The most common sign of lymphoma is a lump in the neck; most cases are early-stage and are found in the jaw, mouth (lip), or throat.
Collectively, these results indicate that chemotherapy and curative radiation therapy remain the most frequently used treatments for DLBCL. Rituximab may also be of some benefit, particularly in the short-term.
Lymphoma can be cured for some patients; the most likely cures come from the remissions that occur after initial chemotherapy. However, curing lymphoma does not mean that it can be eliminated. The key to avoiding treatment failures is the early identification of lymphoma patients who are most likely to benefit from treatment.
While no one factor is responsible, there is a strong hereditary component. Multiple myeloma occurs almost exclusively in people who also have a B-cell lymphoma; while no one group of lymphomas has any particular genetic defect, the presence of multiple types of lymphoma within a single patient suggests that multiple genetic abnormalities in cell proliferation may be implicated in the development of lymphoma.
The symptoms of lymphoma in many cases are vague and non-specific. Lymphoma in primary care tends to be classified as a non-lymphoid cancer, and this is at the time of diagnosis and it does not give anything in regard to the lymphoid origin of the malignancy. The management of lymphoma should be similar to that of other cancers insofar as possible.
The most recent advances seem to be focused on immunotherapy; in the past 15 years numerous advances in the treatment options have been reported, but no new drugs have been approved. Only small steps have been taken to make the chemotherapy more effective and less toxic. In 2004, researchers identified the first viable human tumor in the body that grew in the lymphatic system and that could remain tumor free after only one injection of chemotherapy. The same researchers are now studying the possibilities of combining tumor-fighting drugs with agents that specifically target the lymphatic system. This new knowledge may lead to personalized treatment for certain cancer types. There also is a need to develop new approaches to chemotherapy, particularly the possibility of chemotherapy-based tumor vaccines.
As a majority of lymphomas do not respond to treatment, most patients will not benefit from current treatment options. Clinical trials are an important tool that can make the diagnosis and treatment choices for lymphoma patients, and may improve outcomes for patients with lymphoma.
Rituximab did not change HRQOL of patients with NHL. The side effects were similar to those reported in previous studies. Future studies should explore the impact of more targeted agents and/or new therapeutic strategies on HRQOL.
The risk for developing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma varied widely. The cumulative risks of developing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma were higher with age than with gender and other demographic factors.
Common rituximab side effects include:\n- fatigue\n- nausea\n- diarrhea\n- fatigue\n- hair loss\n- loss of appetite\n- abdominal pain\n- swelling of the ankles\n- rash\n- rash\n- headache\n- pain in back\n- cough\n\nThere have been some studies done and some side effects reported when it comes to the use of rituximab.
A single dose of rituximab was effective even in this cohort of patients who experienced the side effects described in the previous studies, and the results suggested that the adverse effects are related to the disease, rather than the agent. The improvement in response to induction therapy was not caused by its effects on disease.