Explore
What are the signs and symptoms of follicular lymphoma? General symptoms may include: Painless swelling in your neck, armpit or groin caused by enlarged lymph nodes. Fever that infection or other illness is causing. Weight loss with no known cause, particularly losing 10% or more of your weight within the past six months. Sweating and chills. Drenching night sweats …
What are the signs and symptoms of follicular lymphoma?
If you do have symptoms, you may have: Painless swelling of the lymph nodes in your neck, groin, stomach, or armpits Shortness of breath Fatigue Night sweats Weight loss
Can follicular lymphoma come back after treatment?
Oct 14, 2021 · Other symptoms follicular lymphoma might cause are: Fever Unexplained weight loss Night sweats Shortness of breath or chest pain Weakness or fatigue Pain or swelling in the abdomen It’s important...
How is follicular lymphoma diagnosed and treated?
Follicular Lymphoma: Treatment Options. There are various treatment options for FL based on the severity of associated symptoms and the rate of cancer growth. If patients show no or very few symptoms, physicians may recommend not to treat the disease right away, an approach referred to as active surveillance (“watch and wait”).
What are the benefits of follicular lymphoma?
Dec 01, 2017 · enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, underarms, belly, or groin fatigue shortness of breath fevers or night sweats weight loss infections Some people with follicular lymphoma don’t have any symptoms...
How long can you live with untreated follicular lymphoma?
The five-year survival rate for follicular lymphoma is between 80 and 90 percent, which means at least 80 to 90 percent of patients diagnosed with follicular lymphoma can live for at least five years after the diagnosis. Half of the patients diagnosed with this type of cancer can live for approximately 10 to 12 years.Aug 13, 2021
Does follicular lymphoma always need treatment?
NHL is the most common type of lymphoma. Follicular lymphoma is one form of NHL. In contrast to some of the other forms of NHL, follicular lymphoma usually grows slowly and thus may not require treatment for many years.May 25, 2021
Can you live with lymphoma without treatment?
Some lymphomas grow faster and require specific treatment. Classifying them is complex because many kinds of lymphocyte cells can be involved. These grow so slowly that patients can live for many years mostly without symptoms, although some may experience pain from an enlarged lymph gland.
Can follicular lymphoma go into remission without treatment?
Eight were confirmed to have follicular lymphoma of whom six did not receive treatment at presentation. Four of these patients remain in remission after 14 to 30 years of follow-up and the other two have relapsed after 10 and 13 years of follow-up, respectively.
Can follicular lymphoma disappear?
Although follicular lymphoma usually can't be cured, you can live long and well with it. This cancer grows slowly. You may not need treatment for many years, or ever.Nov 19, 2020
What type of lymphoma is not curable?
Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma or Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia. This is a rare, slow-growing type of lymphoma. It's found mainly in the bone marrow, lymph nodes, and spleen. People with this type usually live many years with the disease, but it's usually not curable.
How do I know if my lymphoma is getting worse?
You might notice new, or bigger, lumps. You might get more general symptoms, such as fevers, night sweats, weight loss or itching. The signs of relapse also depend on what type of lymphoma you had.
What happens if you don't treat lymphoma?
If left untreated, the disease will lead to death. If you decline life-saving treatment, you can choose to get support from palliative care (a medical team that manages your symptoms and pain).Mar 27, 2019
How long can you survive lymphoma without treatment?
] evaluated 52 and 80 biopsy-proven cases, respectively, of untreated Hodgkin lymphoma from 1910–1962. The median overall survival from Craft's series was 16.6 months, with a 3 year survival of 15.4%, and greater than 5 year survival of less than 6%.
How do you know when lymphoma is in remission?
Your doctor will tell you that you're in remission when scans show you have a lot less cancer or no signs of cancer in your body. There are two forms: Partial remission. Your B-cell lymphoma has gotten smaller, but it's still there.Dec 14, 2020
How do I know if my follicular lymphoma is back?
Typical signs of a relapse include symptoms similar to when you were diagnosed such as new rapidly growing nodes or B symptoms such as night sweats, fevers and weight loss. Relapse is most likely to happen within the first 2 years after treatment.
How often does follicular lymphoma come back?
Approximately 20% of patients with follicular lymphoma will relapse within 2 years of diagnosis. Although the optimal management of these patients has not been established, clinicians may be guided by data from recent clinical trials, according to Nathan H.Sep 10, 2016
How to diagnose follicular lymphoma?
The first step in diagnosing follicular lymphoma is for a doctor to take a full medical history and perform a physical exam. Special attention will be paid to the lymph nodes and other parts of the body that may be affected by lymphoma, such as the liver and spleen.
How long does follicular lymphoma last?
Doctors and patients may choose a watch-and-wait approach, in which treatment is delayed until the disease causes problems. Follicular lymphoma has a five-year survival rate of 80 to 90 percent.
What is a follicular lymphoma?
Medically Reviewed. Follicular lymphoma is a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system, a network of vessels that transport white blood cells throughout the body. There are many types of lymphomas, but the two main categories are Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Follicular lymphoma is a form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Which cells are responsible for producing antibodies?
Follicular lymphoma arises in the B cells, which are responsible for producing antibodies, a type of protein that helps the immune system target and fight bacteria and viruses.
Is follicular lymphoma a non-Hodgkin lymphoma?
