Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: Understanding the Disease & Risk

Diffuse large B cell lymphoma is a type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that affects B cells in the lymph system. The body uses B cells to create antibodies to protect against viruses and bacteria.

Prevalence

• According to the American Cancer Society, diffuse large B cell lymphomas account for one of every three non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cases in the United States.

Risk Factors

• The risk of developing a diffuse large B cell lymphoma increases with age and occurs primarily in older people.

Growth

• Diffuse large B cell lymphomas usually begin as quickly growing masses of cells in an internal lymph node in a patient's abdomen, chest, armpit or neck.

Spread

• A diffuse large B cell lymphoma may spread from the lymph system to other areas of the body, such as the bones, intestines, brain or spinal cord.

Treatment

• Doctors often treat diffuse large B cell lymphomas with chemotherapy, and about half of the patients with this type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma will be cured with therapy, according to the American Cancer Society.