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Learn how to start RITUXAN® (rituximab) therapy as an initial treatment or maintenance therapy for Follicular Lymphoma and Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).
Your Follicular Lymphoma journey begins with initial treatment
As initial treatment—RITUXAN, with CVP chemotherapy, may be given to treat follicular lymphoma. These drugs work together in different ways to fight cancer. The goal in using this combination of drugs is to keep your cancer from getting worse.
In one study, patients who received RITUXAN+CVP chemotherapy spent 1 year longer without their cancer advancing (compared with patients who received CVP chemotherapy by itself). These results were from a clinical trial and may not be the same as what you experience.
You will have up to 8 cycles, or rounds, of treatment. Each cycle will last 21 days. Treatment occurs on the first day of each cycle and is followed by 20 days of rest and recovery. This means that most people will complete their treatment in about 6 months.
Initial treatment infusion schedule for Follicular Lymphoma
PATIENTS MAY RECEIVE FEWER THAN 8 CYCLES OF RITUXAN IN COMBINATION WITH CHEMOTHERAPY.
After treatment for follicular lymphoma, many patients may achieve remission. Ask your doctor if you are eligible to continue RITUXAN treatment.
Select Important Safety Information
RITUXAN for the treatment of follicular CD20-positive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma as an initial treatment with CVP chemotherapy
The most common side effects reported more often in patients receiving RITUXAN (rituximab) and CVP chemotherapy vs. CVP chemotherapy alone were infusion-related reactions, decreased white blood cell counts, rash, cough, flushing, shivering, itching, and chest tightness.
Your Follicular Lymphoma journey continues with maintenance therapy
Your doctor may decide to prescribe RITUXAN (rituximab) as maintenance therapy if you achieve remission after using RITUXAN and chemotherapy as initial treatment. RITUXAN is prescribed alone, without chemotherapy, every 8 weeks for 12 doses during this phase of the journey. Your goal here is to help keep your disease in remission.
In one study of patients with follicular lymphoma who received RITUXAN maintenance therapy (after responding to initial RITUXAN therapy plus chemotherapy), patients cut the risk of their disease advancing by almost half (46%) compared with patients who did not receive additional treatment after initial therapy. These results were from a clinical trial and may not be the same as what you experience.
RITUXAN is given once every 8 weeks for 12 doses as maintenance therapy. Severe side effects reported were infections and decreased white blood cell counts.
Maintenance therapy infusion schedule for Follicular Lymphoma
Select Important Safety Information
RITUXAN for the treatment of follicular CD20-positive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma as an initial treatment with chemotherapy, and in patients whose initial treatment was successful, as a single-agent follow-up therapy
Severe side effects reported were infections and decreased white blood cell counts. The most frequently reported side effect was infections.
Your DLBCL journey begins with initial treatment
RITUXAN, along with CHOP chemotherapy, can be used as initial treatment for DLBCL. The goal in using this combination of drugs is to improve your chances of survival.
In one study, patients who received RITUXAN plus CHOP chemotherapy spent an average of 2.9 years without their cancer advancing or the need for a change in therapy, compared with an average of 1.1 years for patients who received CHOP chemotherapy by itself. Adding RITUXAN to CHOP chemotherapy as initial therapy reduced the risk of death by 32% compared to receiving CHOP chemotherapy alone. These results were from a clinical trial and may not be the same as what you experience.
You will have up to 8 cycles, or rounds, of treatment. Each cycle will last 21 days. Treatment occurs on the first day of each cycle and is followed by 20 days of rest and recovery. This means that most people will complete their treatment in about 6 months.
Initial treatment infusion schedule for DLBCL
PATIENTS MAY RECEIVE FEWER THAN 8 CYCLES OF RITUXAN IN COMBINATION WITH CHEMOTHERAPY.
Select Important Safety Information
RITUXAN for the treatment of CD20-positive diffuse-large B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma as an initial treatment in combination with CHOP chemotherapy
Severe side effects reported more often in patients receiving RITUXAN and CHOP chemotherapy vs. CHOP chemotherapy alone were decreased blood cell counts, including decreases in white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets; lung disorder; and viral infections. In studies of elderly patients, the most common severe side effects reported more often in patients receiving RITUXAN and CHOP chemotherapy vs. CHOP chemotherapy alone were fever, lung disorder, heart disorder, and chills.
RITUXAN is available by prescription only.