Follicular lymphoma is a form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Follicular lymphoma is a type of cancer that scientists refer to as indolent, meaning it’s usually slow-growing. Follicular lymphoma is the most common type of indolent lymphoma in the United States. Non-Hodgkin lymphomas begin when a type of white blood cell — either a T cell ...
What is the stage of lymphoma?
Stage 1 There is lymphoma in only one group of lymph nodes. Stage 2 The lymphoma is in two or more groups of lymph nodes in the body, close to each other. Stage 3 The lymphoma occurs in two or more groups of lymph nodes in the body that are far away from each other. Stage 4 This is the most advanced stage of lymphoma.
Does benzene cause lymphoma?
Chemical Exposure Some research suggests that exposure to certain chemicals, including benzene and certain herbicides and insecticides (used to kill weeds and insects), may be linked to a higher likelihood of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma. More research is needed to determine if there is actually a link.
What is follicular lymphoma?
Overview. Follicular lymphoma is a type of cancer that starts in the white blood cells of your body. There are two main forms of lymphoma: Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin. Follicular lymphoma is a non-Hodgkin lymphoma. This type of lymphoma typically grows slowly, which doctors call “indolent.”.
What are the three types of follicular lymphoma?
This system helps categorize follicular lymphoma into three categories: low risk. intermediate risk. high risk. Your risk is calculated based on your “prognostic factors,” which includes things like age, the stage of your cancer, and how many lymph nodes are affected.
How common is non-Hodgkin lymphoma?
Incidence. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is one of the most common cancers in the United States. More than 72,000 people are diagnosed with a form of it each year. About one in every five lymphomas in the United States is a follicular lymphoma. Follicular lymphoma rarely affects young people.
What is the best way to test for lymphoma?
Blood test. You may need a test to check your blood cell counts. Imaging scan. Your doctor may suggest you have an imaging scan to see the lymphoma in your body and to plan your treatment.
What is Rituximab used for?
Rituximab (Rituxan) is a monoclonal antibody that’s commonly used to treat follicular lymphoma. It’s typically given as an IV infusion at your doctor’s office and is often used in combination with chemotherapy. Common combinations include:
What to do if you are diagnosed early?
Watchful waiting. If you’re diagnosed early and have only a few symptoms, your doctor might suggest that you watch and wait. This means your healthcare provider will keep a watchful eye on your condition, but you won’t receive any treatment yet.
Can radiation kill cancer?
Radiation uses high-energy beams to destroy cancer cell s. It’s often given to people with early-stage follicular lymphoma. In some cases, radiation alone may be able to cure this type of cancer. You may need radiation along with other therapies if your cancer is more advanced.
What is the most common type of lymphoma?
Follicular lymphoma is the most common type of of low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). It develops when white blood cells cluster together to form lumps in your lymph glands or organs. There are two main types of lymphoma: Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Is non-Hodgkin lymphoma a high grade or low grade?
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma can be fast growing (high grade) or slow growing (low grade). Around 4000 people develop low-grade NHL in the UK each year. It’s more common in older people, and rare in children. Read more about follicular lymphoma.
What are the symptoms of follicular lymphoma?
The most common symptom is swollen glands (lumps) in your neck, armpit or groin. There's a range of tests to diagnose follicular lymphoma and check how it's developing. Depending on your symptoms and stage of your condition, you may not need treatment.
Can follicular lymphoma be treated?
If you do need treatment, you may have chemotherapy along with immunotherapy. Follicular lymphoma not usually curable, but it can be treated so you can enjoy a good quality of life. The aim of treatment is to get you into remission (where the amount of lymphoma is significantly reduced).
Who It's For
"The watch and wait approach is the standard of care for people whose disease is not widespread and who have no symptoms," says Beatrice Abetti, director of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Information Resource Center.
How It Works
"Watch and wait doesn't mean being passive," Tsai says. If you choose to delay treatment, your doctor will keep a close eye on you and look for changes. You'll have checkups every 3-6 months, or even more often.
Pros
The major benefit of watch and wait is that you don't have to deal with treatment side effects, Tsai says. When you skip chemotherapy, you won't get symptoms like sickness, infection, and hair loss.
How Long You Can Expect to Watch and Wait
"About half of all patients can put off treatment for at least 3 years," Abetti says. "Some patients can be in watch-and-wait mode for 10 years or more." It's possible you'll never need treatment.
How to Decide if It's Right for You to Delay Treatment
If your NHL is slow-growing and you feel good, you can wait, Tsai says. But if you have symptoms -- like pain, fever, weight loss, or appetite loss -- it's better to act than delay.
What is Follicular Lymphoma?
Follicular lymphoma is the most common type of indolent non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system which includes the lymph nodes, the spleen, thymus gland, and bone marrow. Lymphoma can affect these organs initially as well as other parts of the body.
Follicular Lymphoma Symptoms
Follicular lymphoma is indolent, so it progresses slowly, and some patients do not experience any symptoms at the time of diagnosis. However, symptoms often develop over time in these cases. For those who do experience symptoms, they are similar to other types of lymphoma, which include:
What Causes Follicular Lymphoma?
Lymphoma occurs when white blood cells that fight infection (lymphocytes) grow out of control from genetic changes. A history of immune system problems can also be a risk factor for lymphoma. For Hodgkin's Lymphoma, most cases are diagnosed in early adulthood, while non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients are typically older than 60.
Follicular Lymphoma Risk Factors
Unlike other types of cancers, lymphoma is not a hereditary disease and family history does not increase your risk of developing follicular lymphoma. In certain cases, there are a few known risk factors including: