Powered By
Continue with Facebook
Continue with your email
If you’ve been diagnosed with B-cell lymphoma, you may be wondering what happens next, what treatment might involve, and what the future could look like. It’s normal to want clear answers. Many people first ask about survival rates and prognosis (outlook), which describe how a cancer may grow and how likely treatment is to help.
Researchers continue to make breakthroughs and develop better lymphoma treatments. Immunotherapy drugs, including rituximab (Rituxan) and its biosimilars, have helped improve prognosis for many people with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and other blood cancers. Although doctors are still learning how newer treatments affect long-term survival, early results are encouraging.
B-cell lymphomas are a group of non-Hodgkin lymphomas that start in B lymphocytes, also called B cells. These white blood cells are part of the immune system and protect the body from germs. When B cells grow out of control, they become a type of blood cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, about 85 percent of people with NHL have B-cell lymphoma. NHL can also develop in other types of lymphocytes, such as T cells, but T-cell lymphomas are less common.
There are many types of B-cell lymphoma. Each can grow at a different pace and lead to a different prognosis.
Lymphoma prognosis is often described using a five-year relative survival rate. This measure comes from large cancer databases and clinical trials. A survival rate estimates how many people with a particular type of lymphoma are likely to live at least five years after diagnosis, compared with the general population.
It’s important to understand that survival rates are based on data from people who were diagnosed at least five years ago. Over the past few decades, NHL-related deaths have steadily decreased as doctors learn more about the disease and cancer research leads to new treatments. As a result, people diagnosed with NHL today may have better outcomes than these statistics suggest.
Among all cases of NHL, the overall five-year relative survival rate is 74 percent, according to the American Cancer Society. This means that people with NHL are 74 percent as likely as those without NHL to live at least five years after diagnosis. However, survival rates vary widely depending on lymphoma type and stage (how far the cancer has spread). Survival rates for some types of lymphoma are outlined below.
The American Cancer Society estimates that 1 out of 3 people with NHL have diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Although DLBCL grows quickly, treatments are usually effective, and many people can be cured. According to the National Cancer Institute, among all people with DLBCL, about 64.8 percent live five years or more after diagnosis.
Survival rates differ by stage:
Read more about DLBCL prognosis.
Follicular lymphoma (FL) affects about 1 out of 5 people with NHL. FL usually grows slowly, and many people live a long time with follicular lymphoma. Across all stages, the five-year relative survival rate is 89 percent.
Survival rates by stage are as follows:
Get more details about the survival rate of follicular lymphoma.
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) are closely related cancers and are sometimes considered different forms of the same disease. Both CLL and SLL affect lymphocytes but appear in different parts of the body. CLL usually affects the blood and bone marrow (the soft tissue inside certain bones), whereas SLL mainly involves the lymph nodes and spleen, key parts of the lymphatic system that help the immune system function.
Most CLL/SLL cases are indolent, meaning they grow slowly. Many people are diagnosed by chance and may live for many years or even decades, though the disease is usually not curable. CLL/SLL has a five-year relative survival rate of 88.8 percent, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Prognosis depends on disease stage, which can be determined using systems such as Rai or Binet staging. These systems consider factors such as blood counts and the involvement of lymph nodes and other organs, like the liver and spleen.
About 8 percent of people with NHL have marginal zone lymphoma (MZL), which is often indolent. Doctors classify MZL into three subtypes based on where the lymphoma starts.
Five-year relative survival rates include:
Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) affects about 5 percent of people with NHL. MCL can grow quickly and may be harder to treat. Newer targeted drugs and cellular therapies have improved outcomes, allowing many people to live at least eight to 10 years after diagnosis.
Burkitt lymphoma is a fast-growing cancer. This NHL subtype accounts for 1 percent to 5 percent of adult lymphomas but is more common in children, especially boys, according to the American Cancer Society. About 4 out of 10 children with NHL have Burkitt lymphoma.
Children often respond well to treatment. Long-term survival is over 90 percent for children with early-stage disease (stage 1 or 2) and about 80 percent to 90 percent for advanced-stage disease (stage 3 or 4). Survival rates for adults are generally lower and vary based on age, overall health, stage, and treatment.
According to the American Cancer Society, hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is a rare type of lymphoma, despite its name, and most often affects men. The disease grows slowly, and treatments often work well.
With current therapies, many people have a near-normal life expectancy. Remission (periods of no active disease) can last for many years, though HCL often returns over time, so ongoing follow-up care is important.
Survival statistics can’t be used to predict outcomes for any one person. Doctors can better estimate an individual’s outlook using prognostic factors, which are details specific to a person’s condition. For personalized information, talk with your oncology (cancer) care team. They can explain what to expect based on your overall health and the features of your lymphoma.
Doctors often use a tool called the International Prognostic Index (IPI) to estimate NHL prognosis. The IPI looks at several factors known to affect outlook.
Factors linked to a higher risk of a poor prognosis include:
As the number of negative prognostic factors increases, the risk of a poorer outcome also rises. People with high-risk lymphoma often need more aggressive treatment.
Doctors may also use other systems to estimate prognosis for specific types of NHL. For example, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network IPI (NCCN-IPI) is used for DLBCL. The NCCN-IPI includes the same factors as the original IPI but calculates risk levels differently. Some studies suggest the NCCN-IPI may better predict survival for people receiving certain treatments.
For FL, doctors may use the Follicular Lymphoma IPI (FLIPI). This tool considers slightly different factors, including:
Your doctor may use these systems or others to calculate your risk level, estimate your outlook, and recommend treatment options for your lymphoma. To learn more about your individual prognosis, ask your doctor how your specific risk factors affect your outlook and cancer treatment plan.
On MyLymphomaTeam, people share their experiences with lymphoma, get advice, and find support from others who understand.
Have you discussed your B-cell lymphoma prognosis with your doctor? Let others know in the comments below.
Get updates directly to your inbox.
Why Didn’t It Mention Primary Cutaneous Marginal Zone Extra Nodal B-Cell Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma?
Continue with Facebook
Continue with your email
Become a member to get even more
Join
A MyLymphomaTeam Member
I can’t say this for sure, but before I was diagnosed with the same blood cancer (B cell NHL) as your brother, I was very susceptible to pneumonia. Since I have thought I had NHL for years before I… read more
We'd love to hear from you! Please share your name and email to post and read comments.
You'll also get the latest articles directly to your inbox.