Your basket is currently empty!
Category: News (Parent Page)
Thank you Ailsa – for the dance show and your donation
Thank you Ailsa – for the dance show and your donation
Wonderful Ailsa Vivian and her students at the Vivian Theatre School Dorset, who in June, raised £750 from a amazing dance show, featuring her talented students and then also a coffee morning. Sounded like an amazing event enjoyed by all, with vital funds being raised and an opportunity for the students to showcase their many talents. Thank-you so much Vivian and the pupils at the school. Hope to see some of you one day, in the West-End.
Fundraising – thank you Richard
Fundraising – thank you Richard
In May, Richard ran 127 miles along the Leeds and Liverpool canal in under 3 days to raise funds for the FLF and show support for patient Andy. Rich absolutely smashed it – on day 1 he managed to run an incredible 59 miles (nearly half of the total distance of the race), setting himself ahead of the schedule. On day 2, he managed to run another 47 miles, leaving only 22 miles to complete for day 3. We were so inspired by richard’s mental and physical strength for such a demanding challenge.
From everyone at the FLF, we are sending massive congratulations and a big thankyou for Richard and all those individuals that donated.
Antibody response to CoV-2 vaccines
Antibody response to CoV-2 vaccines
Interesting summary of the impact and effectiveness of antibody responses to SARS- CoV-2 vaccines in patients with hematologic malignancies. A project from Michael J. Garil Data Collective, and supported by the Leukemia & Lymphoma society.
Blood tests in Follicular Lymphoma
Blood tests in Follicular Lymphoma
For many people living with Follicular Lymphoma, periodic blood tests become a regular feature. There are several reasons you might need blood tests when affected by Follicular Lymphoma (FL), a form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. But does lymphoma show up in blood work?
Generally, the answer is no, FL is rarely detected on standard or “routine” blood tests. Nonetheless, such blood tests do provide a great deal of information.
Here’s what you need to know about Follicular Lymphoma and blood tests.
Can a blood test detect lymphoma?
A blood test will not be able to diagnose Follicular Lymphoma. If your doctor suspects lymphoma, you will need a scan and a lymph node biopsy to confirm it. FL cells rarely circulate in the blood, at least in numbers that are detected by usual blood tests. More sensitive blood testing is being developed to find minimal (or measurable) residual disease remaining after treatment, but this is not a diagnostic test. Also, certain baseline blood tests may give some information, unfortunately not very precise, about how your FL might behave.
Blood work does, however, provide you and your medical specialist with an overview of your general health, and how it is being affected by the FL and its treatment.
“Routine” blood tests have two main components: one measures the numbers and types of all blood cells, called either a full blood count (FBC) or complete blood count (CBC); the other measures chemicals and proteins in the liquid part of the blood, called either urea and electrolytes (U&E) or blood chemistry panel (CMP). Together these tell how your bone marrow, where the blood is made, and your organs (mostly liver and kidneys) are functioning. More details on these are below.
Blood tests before treatment are helpful. If you are diagnosed with FL and have no symptoms, your doctor may consider “watch and wait”, meaning observation without treatment. However, even without symptoms, if your blood counts are low indicating the FL is interfering with bone marrow function, this might change the recommendation to begin treatment.
If you are undergoing treatment, regular blood tests can also:
- Show how your treatment is affecting your body and FL.
- Check if you’ve recovered from one round or cycle of treatment before starting another.
- Monitor your recovery.
After you have completed therapy, regular blood tests:
- Check for signs of relapse or transformation of the FL.
- Check for late effects (health problems including second cancers) that may develop following treatment.
What types of blood tests can you expect?
There are a few different blood tests you may undergo after a Follicular Lymphoma diagnosis.
Full blood count (FBC) or Complete blood count (CBC)
This measures your levels of red blood cells (haemoglobin and hematocrit are different but related measures of red cells), white blood cells and platelets. If blood cells are low due to FL cells in the bone marrow, the counts should improve as the FL responds to treatment. If the cells are low due to the treatment, there is an expected pattern of falling and then recovering prior to starting the next cycle of treatment. Low red cells, or anaemia, leads to tiredness and if more severed can cause shortness of breath and fast heart beat. Low platelets can allow bleeding. Low white cells, specifically the subtype called neutrophils (or granulocytes) that fight bacteria, are the ones of most concern as they can allow infections to be severe and fast-moving. You might require a white cell growth factor injection to prevent this.
Blood film (or smear)
The FBC or CBC machine takes an automated look at the blood cells. For a more detailed inspection, a blood smear (also known as a peripheral blood smear) is reviewed under a microscope, either by your doctor or a special pathologist, to check for any cell abnormalities. This can be useful especially for looking at different types of white blood cells.
Blood chemistry (U&E, CMP)
These tests check your kidney and liver function, electrolytes (salts in the blood: sodium, potassium, calcium) and blood sugar.
Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)
Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is an enzyme protein released when cells break down. It is not specific for lymphoma, or even for cancer, but if you have lymphoma, a high blood LDH may indicate that you have more lymphoma cells and they are dividing and breaking down faster. It is most common in FL, being low-grade or slow growing, to have normal LDH levels. In FL, a rising high LDH raises concern for, but does not itself diagnose, more advanced disease or transformation to aggressive lymphoma. LDH can actually go up shortly after a treatment as the cells are killed, but then go back down.
