Follicular Lymphoma (FL)
Follicular lymphoma is a cancer of the B lymphocytes (B cells) and is a common form of indolent (slow-growing) lymphoma (also known as low-grade). FL is usually described as a chronic, incurable disease. It is called follicular lymphoma because the cancerous lymphocytes often collect in the lymph nodes in clusters that are known as ‘follicles’. It often spreads to the bone marrow and spleen, but it usually does not affect organs and tissues other than the lymph nodes.
FL usually occurs in people 50 years of age or older, and it is slightly more common in women than in men. Most people will be diagnosed with stage 3 or 4 disease. FL can sometimes change into (transform) into a more aggressive (fast-growing) lymphoma called diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL).