About Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is a cancer that's in the lymph system. It affects lymphocytes, which are a type of white blood cell. Lymphocytes are part of your immune system, and they help you fight infection.

NHL is the fifth most common cancer in American men and women. It ranks among the top 10 most common cancers in the United States. Nearly 300,000 people in the United States are living with NHL. The disease may be diagnosed in more than 60,000 Americans this year.

Learn more about non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Categories of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

There are more than 30 types of NHL. They are divided into 2 main categories. This corresponds to how fast the tumors are growing.

• Low-grade, or slow-growing, tumors are called indolent NHL
• Intermediate and high-grade, or fast-growing, tumors are called aggressive NHL or highly aggressive NHL

Learn more about the different types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Treatment

The main goal of any cancer treatment is to destroy cancer cells, and the same is true for NHL treatment. The main types of treatment for NHL are:

• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy (the use of x-ray beams)
• Immunotherapy (biologic therapy), such as RITUXAN^® (Rituximab)

Learn more about how indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is treated.

Learn more about how aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma NHL is treated.

 

NHL Defined

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 for more information.