Lymphoma is an umbrella term used for over 60 related cancers which start in the cells of your immune system.<sup>1</sup> There are two general categories of lymphoma: Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). The majority of lymphoma cases that are diagnosed are a type of NHL. Distinguishing between NHL subtypes is important for appropriate treatment. Click on the flashcards below to find out more about NHL and its most common forms.
What is the most common form of blood cancer?
Blood cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer death worldwide. Lymphoma is one of the most prevalent forms.2
What is non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)?
NHL is a type of blood cancer that starts in the white blood cells, known as lymphocytes, which are a key component of the immune system.3
What are the most common NHL subtypes?
The two most common NHL subtypes are diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, an aggressive (fast-growing) form, and follicular lymphoma, an indolent (slow growing) form.4,5
Why is identifying the subtype of NHL important at diagnosis?
Subtypes can behave differently which means they may require different treatments.6
What is the average age at which follicular lymphoma is diagnosed?
The median age for diagnosis of follicular lymphoma is 60 years old.7
What percentage of follicular lymphoma patients are diagnosed in the advanced stages of disease?
Symptoms of follicular lymphoma often appear gradually and therefore go unnoticed by patients, resulting in 80% of patients being diagnosed with advanced disease.8
Why do some patients with follicular lymphoma not receive treatment immediately after diagnosis?
If the disease is early stage, patients may not receive any treatment until symptoms appear or change, but their disease will still be monitored. This is known as “watch and wait”.9
Is there a cure for follicular lymphoma?
Follicular lymphoma is generally considered incurable; however, with treatment to control their disease, patients can usually survive for many years after diagnosis.10
What is the main goal of treating someone with follicular lymphoma?
With every relapse in follicular lymphoma, the disease becomes harder to treat and therapy options become more limited. The aim of the treatment is to prolong the time before a person’s disease returns while preserving their quality of life.11
References
Swerdlow SH, et al. WHO classification of tumours of haematopoietic and lymphoid tissues. In: World Health Organization Classification of Tumours. Lyon, France: IARC; 2017.
GLOBOCAN 2018. World fact sheet. [Internet; cited November 2018] Available at:
https://gco.iarc.fr/today/data/factsheets/populations/900-world-fact-sheets.pdf Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. [Internet; cited November 2018] Available at:
https://www.lls.org/lymphoma/non-hodgkin-lymphoma Le Guyader-Peyrou S et al. Factors Related To The Relative Survival Of Patients With Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma In A Population-Based Study In France: Does Socio-Economic Status Have A Role? Haematologica 2017; 102: 584-592
Shankland KR, et al. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Lancet 2012; 380 (9844): 848-57
Cancer.Net. Lymphoma – Non-Hodgkin: Subtypes. [Internet, cited November 2018]. Available at:
http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/lymphoma-non-hodgkin/subtypes Luminari S et al. Rev. Bras. Hematol. Hemoter. 2012; 34(1): 54-59
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. [Internet; cited November 2018] Available at:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta243/documents/follicular-lymphoma-rituximab-review-lymphoma-association2 ESMO. Patient guide series: Follicular lymphoma. [Internet; cited November 2018]. Available at:
https://www.esmo.org/content/download/52236/963497/file/EN-Follicular-Lymphoma-Guide-for-Patients.pdf PDQ Cancer Information Summaries. Adult Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (PDQ®). [Internet; cited November 2018]. Available at:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0032836/ Johnson PW et al. Patterns of survival in patients with recurrent follicular lymphoma: a 20-year study from a single center. J Clin Oncol, 1995 13(1):140-7