Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is cancer of the lymph tissue. Lymph tissue is found in the lymph nodes, spleen, and other organs of the immune system.
White blood cells, called lymphocytes, are found in lymph tissue. They help prevent infections. Most lymphomas start in a type of white blood cell called the B lymphocyte, or B cell.
Lymphoma - non-Hodgkin; Lymphocytic lymphoma; Histiocytic lymphoma; Lymphoblastic lymphoma; Cancer - non-Hodgkin lymphoma; NHL
Common conditions include: Primary Mediastinal B-Cell Lymphoma (PMBCL)
For most people, the cause of NHL is unknown. But lymphomas may develop in people with weakened immune systems, including people who have had an organ transplant or people with HIV infection.
NHL most often affects adults. Men develop NHL more often than women. Children can also develop some forms of NHL.
There are many types of NHL. One classification (grouping) is by how fast the cancer spreads. The cancer may be low grade (slow growing), intermediate grade, or high grade (fast growing).
NHL is further grouped by how the cells look under the microscope, what type of white blood cell it originates from, and whether there are certain DNA changes in the tumor cells themselves.
Symptoms depend on what area of the body is affected by the cancer and how fast the cancer is growing.
Symptoms may include:
Treatment depends on:
You may receive chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or both. Or you may not need immediate treatment. Your provider can tell you more about your specific treatment.
Radioimmunotherapy may be used in some cases. This involves linking a radioactive substance to an antibody that targets the cancerous cells and injecting the substance into the body.
A type of chemotherapy called targeted therapy may be tried. It uses a drug to focus on specific targets (molecules) in or on cancer cells. Using these targets, the drug disables the cancer cells so they cannot spread.
High-dose chemotherapy may be given when NHL recurs or fails to respond to the first treatment administered. This is followed by an autologous stem cell transplant (using your own stem cells) to rescue the bone marrow after the high-dose chemotherapy. With certain types of NHL, these treatment steps are used at first remission to try and achieve a cure.
Blood transfusions or platelet transfusions may be required if blood counts are low.
You and your provider may need to manage other concerns during your leukemia treatment, including:
Sonali Smith is a Hematologist Oncology specialist and a Hematologist in Chicago, Illinois. Smith has been practicing medicine for over 29 years and is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. She is also highly rated in 34 other conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, Follicular Lymphoma, Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL), Bone Marrow Transplant, and Bone Marrow Aspiration. She is licensed to treat patients in Illinois. Smith is currently accepting new patients.
Sattva Neelapu is an Oncologist and a Hematologist Oncology expert in Houston, Texas. Neelapu has been practicing medicine for over 32 years and is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. He is also highly rated in 30 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Follicular Lymphoma, B-Cell Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, Bone Marrow Transplant, and Tissue Biopsy. He is licensed to treat patients in Texas. Neelapu is currently accepting new patients.
Matthew Matasar is a Hematologist Oncology expert in New York, New York. Matasar has been practicing medicine for over 23 years and is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. He is also highly rated in 33 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL), B-Cell Lymphoma, Follicular Lymphoma, and Bone Marrow Transplant. He is licensed to treat patients in New York. Matasar is currently accepting new patients.
You can ease the stress of illness by joining a cancer support group. Sharing with others who have common experiences and problems can help you not feel alone.
Low-grade NHL often cannot be cured by chemotherapy alone. Low-grade NHL progresses slowly and may take many years before the disease gets worse or even requires treatment. The need for treatment is usually determined by the type of lymphoma, symptoms, and how fast the disease is progressing.
Chemotherapy may cure many types of high-grade lymphomas. If the cancer does not respond to chemotherapy, the disease can cause rapid death.
NHL itself and its treatments can lead to health problems. These include:
Keep following up with a provider who knows about monitoring and preventing these complications.
Call your provider if you develop symptoms of this disorder.
If you have NHL, call your provider if you experience persistent fever or other signs of infection.
Summary: This is a global Phase 2, open-label, single-arm, multicohort, multicenter study to evaluate efficacy and safety of JCAR017 in adult subjects with r/r FL or MZL. The study will be conducted in compliance with the International Council on Harmonisation (ICH) of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use/Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and applicable regulatory requirement...
Summary: The purpose of this study is to find out whether the study drug, LOXO-338, is safe and effective in patients with advanced blood cancer. Patients must have already received standard therapy. The study may last up to approximately 3 years.
Published Date: January 25, 2022
Published By: Todd Gersten, MD, Hematology/Oncology, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, Wellington, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Abramson JS. Non-Hodgkin lymphomas. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Doroshow JH, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 103.
National Cancer Institute website. Adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment (PDQ) - health professional version. www.cancer.gov/types/lymphoma/hp/adult-nhl-treatment-pdq. Updated January 18, 2022. Accessed June 8, 2022.
National Cancer Institute website. Childhood non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment (PDQ) - health professional version. www.cancer.gov/types/lymphoma/hp/child-nhl-treatment-pdq. Updated April 1, 2022. Accessed June 8, 2022.