Rituxan (Rituximab) Cancer Treatment
What is Rituxan?
Rituximab, often known as Rituxan, is a monoclonal antibody fighting cancer. It is a cancer treatment that works by signaling cancer cells to die.
It does that by attaching to a protein on cancer cells called CD20. The cancer cell is killed when the immune system identifies this signal.
What types of Cancers is Rituxan used for?
Rituximab injection can be used either alone or in combination with other medicines.
Rituxan is used to treat specific forms of non-lymphoma Hodgkin's and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
Understanding your treatment: Rituxan antibody therapy
How is Rituxan Administered?
Rituxan is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion that takes around 6 hours to complete. The duration of the infusion of Rituxan may be reduced depending on whether or not the person has previously this medication and how well they tolerate it. In addition, other characteristics, such as a person's height, weight, or cancer type, will determine how much Rituxan can be administered.
What are the Side Effects of Rituxan?
Most people do not experience all of the Rituxan side effects described below, and it's important to remember that their onset and duration are often predictable.
Patients taking Rituxan treatment may experience the following Rituxan adverse effects:
• Chills and fever
• Throat discomfort
• Weakness
• Nausea
• Headache
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Shortness of breath
• Sinusitis
Rituxan administration may be soon before the infusion to prevent the development of infusion-related symptoms.
Did You Know?
- Rituximab was the first monoclonal antibody approved for cancer treatment, marking a major milestone in immunotherapy.
- Its use for B-cell lymphoma, has significantly improved outcomes forpatients worldwide.
- Rituximab also helped shape the development of immunotherapy, influencing biologic research, regulatory processes, and clinical practices. Today, it continues to play a key role in the advancement of biosimilar treatments in oncology.
Is Rituximab Effective?
Over 540,000 individuals have received rituximab worldwide.
Rituximab reduces inflammation, discomfort, edema, and joint pain by lowering the amount of B-cells. The majority of individuals who have had a good experience with rituximab report they started to detect a difference in their symptoms 8 to 16 weeks after starting treatment.
While substantial adverse reactions have occurred in a tiny percentage of patients, rituximab is considered safe and well-tolerated by most patients who have used it.
Frequently Asked Questions
RITUXAN is not chemotherapy. It may be used on its own or in conjunction with chemotherapy.
Rituxan can remain in the body for up to 3 to 6 months after the last dose. The duration may vary depending on the condition being treated.
Rituxan is not typically recommended for children unless prescribed for specific medical conditions by a healthcare provider.
If you miss a Rituxan infusion, contact your healthcare provider to reschedule your treatment. It's important to follow the treatment schedule closely for optimal results.
Rituxan can lower your immune system’s ability to fight infections. It’s important to discuss any pre-existing conditions with your healthcare provider before starting treatment.
