Understanding weight change patterns in follicular lymphoma (FL) may be important for the assessment of prognosis as well as the long-term care of survivors. A retrospective cohort of United States veterans with a new diagnosis of FL between October 1, 1998 and September 30, 2010 was assembled. Weight changes were evaluated before, during, and after treatment in 896 FL patients who received cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone, with or without rituximab (CHOP ± R); cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone, with or without rituximab (CVP ± R); or rituximab monotherapy. Weight decreased an average of 1.4 kg during therapy, and >5% weight loss during this time period was associated with worse overall survival. Weight increased to an average of 1.4 kg above baseline by 24 months after treatment initiation, with 15% gaining greater than 10% of their baseline weight. Weight management strategies may be an important part of long-term survivorship planning.
Keywords: Body weight changes; lymphoma; veterans.