Uric Acid
Uric acid, best known as the cause of gout, is also like LDH related to cells breaking down. This is usually only a concern with faster growing lymphomas as treatment starts. Drugs can be used to prevent a dangerous rise in uric acid levels if that is a concern when a new treatment is starting.
Beta-2 microglobulin (B2M)
Some doctors recommend checking a baseline B2M level to help predict how indolent (if normal) or aggressive (if higher) your FL will behave. It is not generally useful to follow as an indicator of disease, however.
Antibody or immunoglobulin levels
Our antibodies, also called immunoglobulins (Ig) protect us against various infections. These are made by B cells, so B cell lymphoma patients, including those with FL, may have low Ig levels. Many FL treatments also kill normal B cells, so Ig levels may go down further. There are replacement Ig preparations available. Your doctor may periodically check Ig levels to see if they are low, discuss what you can do to reduce the risk of infection and possibly recommend replacement Ig.
Other blood tests
Depending on your circumstances, your specialist may carry out additional blood tests. For instance, a viral serology which checks for prior exposure to infections, such as HIV or Hepatitis B or C. These could be related to your lymphoma, and if there is a risk, they can flare up during treatment there are preventive treatments.
Support from the Follicular Lymphoma Foundation
FL is currently incurable. But incurable is not okay — at the Follicular Lymphoma Foundation (FLF), our mission is to lead new and determined efforts to find cures. If you’d like to learn more, please see our programmes.
As a leading Follicular Lymphoma charity, we’re also here to support those living with FL. Whether you’ve just been diagnosed, are facing relapse, or want to help a loved one with FL, our aim is to help Follicular Lymphoma patients live well and get well.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you’d like to connect with our global online community.
Everything you need to know about Follicular Lymphoma clinical trials
Everything you need to know about Follicular Lymphoma clinical trials
What are clinical trials?
Any potential treatments for Follicular Lymphoma (and other forms of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma) must undergo extensive testing. They must be fully researched to confirm that they work, are safe to use, and are more effective than other current treatments.
Clinical trials test the treatment’s effects on human participants and are split into four phases. By joining a clinical trial, you may be able to try a therapy that is not yet available to the general public.
It’s vital to ensure that a specific trial is suitable for you. If you’re interested in taking part, the best thing to do is to speak to your cancer specialist. As they have your records and test results, they can guide you on which Follicular Lymphoma clinical trials are safe and appropriate for you. Trials may be available through your haematologist’s or oncologist’s office or centre, or may require travel to a different centre. You’ll need a medical referral.
The four phases of clinical trials represent different stages of a treatment’s development.
Phase I trials are the earliest phase, designed to select the best dose and schedule of giving a drug or combination. It is important to understand that there is wide variability within phase I trials; not all are for new drugs just beginning development. Some Phase 1 trials, for example, test a combination of established drugs so much more would already be known about their safety and efficacy. These types of questions can be answered by the clinical trial team.
Phase II trials most commonly test a new treatment (or combination) for a disease. In lymphoma studies, sometimes the disease will be limited to FL, while other trials may include all indolent lymphoma types or even other types. Generally, you and your doctor will know what treatment you are receiving in Phase I and II trials.
Phase III studies are randomized comparisons of a standard therapy arm (also called cohort) with an experimental treatment arm (or arms), which might be adding something to or replacing standard treatment. You will be randomly assigned to one of the arms. Depending on the trial you may or may not know what arm you are on. To avoid bias, studies that are designed to test whether adding a drug to standard therapy is of benefit may include a placebo control for the experimental drug, but it is important to know that in such trials you will still be getting standard treatment. In FL, there are times when you may not need treatment, i.e. standard care is observation. In those cases, a Phase III trial might be designed to see whether earlier treatment is helpful, in which case there may be a no treatment arm, but that would be the normal approach for you at that point in time. This will be carefully explained to you by the study team and in the informed consent document.
Phase IV trials are done after a treatment has been approved for your disease and might be designed to get more information about the treatment, such as side-effects..
What you need to know before taking part in a clinical trial
If you and your doctor decide that a Follicular Lymphoma clinical trial is a good option for you, the researchers will explain the treatment, how it is given and where , for example whether or not you’ll have to stay in hospital.
They also have a legal and ethical obligation to tell you:
- What the trial’s aim is.
- What the different treatment groups are.
- Potential benefits.
- Likely risks and side effects – very new trials may not have a vast amount of information on side effects but it’s vital the researchers give you all the details they do already have.
- What sorts of tests or checkups you’ll have throughout the trial.
- How often you’ll need follow-up appointments.
- Whether the researchers want to keep blood or tissue samples for future research.
- Where your treatment will be.
All of this information will be contained in the “Informed Consent Document” and Patient Information Sheet that must be given to you to read, review and then have the opportunity to ask questions about, and discuss with your family or other support systems if you want. After you sign the consent form, you will be given a copy of the signed form to keep as well.
