How is Follicular Lymphoma Diagnosed?
Diagnosing follicular lymphoma begins with a physical exam, review of your medical history, a biopsy, and blood tests to confirm the diagnosis and assess disease progression.
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How Is Follicular Lymphoma Diagnosed and How Does It Progress?
Follicular Lymphoma Staging & Grades
Follicular Lymphoma Staging
- Stage I: lymphoma is localized to one general area or organ
- Stage II: is located to one side of your diaphragm
- Stage III: is located to above and below the diaphragm
- Stage IV: has organ involved (liver, bone marrow, etc.) involved in a nonadjacent lymph node
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Follicular Lymphoma Grading
- Grade 1 or 2: mostly small round cells and very few big cells
- Grade 3A: large amount of big cells; means it’s a more agressive lymphoma than grade 1 or 2
- Grade 3B: largest amount of big cells; more aggressive and treated like a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)
Essential Testing
Common tests for diagnosis include:
- Lymph Node Biopsy: Removing a lymph node or tissue sample for analysis
- Blood Tests: Looks at your general health and blood counts
- CT Scan: Imaging test to determine the spread of cancer
- PET Scan: A detailed scan to detect cancerous activity in the body
Follicular Lymphoma Diagnosis & Testing Programs
Provides actionable advice and downloadable materials to help you communicate clearly and effectively with your follicular lymphoma healthcare team.
Topics:
- Understanding Follicular Lymphoma
- Follicular Lymphoma Treatment Approaches
- Tips for Follicular Lymphoma Patient Self-Advocacy
- Planning Your Follicular Lymphoma Doctor’s Office Visit
- Pro-Active Follicular Lymphoma Patient Resources
Bridges the expert and patient voice, enabling patients to feel comfortable asking precise questions of their healthcare team.
Topics:
- Understanding and Managing Follicular Lymphoma
- Follicular Lymphoma Patient Profiles
- Follicular Lymphoma Treatment Options and Advances
- Living with Follicular Lymphoma
- START HERE Follicular Lymphoma Resources
