Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma follicular (node, blood, tumor, malignant)

[AFP]

I was diagnosed yesterday with it and spent the whole night researching online. I'm now waiting for my consultation with an oncologist, apparently this is usually a chronic lifelong condition. If you have some first hand knowledge on this cancer please share what has helped you. I'm grade 1-2 slow growing tumor but with symptoms.

[Medical Lab Guy]

Sorry that you have to be challenged with your condition. My experience is mainly through diagnostics. Follicular lymphoma is a common form that is commonly presented in the blood (leukemic phase). The cells are clefted comprised predominantly of a nucleus with very scant if any of cytoplasm. This has lead to the common name of butt cell. It is diagnosed with flow cytometry. The name follicular is derived from the origins of the cells structurally found in lymph nodes where the follicles are formed normally. These are reaction centers that form follicles within the lymph node. There are various grades of lymphoma with the higher grades that are more malignant and metabolically active and more aggressive compared to the lower graded lymphomas.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is identical to well differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma (WDLL) which is why it is often written as chronic lymphocytic leukemia/lymphoma. That is a low grade lymphoma.

There has been new drugs out there treating low grade lymphomas so I know that there is active research in the field.

In general it is an age related lymphoproliferative disorder as the incidence rises with age.