Cutaneous Follicle Center Lymphoma

Lymphoma is a cancer of the blood that can strike anyone at any time. There are many types of lymphomas: 5 types of Hodgkin's lymphomas and 30 types of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. One non-Hodgkin's type is Cutaneous Follicle Center Lymphoma, or CFCL.

Definition

• Cutaneous Follicle Center Lymphoma is a "B-Cell" lymphoma, which is more rare than the "T-Type." The types refer to the sort of blood cells affected by the disease. It affects men and women equally frequently and is the result of DNA damage to a type of white blood cell.

Diagnosis

• CFCL, along with other B-Cell lymphomas, is a slow-growing cancer. It presents as a skin tumor, generally appearing on the head, neck or torso of the affected individual appearing as a pink raised area, rash or lump. To confirm a diagnosis, a doctor must take a biopsy of the affected skin for analysis.

Treatment

• Treatment for CFCL includes a wide variety of options, including steroid creams, chemotherapy and antibodies. Doctors create a treatment plan that is unique to each patient. CFCL has a high relapse rate with recurrences of cancer, but the overall prognosis is still relatively good.