Important Safety Information
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Overview
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, or NHL, is a type of cancer that starts in the body’s lymphatic system. This is the network of tissues and organs that store and carry immune cells such as lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell). These cells help defend your body from disease.
NHL can occur in white blood cells called B-cells or T-cells. But most NHL occurs in B-cells. In fact, 85% of all lymphomas are B-cell lymphomas, and only about 10% to 15% of the lymphomas are T-cell lymphomas.
How common is non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
NHL is now the 6th most common cancer in the United States. And the number of people with NHL continues to rise. NHL occurs in about 66,000 new patients each year and it is estimated there are between 400,000 and 500,000 patients in the United States living with NHL. But there is good news. There have been advances in treatment in the last decade. And patients with NHL have more treatment options than ever before.
This information does not take the place of talking with your doctor. Discuss with your doctor any questions you have about your medical condition or your treatment.
Indications and Important Safety Information
RITUXAN® (Rituximab) is indicated for the treatment of patients with:
- Relapsed or refractory, low-grade or follicular, CD20-positive, B-cell NHL as a single agent
- Previously untreated follicular, CD20-positive, B-cell NHL in combination with CVP chemotherapy
- Non-progressing (including stable disease), low-grade, CD20-positive, B-cell NHL, as a single agent, after first-line CVP chemotherapy
- Previously untreated diffuse large B-cell, CD20-positive NHL in combination with CHOP or other anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimens
People with serious infections should not receive RITUXAN.
Important Safety Information:
- RITUXAN can cause serious side effects that can lead to death, including: infusion reactions, tumor lysis syndrome (TLS; kidney failure due to fast breakdown of cancer cells), severe skin and mouth reactions, and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML; a rare, serious brain infection).
- RITUXAN has also been associated with serious and life-threatening side effects, including: the return of active hepatitis B virus infection with sudden and serious liver problems including liver failure, and death, other serious infections that can lead to death, heart problems, kidney problems, and stomach and serious bowel problems including blockage and tears in the bowel that can sometimes lead to death.
- The most common side effects of RITUXAN seen in patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma were infusion reactions, fever, chills, low white blood cells, infections, body aches, and tiredness. Before starting treatment with RITUXAN it is important to talk to your doctor about your medical history.
- Tell your doctor about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all of the possible side effects with RITUXAN. For more information, ask your doctor
Please see full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide.
