B-cell lymphoma is cancer that starts in cells called lymphocytes. Lymphocytes are part of the immune system, which protects the body from infection. B-cell lymphoma can be slow or fast-growing and affect different parts of the body. It’s the second most common type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Most people with this disease have the form that starts in lymph nodes or other organs in the lymphatic system, which includes the blood, bone marrow, spleen, thymus and tonsils.
Most types of b cell lymphoma can be cured. Survival rates depend on the type of lymphoma, how much it has spread at the time of diagnosis and a person’s overall health. Some types of b cell lymphoma may recur after treatment, but the chance of this depends on how much the original cancer has changed and the effectiveness of treatments.
Doctors use a variety of tests to diagnose b cell lymphoma and determine how far it has spread. They might take a sample of a mass or lymph node to check the appearance, number and arrangement of cells under a microscope. They might also do a spinal tap (also known as a lumbar puncture) to see if the cancer has spread to the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord.
A blood test called a complete blood count (CBC) measures the levels of certain cells in your blood and can detect changes in the immune system that might indicate lymphoma. They might also order a computed tomography (CT) scan, which uses X-rays and a computer to create images of your body’s soft tissues and bones.
Other tests might be needed if your symptoms suggest a particular subtype of b-cell lymphoma, such as primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma or Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM). They might also ask if you want to take part in a clinical trial of new treatments for lymphoma.
As researchers learn more about how lymphoma cells grow, they’re developing drugs that target specific changes in these cells. These are called targeted therapy. They work differently than standard chemotherapy drugs and are often more effective against the cancer. They might also cause fewer side effects than chemotherapy does.
