Guides for Patients are designed to assist patients, their relatives and caregivers to better understand the nature of different types of cancer and evaluate the best available treatment choices.
What is follicular lymphoma?
Follicular lymphoma is a cancer that develops in the white blood cells, lymphatic system and bone marrow. Follicular lymphoma is a well defined subtype of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) with cells of the lymphoid tissues in the lymphatic system multiplying uncontrollably, eventually causing tumours to grow. Because lymphoid tissue is found throughout the body, follicular lymphoma can begin in almost any part of the body. Follicular lymphoma is usually slow-growing.
Beyond a definition of follicular lymphoma, in this guide for patients you will find answers to questions such as:
- Is follicular lymphoma frequent?
- What causes follicular lymphoma?
- How is follicular lymphoma diagnosed?
- What is important to know to get the optimal treatment?
- What are the treatment options?
- What are the possible side effects of the treatments?
- What happens after the treatment?
This guide for patients has been prepared in collaboration with Anticancer Fund and the European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS) as a service to patients, to help patients and their relatives better understand the nature of follicular lymphoma and appreciate the best treatment choices available according to the subtype of follicular lymphoma. ESMO recommends that patients ask their doctors about what tests or types of treatments are needed for their type and stage of disease.
Patient Guides for Follicular Lymphoma were published in 2014.
To enquire about permission to translate or support the distribution (in English or in a translated version) of the Patient Guides series, please send an e-mail to patient_guides@esmo.org