B-cell Lymphoma

What is B-cell lymphoma?

B-cell lymphoma refers to a group of cancers that affect the immune system. It forms in the white blood cells, called lymphocytes, which make antibodies to help fight infections. B-cell lymphoma is a type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and is the most common type of lymphoma.

B-cell lymphoma occurs when healthy B-cells change into fast-growing cancer cells. These cells duplicate and eventually overwhelm the healthy cells. Since B-cell lymphoma affects the lymphatic systems, the network of lymph nodes throughout your body, the cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body, including bone marrow, the spleen, and other organs. Because of the fast-growing cancer cells, B-cell lymphoma treatment usually begins very soon after diagnosis.

B-cell lymphoma is the most common type of blood cancer in the United States (about 85% of all non-Hodgkin's lymphoma). There are several types of B-cell lymphoma, the most common types being Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and Follicular lymphoma. DLBCL is considered fast-growing and classified as a high-grade lymphoma. Follicular lymphoma is considered a slow growing (low-grade) lymphoma and occurs in lymph nodes throughout the body as well as in bone marrow.