About NHL

Signs and Symptoms of NHL

A swollen lymph node in the neck

Chart: A swollen lymph node in the neck

Throughout your disease, you may or may not have symptoms. If you do, they may appear suddenly. Or they may show up over time. Whatever the case, watching your health can help you talk to your doctor about your NHL and be more involved in your care.

Below are possible signs that your NHL has advanced. But only your doctor can tell if these symptoms are related to your NHL, so be sure to visit your doctor regularly.

Your doctor will closely monitor your condition. But you, too, can take an active role by watching for symptoms, some of which are listed below.

  • Swollen lymph nodes in your neck, armpit, or groin. This swelling can be painless
  • Discomfort or a feeling of fullness in your abdomen
  • Feeling very tired or weak
  • Feeling short of breath
  • Fever, night sweats, or weight loss

Keep in mind: You may have heard the term watch-and-wait. That means the doctor and patient will watch for symptoms and not start treatment unless needed.

 
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Indications

RITUXAN® (Rituximab) is indicated for the treatment of patients with:

  • Previously untreated follicular, CD20-positive, B-cell NHL in combination with first-line chemotherapy and, in patients achieving a complete or partial response to RITUXAN in combination with chemotherapy, as single-agent maintenance therapy
  • 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
  • Relapsed or refractory, low-grade or follicular, CD20-positive, B-cell NHL as a single agent

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.

CVP=cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone or prednisolone; CHOP=cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone.