Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
Your Guide to
Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
Whether your disease is found early or later, the treatment is usually the same. You'll get a drug called rituximab (Rituxan) and chemotherapy. The goal is to destroy the cancer cells and leave healthy cells alone.
The most common treatment is called R-CHOP. The "R" stands for rituximab. "CHOP" stands for these four chemotherapy drugs:
You get this treatment by IV and as a pill. You may also need radiation. This treatment uses X-rays to destroy your cancer cells. It's done over several weeks.
Some people get a fifth chemotherapy drug, called etoposide (Vepesid). Doctors call this combination R-EPOCH.
For many people, DLBCL does not return after treatment. The chance of it coming back is linked to your age, general health, the stage of your illness, and where it is on your body.
If it does return, your doctor may suggest a treatment that combines high-dose chemotherapy with a stem cell transplant.
Stem cells are in the news a lot, but usually when you hear about them they're referring to "embryo" stem cells that are used in cloning. The stem cells in a stem cell transplant are different. These are cells that live in your bone marrow and help make new blood cells.
For DLBCL, you will get a type of procedure called "autologous stem cell transplant." That means the stem cells that are transplanted are taken from your own body, rather than from a donor.
First, your doctor will give you a drug called a "growth factor" that causes your stem cells to move from your bone marrow to your bloodstream. Your doctor collects the stem cells from your blood. Sometimes the stem cells are frozen so they can be used later.
After the collection of your stem cells from your blood, you will get treated with high doses of chemotherapy or radiation that could last for several days. This can be a tough process because you may get side effects such as mouth and throat sores or nausea and vomiting. You can take medication that eases some of these side effects.
Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
Treatment continued...
Your Guide to
Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
- What is Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
- Causes
- Symptoms
- Getting a Diagnosis
- Questions for Your Doctor
- Treatment
- Taking Care of Yourself
- What to Expect
- Getting Support
Whether your disease is found early or later, the treatment is usually the same. You'll get a drug called rituximab (Rituxan) and chemotherapy. The goal is to destroy the cancer cells and leave healthy cells alone.
The most common treatment is called R-CHOP. The "R" stands for rituximab. "CHOP" stands for these four chemotherapy drugs:
- cyclophosphamide
- hydroxydaunomycin (Doxorubicin)
- oncovin (Vincristine)
- prednisone
You get this treatment by IV and as a pill. You may also need radiation. This treatment uses X-rays to destroy your cancer cells. It's done over several weeks.
Some people get a fifth chemotherapy drug, called etoposide (Vepesid). Doctors call this combination R-EPOCH.
For many people, DLBCL does not return after treatment. The chance of it coming back is linked to your age, general health, the stage of your illness, and where it is on your body.
If it does return, your doctor may suggest a treatment that combines high-dose chemotherapy with a stem cell transplant.
Stem cells are in the news a lot, but usually when you hear about them they're referring to "embryo" stem cells that are used in cloning. The stem cells in a stem cell transplant are different. These are cells that live in your bone marrow and help make new blood cells.
For DLBCL, you will get a type of procedure called "autologous stem cell transplant." That means the stem cells that are transplanted are taken from your own body, rather than from a donor.
First, your doctor will give you a drug called a "growth factor" that causes your stem cells to move from your bone marrow to your bloodstream. Your doctor collects the stem cells from your blood. Sometimes the stem cells are frozen so they can be used later.
After the collection of your stem cells from your blood, you will get treated with high doses of chemotherapy or radiation that could last for several days. This can be a tough process because you may get side effects such as mouth and throat sores or nausea and vomiting. You can take medication that eases some of these side effects.
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