How Long Will I Live With B-Cell Lymphoma?

Life Expectancy for B-Cell Lymphoma: What You Should Know

The life expectancy for someone diagnosed with B-cell lymphoma can vary widely depending on several factors, including:

• Your age
• Your overall health
• The subtype of B-cell lymphoma you have
• How well you respond to treatment

What Are the Subtypes of B-cell lymphoma? 

B-cell lymphomas make up most of the non-Hodgkins lymphomas in the United States.

Common subtypes of B-cell lymphoma include: 

• Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)
• Follicular lymphoma
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) /small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL)
• Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL)
• Marginal zone lymphomas
• Burkitt lymphoma
• Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia)
• Hairy cell leukemia
• Primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma
• Primary intraocular lymphoma (lymphoma of the eye)

What Do the Survival Rates Mean for You?

A 5-year survival rate helps doctors understand how many people with a similar condition are still alive five years after diagnosis. It’s a useful measure for assessing the outlook or prognosis for someone with B-cell lymphoma. The higher the survival rate, the better the expected outcome.

According to the National Cancer Institute SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) data, the 5-year survival rate for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (which includes B-cell lymphoma) is 74%. However, survival rates can vary widely for different types of lymphoma and its stages.

What Can Affect Your Prognosis with B-cell Lymphoma?

Several factors can influence your life expectancy if you have B-cell lymphoma:

• Stage of the disease: The earlier your lymphoma is diagnosed (stage I or II), the better the prognosis. Later stages (III or IV) can be more challenging to treat.
• Age and overall health: Younger, healthier people often respond better to treatment and have more treatment options available.
• Type of lymphoma: There are many different types of B-cell lymphoma (as listed above), and some, such as follicular lymphoma, have better survival rates than others.
• Response to treatment: If your lymphoma responds well to initial treatments, your outlook may be more favorable.
• Presence of symptoms: If you’re experiencing symptoms like fever, night sweats, or weight loss (known as B symptoms), it may indicate a more aggressive type of lymphoma and physician intervention is encouraged. 

Remember, Everyone’s Case Is Unique

Survival statistics are just general trends. Your prognosis depends on many personal factors, which your healthcare provider can help you understand. Having a B-cell lymphoma specialist on your care team can help you get the best advice tailored to your condition.

Visit HealthTree's B-Cell Lymphoma Specialist Directory to find an expert near you. 

Sources:

• Types of B-cell Lymphoma
• Survival Rates and Factors That Affect Prognosis (Outlook) for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma