Disclaimer: To protect patient privacy, this question has been edited slightly to omit identifying details.
A Patient Power user recently asked: “For years I was told I had chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Then I became a patient at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. After having my blood analyzed by my oncologist, who specializes in CLL, I was told I don't have CLL but that I do have marginal zone lymphoma (MZL). Can you tell me how MZL treated? I have had this for 10 years with no symptoms, nor have I ever been treated. My oncologist tells me it is much less severe than CLL. Is that true?”
We asked an expert, and here is her response.
Expert Response
“So MZL, like CLL/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). They are both considered indolent (or slow growing),” said Tara Graff, DO, MS, a medical oncologist with Mission Cancer and Blood in Des Moines, Iowa.
“Like CLL/SLL, a number of individuals with MZL do not require treatment. For some, they never need treatment, and for others, it is years,” Dr. Graff said. “Just like in CLL, there are always those people who have more aggressive forms and need treatment right away, but this does not sound like you.”
If you did require treatment, “MZL is treated differently. Sometimes single agent Rituxan (an anti CD20 antibody) is used, and it targets just the bad B lymphocytes causing the disease. Other times, we use combination treatment such as Rituxan paired with chemotherapy,” Dr. Graff said. “I have a clinical trial where I am located using what is called a bispecific antibody – but this is a trial.
“I would not say it is more or less severe – just different,” Dr. Graff said.
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