RITUXAN (Rituximab) Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Signs, Symptoms, & DiagnosisSigns, Symptoms, and Diagnosis

 

Symptoms of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Symptoms of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) may appear suddenly or may develop gradually over a long period of time. Lymph nodes and lymphatic tissue are found throughout the body, so lymphoma can occur in many different places and symptoms can vary.

People with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma may experience:

  • Painless swelling of glands, usually in the neck, armpit, or groin
  • Fever
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Night sweats
  • Tiredness and weakness

Diagnosing Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Because all these symptoms can result from many different illnesses, many tests must be performed to either confirm or rule out the diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. These may include:

  • Biopsy of a lymph node and bone marrow (ie, removing some cells and examining them under a microscope)
  • Physical examination
  • Blood tests
  • Imaging tests (eg, a chest x-ray, CT scan, or MRI scan)

Know Your Specific Diagnosis

The best treatment plan may be different for each person with lymphoma. The treatment your healthcare team recommends will take several factors into consideration:

  • The exact type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma you have
  • The stage of the disease (how far it has spread)
  • How quickly the lymphoma is progressing (or the grade)
  • The location of the lymphoma (in the lymph nodes or outside the lymph nodes)
  • Your age
  • Your general health
  • The results of your blood tests

 

Staging and Grading

INDICATIONS

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

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

RITUXAN can cause serious side effects, some of which can be life-threatening, including: Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML), infusion reactions, Tumor Lysis Syndrome (TLS), and severe skin reactions. Other serious and life-threatening side effects with RITUXAN include: hepatitis B virus reactivation, heart problems, infections, and stomach and bowel problems. Common side effects during RITUXAN infusions include: fever, headache, chills and shakes, nausea, itching, hives, cough, sneezing, and throat irritation or tightness.

Tell your doctor about any side effects that bother you or that do not go away. These are not all of the possible side effects with RITUXAN. Ask your doctor for more information.

Please read the Medication Guide in HTML or PDF versions and the full prescribing information for more information.