, and alternative medical treatments for important background information regarding the different types of medical treatments discussed on this page. Naturopathic, Complementary, and Alternative treatments that may be considered include:

Etiology

Hodgkin's lymphoma

According to Go to Mayo ClinicMayo Clinic Hodgkin's lymphoma is associated with changes in the DNA of white blood cells, with increased risk associated with genetics, a history of Epstein-Barr viral infection, and HIV.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

According to Go to Mayo ClinicMayo Clinic Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma increased risk associated with medications that suppress the immune system, a history of Epstein-Barr viral infection, HIV, Helicobacter pylori infection, as well as some environmental toxins such as certain pesticides.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)

According to Go to Mayo ClinicMayo Clinic CLL is associated with changes in the DNA of white blood cells, with increased risk associated with genetics, some environmental toxins such as certain pesticides and herbicides (including Agent Orange).

Differential Diagnosis

According to Go to Mayo ClinicMayo Clinic there are a number of different types of lymphoma affecting humans:

  • Hodgkin's lymphoma (Hodgkin's disease) - affects lymphatic system
  • Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma - diffuse affects throughout the body
  • Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) - affects blood and bone marrow
  • Cutaneous B-cell lymphoma - affects skin
  • Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma - affects skin
  • Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia - affects blood and bone marrow

Treatment

Naturopathic, Complementary, and Alternative Treatments

Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)

According to the Low Dose Naltrexone home page [LDN], LDN has been seen to benefit Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. [LDN_Cancer] reports that the late Dr. Bernard Bihari treated approximately 450 patients with some form of cancer, with a 60% success rate, almost all of who had failed to respond to standard treatments. In particular, 6 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and 3 patients with Hodgkin's disease appeared to be in remission.

In one case of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in a 75 year old woman, the oncologist chose "watchful waiting" and the patient took LDN; 6 months later tumor size had shrunk by 50%, and subsequently shrank over the next 11 months by a total of 80%.

In another case of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, after 3 months of LDN use the involved nodes had shrunk in size by 33%, and subsequently shrank further by a total of 50% without any conventional treatment.

In a case of Hodgkin's disease, complete remission was maintained during a 5.5-year follow-up period.

Dr. Weyrich has been trained to use Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN). However, Dr. Weyrich has not treated any cases of lymphoma with LDN.

Please see What is Low Dose Naltrexone? for more information.

It is believed that LDN works by temporarily blocking the body's opioid receptors, which induces a reflex increase in the body's natural endorphin and enkephalin levels, which then target the tumors' opioid receptors and induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) of the cancer cells. The endorphins and enkephalins also increase natural killer cells and other immune responses against the cancer cells [Mathews1983  🕮 ].

References