Treatment
Standard treatment is CHOP-R, also referred to as "R-CHOP", an improved form of CHOP with the addition of rituximab (Rituxan), which has increased the rates of complete responses for DLBL patients, particularly elderly patients. R-CHOP is a combination of one monoclonal antibody, 3 chemotherapy drugs, and one steroid: rituximab (Rituxan), cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) doxorubicin(Hydroxydaunorubicin), vincristine (Oncovin), and prednisone. Chemotherapy is most often administered intravenously and is most effective when it is administered multiple times over a period of months (e.g. every 3 weeks, over 6 to 8 cycles). For someone who will be receiving chemotherapy it is suggested they have a PICC (Peripherally inserted central catheter) in their arm near the elbow, and the catheter will extend through one of the large veins to within centimeters of the heart. Radiation is another common treatment and is most effective if done prior to the chemotherapy, or as the last treatment after chemotherapy has been completed.
Read more about this topic: Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma
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