What are the treatment options for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma?

This lymphoma begins in immune cells that affect the skin. Some forms remain mainly in the skin, while others can involve lymph nodes, blood, or organs. Your team considers the subtype, the areas affected, how extensive the skin changes are, previous treatment, and your general health.

Skin-directed approaches can include prescribed creams, light treatment, or treatment applied to selected lesions. Radiotherapy can target a limited area or, in selected situations, a wider skin surface. Targeted therapy acts on a specific feature of lymphoma cells and may be considered when disease needs treatment beyond local measures.

A dermatologist, haematologist, or oncology team may examine the skin, review biopsy results, and arrange blood or imaging tests when needed. Keep a record of new patches, plaques, lumps, itching, pain, fever, or unexplained weight change. Tell the team about medicines, allergies, infections, and any treatment that has already been tried.

Ask how treatment will be given, which skin areas it covers, how side effects will be managed, and when response will be checked. Protect irritated skin from friction and use only products recommended by your clinical team.

Contact your oncology team promptly if skin changes spread quickly, become open or infected, or cause severe pain. Seek urgent medical care for trouble breathing, sudden confusion, heavy bleeding, or a high fever with marked weakness. During treatment, report chills, new swelling, severe diarrhoea, or symptoms that interfere with drinking or eating.

Which subtype and extent of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma do I have? Is treatment aimed at the skin, the whole body, or both? What is the purpose of each option, and how will we know whether it is helping? Which symptoms should be reported the same day?