At Dana-Farber’s Follicular Lymphoma Center, our team of specialists is committed to delivering advanced, personalized care to patients with follicular lymphoma. We are equally committed to advancing research efforts to better understand and treat this condition through clinical trials and laboratory research.
Our team at the Follicular Lymphoma Center has extensive experience and expertise, combining lab and clinical research to better understand this specific lymphoma type and optimize care for patients.
We focus on delivering compassionate, patient-centered care that addresses the specific challenges faced by those with follicular lymphoma. Services include:
Follicular lymphoma is a slow-growing blood cancer where abnormal B-cells form clusters, known as follicles, within structures in lymph nodes. It may affect the lymph nodes, bone marrow, and other organs.
Most patients live with follicular lymphoma for many years with modern treatments and proper follow-up.
Follicular lymphoma typically occurs in middle-aged and older individuals. The average age at diagnosis is 65 years.
Patients with follicular lymphoma often do not experience symptoms initially. When symptoms do occur, patients can have discomfort at the sites of enlarged lymph nodes, fatigue, night sweats, or unintentional weight loss.
Tests used to diagnose and evaluate follicular lymphoma can include:
Lymphoma staging describes how much the cancer has spread in your body and helps guide treatment decisions. It uses a scale from I to IV, with higher numbers indicating more widespread disease.
In rare cases (1-2% per year), follicular lymphoma can change into an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma such as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
Follicular lymphoma treatment depends on a variety of factors, including disease stage and the symptoms a person experiences. Treatment options include active surveillance, radiation, chemotherapy, and clinical trials of novel approaches such as immunotherapies.
Newly diagnosed follicular lymphoma patients – including those with advanced disease – may not need immediate treatment if they do not have symptoms, blood count abnormalities, or enlarged lymph nodes. For patients without any symptoms, their follicular lymphoma can be managed through active surveillance until symptoms develop.
Patients who follow an active surveillance treatment plan can expect to meet with their doctor every three to six months to monitor for disease progression or development of symptoms. Clinical trial treatments may be offered to prevent progression to more aggressive disease.
Patients with localized or stage I disease often receive radiation treatment. Some patients with stage I or II follicular lymphoma may not need treatment right away if they are not experiencing symptoms. These patients can be monitored with active surveillance, including regular check-ins and scans to monitor for disease progression.
Treatment for advanced stage follicular lymphoma involving multiple areas of the body may include:
Treatment for relapsed or refractory advanced stage follicular lymphoma includes:
