The 20 Best Follicular Lymphoma Doctors Near Me in Waterford, CT

Follicular lymphoma is a type of slow-growing non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), which is a cancer that affects the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is part of the immune system and consists of lymph vessels, lymph fluid, lymph nodes, bone marrow, the spleen, and lymphocytes. The two main types of lymphocytes are B-lymphocytes (B-cells), which produce antibodies to fight off infection, and T-lymphocytes (T-cells), which can destroy invading microorganisms or cancer cells. Follicular lymphoma is a cancer of the B-cells, in which the B-cells tend to form follicles (clusters) in the lymph nodes. As the cancerous B-cells spread, they cause lymph nodes to swell. Follicular lymphoma is categorized in stages I-V, depending on its severity and how many lymph nodes and other areas are affected. There are 3 types of follicular lymphoma: 1) transformed follicular lymphoma, in which the slow-growing cancer transforms into an aggressive diffuse B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL); 2) primary gastrointestinal follicular lymphoma, in which the cancer affects the small intestines; and 3) pediatric follicular lymphoma, in which the cancer is different in children than adults, remains in the area it first developed, and tends to be more benign.