How long does lymphoma take to develop

CHOP also works against other NHL sub-types that fall within the same category as anaplastic large cell lymphoma, known as peripheral T cell lymphomas. This fast-growing lymphoma accounts for about one third of NHL cases. For this lymphoma, it is typical for lymph nodes to double in size every month, and patients often present within a few months of having noted an enlarged lymph node.

Unfortunately for those patients who are not cured by R-CHOP there are less attractive second line therapies, including chemotherapy or high dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell rescue, also known as bone marrow transplant.

Many fewer can be cured at that point and the majority of these patients will not survive their disease. The second most common subtype of NHL, follicular lymphoma FL , grows slowly, with lymph nodes doubling in size approximately every six to 12 months, and patients often get diagnosed a year or later after they first noted an enlarged lymph node. Many patients may not require treatment initially and can just be observed. Unlike DLBCL, patients with FL are rarely if ever cured but may live many years because of the slow growth of the tumor cells and the ability to treat with multiple therapies.

Eventually, however, most patients will die of their disease and in about 25 percent of them their FL will transform to DLBCL which is typically not responsive to therapy in this setting. Burkitt lymphoma. This type is rare in adults. It's a lot like Burkitt-like lymphoma. Most people with this disease are male. This lymphoma grows very quickly.

But more than half cured with aggressive chemotherapy. Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma or Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia. This is a rare, slow-growing type of lymphoma. It's found mainly in the bone marrow, lymph nodes, and spleen. People with this type usually live many years with the disease, but it's usually not curable.

Hairy cell leukemia. Despite its name, this is often considered to be a type of lymphoma. Only about people in the U. This lymphoma is typically found in the bone marrow, spleen, and blood. It tends to be slow growing and is often curable.

Primary central nervous system CNS lymphoma. This type usually grows in the brain. It may also be found in the spinal cord and the tissues around it, as well as in the eye. Over time, it becomes widespread in the central nervous system. This type of lymphoma is more common in people with immune system problems, such as AIDS.

Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma. This fast-growing type tends to occur in the lymph nodes, spleen, and liver. It causes infections, fever, weight loss, and skin rashes. It tends to come back after treatment. This type often grows in the upper airway passages, such as the nose and upper throat. It can also grow into the skin and digestive tract. It's very rare in the U. Enteropathy-type T-cell lymphoma.

This type occurs in people with sensitivity to gluten, the main protein in wheat flour. Celiac disease, or gluten-sensitive enteropathy, that started in adulthood is linked with this type of lymphoma. It often grows into the walls of the intestines, and it can be hard to treat. Anaplastic large cell lymphoma. About 1 in to 1 in 50 lymphomas are this kind. It's a fast-growing type that's more common in young people. It starts in the lymph nodes and can also spread to the skin.

Treatment with chemotherapy often works well. This rare disease can be called lymphoma or leukemia. Leukemia involves more bone marrow than lymphoma. It often starts in the thymus, which is in the front part of the chest. People with this type are most often young men. The lymphoma is fast-growing. Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma mycosis fungoides, Sezary syndrome.

This starts in the skin. It accounts for about 1 in 20 lymphomas. It starts as a patchy, red rash. It can grow into solid, raised tumors that can grow into lymph nodes and organs, such as the liver and spleen. With Sezary syndrome, the lymphoma cells are found in the blood. Peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified NOS. Most people with this type of lymphoma are in their 60s. It tends to grow quickly and be widespread. If you have questions about non-Hodgkin lymphoma, talk with your healthcare provider.

Your healthcare provider can help you understand more about this cancer. Search Encyclopedia. Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: Introduction What is cancer? What is non-Hodgkin lymphoma? The subtypes are further categorized as aggressive or indolent. Aggressive NHL progresses quickly.

Indolent NHL is slow growing. Follicular lymphoma is the most common type of indolent NHL. Your symptoms will depend on the type of lymphoma you have and the organs affected. Your symptoms may include:. Your recommended treatment plan will vary. It will depend on the type of lymphoma you have, the organs affected, and your health and medical history.

For example, they may recommend:. This involves a combination of the drugs cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone, with the addition of rituximab, a monoclonal antibody.

Treatment usually lasts about six months. To treat slow-growing follicular lymphoma, your doctor may start by prescribing rituximab and chemotherapy drugs. Your long-term outlook for stage 4 lymphoma will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:.

Ask your doctor for more information about your diagnosis, treatment options, and long-term outlook. The treatment options and survival rates for lymphoma continue to improve.