I am 40 yr old with CLL stage VI Lymphoma and stage II Leukemia.
This is a very fast decision to start chemo as I had developed symptoms that the doctors can't get under control.
Will I lose my hair, will I be able to continue to work???? Questions, questions! Please help!
Hi deanna2889,
It is very easy to say but far more difficult to achieve, try not to panic. Just ask the questions, there are plenty of people here who have been through this.
Rituxan or Rituximab is unlikely to cause hair loss based on my consultant's comments to me and what actually happened. I kept all my hair (to the best of my knowledge) during my six cycles of FCR and subsequently. You don't say if you are having any other drugs with the Ritux (FCR is Fludaribine, Cyclophosphamide and Rituximab). I can really only comment on my experience with FCR.
In response to your question about work the effect on people varies, some have little effect others much more. Again, I was lucky in as far as the worst side effect I had was tiredness, most significantly in the first five days of the cycle.
Rob
Your consultant should have given you a paper explaining the treatment and the side effects most commonly experienced ritux may cause thinning of hair but unlikely you will loose it. Talk to your medical staff who are there to help and ask all the questions. Best of luck hopefully you will have a trouble free treatment most important be positive and try not to worry
Hi deanna, I had 6 rounds of FC with Rituximab added for the final two. I didntvloose my hair. My main problems were neutropenia and fatigue but generally speaking I was able to carry on as normal. Hope all goes well for you .
I'm now having Leukeran and every 4 weeks Rituximab after 10 years of CLL W&W.
Beforehand I read much about L and R: All bad things are possible, but......
It is at me all without problems: no vomitting, no hairloss, no eating problems and so on.
But: it works very different for different people, but MOSTLY without problems.
It is very important to drink 2 or 3 liters water a day.(and a good meal!)
So, I think it goes ok with you.
All the best!
Sorry for "bad" English!! My Dutch is better.
You shouldnt loose your hair but working will be something you wont know about until you start treatment. It depends on how you get on with the treatment eg sickness & fatigue. Also it depends on your job and how demanding it is. I work in a large office so my Onc doesn't want me to work because i am neutropenic for most of the month and i would probably just pick an infection up. It really does depend on how the treatment affects you.
Hope it all went well for you today Deanna and you were able to get all the information you needed especially if your treatment started today.
Best wishes,
Newdawn
Thank you all for the responses. I am at work today and had my first of 6 Rituximab treatments yesterday. My stomach is swollen and I am a little tired, but for the most part this isnt soo bad.
Hopefully this is the feeling through the whole process! God Bless you all and I will keep you updated as I progress as I am new to this all.
I'm starting mine this Thursday (26-June-2014) and of course I'm a wee bit apprehensive. My doctor has also told me that there will not be hair loss or most of the other side effects associated with chemo although there may be a little nausea but I've already got my prescription for anti-nausea.
Hurray, Three Cheers for Venclexta & Rituxan
Chemotherapy 
cll/sll or MZL? & Rituxan 
Chemotherapy for CLL 
