B cell lymphoma, also known as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, is a general term for all non-Hodgkin's lymphomas that affect the B lymphocytes produced by the lymph tissue in the body. There are more than a dozen specific types of B cell lymphoma, and the treatment options depend on the factors associated with the afflicted person's form and stage of the disease.
B Cell Lymphoma
A lymphoma is a type of cancer that develops in the lymphatic system of the body. The most commonly affected cells, lymphocytes (within the lymphatic system) are two types of white blood cells, the B lymphocytes and the T lymphocytes. B cell lymphoma occurs when the B cells produced by lymphoid tissue are defective, become cancerous and rapidly proliferate and spread throughout the body. B cell lymphomas can be either aggressive or slow-growing, and this difference between often helps determine which treatment options are best for which peoplel.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy can be used to effectively treat both slow- or fast-moving B cell lymphomas. Chemotherapy uses specialized drugs that target and kill rapidly dividing or abnormal cells. B cell lymphomas that are extremely aggressive can often be slowed down and controlled by strong chemotherapy drug treatment. Chemotherapy is often used along with radiation therapy.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is best used to treat B cell lymphomas that are not aggressively fast-moving and that are within Stage I or Stage II of the disease. In Stage I, the cancerous B cells are located within one lymph node and nowhere else in the body. In Stage II, the cancer has spread to two lymph nodes, both on the same side of the body. In both cases, radiation therapy can effectively target and treat the cancer.
Stem Cell Transplantation
In this therapy, some of the patient's blood is removed and run through a specialized machine that separates the undifferentiated stem cells from the rest of the cells and fluid. The cells are treated to make certain any remaining cancerous cells are destroyed and the remaining stem cells are infused back into the patient. This therapy increases the likelihood that yout will have healthy, correctly functioning cells differentiating within the lymphatic system. Stem cell transplantation therapy is generally only used in people with extremely aggressive lymphomas.
Radioimmunotherapy
Radioimmunotherapy uses antibodies that target and selectively bind to cancerous B lymphocytes. These antibodies are linked to a radioactive substance. When the B cells come into contact with the antibody and its radioactive molecule, the B cell is destroyed, with little damage done to other cells and tissues in the body. Two radioimmunotherapy drugs, Zevalin and Bexxar, have been used with great success in treating B cell lymphoma.
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