Does anyone have splenic marginal zone lymphoma?

Posted by gjk @gjk, Nov 14, 2023

I was just diagnosed with smzl and euggt now the dr said it is a wait and watch.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Blood Cancers & Disorders Support Group.

Thanks for letting me know about your experience with Rituximab. When did you have treatments and how are you doing now? How big was your spleen when you started the treatment? My grandchildren are 8 and 5. I do not wear a mask as no one else in my family does. I am hoping all goes well for both of us. Thanks so much for getting back to me.

REPLY
@elainejarrett

Thanks for letting me know about your experience with Rituximab. When did you have treatments and how are you doing now? How big was your spleen when you started the treatment? My grandchildren are 8 and 5. I do not wear a mask as no one else in my family does. I am hoping all goes well for both of us. Thanks so much for getting back to me.

Jump to this post

Hi Elaine, My Rituximab treatments were 5 years ago. 1 x weekly for 4 weeks. At that time, I had inflammation on my spinal cord caused by over zealous B-cells. The inflammation eroded the myelin sheath around my spinal cord and I lost the feeling from my waist to my toes. So, not the same diagnosis as yours but with another condition related to a B-cell involvement. It was a miracle drug for me in stopping the inflammation caused by the B-cells. There has been no relapse and I had no side effects from the drug…except for the first infusion which is common. My infusion team was alert and ready…handled within moments. Then smooth sailing after that.

Rituximab has become a mainstay in the therapy of a broad variety of B-cell malignancies and has a good track record for treating some forms of lymphomas such as yours.

Because this is an anti-inflammatory drug, it may suppress your immune system temporarily. B cells are an important part of your immune system that defends agains viruses, bacteria and parasites. You may be more vulnerable to colds, flu, Covid, RSV with a longer recovery time. (This is information I received…just passing it along). It’s up to you whether you mask or not.
Being immune compromised I still wear a mask routinely when in busy stores, elevators, community meetings, even gatherings with friends/family. They do work to protect us from airborne illnesses.

How soon would you start the infusions?

REPLY
@loribmt

Hi Elaine, My Rituximab treatments were 5 years ago. 1 x weekly for 4 weeks. At that time, I had inflammation on my spinal cord caused by over zealous B-cells. The inflammation eroded the myelin sheath around my spinal cord and I lost the feeling from my waist to my toes. So, not the same diagnosis as yours but with another condition related to a B-cell involvement. It was a miracle drug for me in stopping the inflammation caused by the B-cells. There has been no relapse and I had no side effects from the drug…except for the first infusion which is common. My infusion team was alert and ready…handled within moments. Then smooth sailing after that.

Rituximab has become a mainstay in the therapy of a broad variety of B-cell malignancies and has a good track record for treating some forms of lymphomas such as yours.

Because this is an anti-inflammatory drug, it may suppress your immune system temporarily. B cells are an important part of your immune system that defends agains viruses, bacteria and parasites. You may be more vulnerable to colds, flu, Covid, RSV with a longer recovery time. (This is information I received…just passing it along). It’s up to you whether you mask or not.
Being immune compromised I still wear a mask routinely when in busy stores, elevators, community meetings, even gatherings with friends/family. They do work to protect us from airborne illnesses.

How soon would you start the infusions?

Jump to this post

Thanks so much for your feedback. May start treatment this Fall as my spleen has enlarged a lot. Happy to hear you are doing well.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.