If you have been diagnosed with B-cell lymphoma, it means you have cancer that has formed from lymphocytes, also known as white blood cells. Lymphocytes make antibodies that help your body fight bacteria and viruses. These cells travel around the body in the lymph system, which includes the lymph nodes in the neck, armpit, and groin.
When you have B-cell lymphoma, your body makes abnormal B cells and struggles to fight infections. B-cell lymphomas are the most common type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Types of B-cell Lymphomas
There are a few different types of B-cell lymphoma, so it is important to understand which type you have by speaking to your doctor. The most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma is diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), but there are other types including:
- Follicular lymphoma (FL)
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic leukemia (CLL/SLL)
- Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL)
- Marginal zone lymphoma (MZL)
- Burkitt lymphoma
- Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma
- Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia)
Risk Factors for B-cell Lymphoma
There are factors that increase your risk for B-cell lymphoma. One of them is having a weakened immune system. Additional factors that put you at higher risk are:
- Being age 60 or older
- Being male
- Taking medicines that weaken the immune system
- Having been infected with HIV or Epstein-Barr virus
- Being in contact with a large amount of chemicals such as herbicides
- Have an inherited condition that affects the immune system.
Signs and Symptoms
If you notice that your lymph nodes feel enlarged, this is a common sign of B-cell lymphoma. Additional symptoms include:
- Night sweats
- Fever
- Unintended weight loss
- Fatigue
- Trouble breathing
- Pain or swelling of the stomach
- Loss of appetite
- Easy bruising
Treatment
Treatment is determined based on the type of lymphoma and the stage of the disease and can often change over time. Staging is determined by your oncologist so you can understand which treatment option is best for you. Treatment options include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, radiation therapy, surgery, palliative and supportive care, and clinical trials.
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