It’s important to remember that you can leave the trial at any time, and do not need to give a reason. If you choose to leave the trial, it won’t impact your ongoing care, however, you should always discuss this with your doctor to make sure that there is no interruption in your care .
What happens in Follicular Lymphoma clinical trials?
Joining a Follicular Lymphoma clinical trial usually starts with a discussion with the doctor and their clinical trial staff. They will explain the trial and answer any questions. If you agree to enrol in the trial, you will sign an informed consent form. The team will also carry out screening, generally an exam, lab work (blood tests) and in some cases repeat scans, to make sure you fit the trial’s eligibility criteria.
Once accepted, you’ll have an initial visit to again check your physical condition and possibly some additional testing. These checks will give them a baseline to compare with during and at the end of the trial.
If the trial is a randomized design, you’ll be put into a group. Neither you or your doctor control which group you are in. You’ll go through the steps of the treatment as outlined in the informed consent and have regular tests to check your progress, both for improvement in your FL and for any toxicity. Treatments usually continue for either a specified period of time or as long as your disease is not progressing, as long as there are no serious side effects, and this will be described in the consent form. After you finish treatment, there will be periodic evaluations, exams, blood work (blood tests) and scans to monitor you and your FL.
Our mission and FL trials
As a dedicated Follicular Lymphoma charity, we’re passionate about leading new and determined efforts to find cures for FL. Follicular Lymphoma clinical trials are an essential part of this. However, before taking part in one, it’s vital to make sure you have all the information you need.
Our Precision Medicine Programme aims to improve and speed up the development of new treatments and, ultimately, a cure.
Please don’t hesitate to contact the Follicular Lymphoma Foundation and connect with the FLF community.
ASH annual meeting 2021 round-up
ASH annual meeting 2021 round-up
At the American Society for Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting in December 2021, the most up-to-date research was shared on Follicular Lymphoma (FL), as well as other blood cancers. In this roundup, read about the biggest breakthroughs in treatment regimens for FL patients and other important updates.
CAR T-cell therapies show a good response in most FL patients
CAR T-cell therapies (patient’s own T cells engineered to attack B cells) have gained traction in recent years, after showing promising results in a range of B cell lymphomas. In Large B-Cell Lymphoma (a more aggressive lymphoma that can also develop in FL patients), the ZUMA-7 and TRANSFORM trials showed that CAR-T are better than the current standard of high dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell support for those who relapsed soon after initial therapy, with expected but manageable side-effects.
In the ZUMA-5 and ELARA trials 90% of FL patients responded well to CAR-T. It is still too early to know precisely how long remissions will last, however, around 40% of patients relapsed within 2 years of treatment. Further research is underway to understand why some patients relapse, then how to prevent that, and how to better predict which patients would benefit most from CAR-T.
Bispecific antibodies may offer a more accessible option for FL patients in the future
Bispecific antibodies are designed to bind both B and T cells. This ultimately enables patients’ T-cells to target and kill the cancer B cells. Although these bispecific antibodies are still in the early phases of development, rapid progress means several look very promising in a range of lymphomas, including FL. Mosunetuzumab showed encouraging results in Relapsed/ Refractory FL patients. Some advantages to bispecific antibodies are that they may be more broadly available and easily administered compared to CAR-T.
Other promising therapies in the pipeline
The cancer cell death promoting drug venetoclax, and BTK inhibitors (particularly in combination with immunochemotherapy) have transformed treatment for CLL (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia), but are less active against FL. However, newer generations of both classes of drugs are being tested in FL. There are also other classes of drugs that are still in early development in FL, but well-worth keeping an eye on as clinical trials are underway.
Finding ways to better monitor disease progression and response to treatment
One reason patients relapse even after having responded well to a chosen therapy, is due to small numbers of lymphoma cells remaining in their bodies. This is referred to as Minimal Residual Disease (MRD). Over time, these can grow and lead to the lymphoma returning, needing further treatment. MRD can be measured in a tumour biopsy, the bone marrow or even blood.
In FL, MRD testing is still in its infancy compared to other blood cancers such as Multiple Myeloma, where MRD testing is often monitored during and after treatment to aid decision-making in therapy regimens. The biggest challenges are: testing the tumour tissue is often difficult and invasive for patients; and due to the slow-growing nature of FL, MRD blood markers are currently very hard or not possible to detect.
The good news is that the underlying biology of FL is being unravelled more and more, and together with exciting technological advances, the future for detecting and monitoring MRD in FL looks encouraging.
What are clinical trials?
What are clinical trials?
Any potential treatments for Follicular Lymphoma (and other forms of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma) must undergo extensive testing. They must be fully researched to confirm that they work, are safe to use, and are more effective than other current treatments.
Clinical trials test the treatment’s effects on human participants and are split into four phases. By joining a clinical trial, you may be able to try a therapy that is not yet available to the general public.
It’s vital to ensure that a specific trial is suitable for you. If you’re interested in taking part, the best thing to do is to speak to your cancer specialist. As they have your records and test results, they can guide you on which Follicular Lymphoma clinical trials are safe and appropriate for you. Trials may be available through your haematologist’s or oncologist’s office or center, or may require travel to a different center. You’ll need a medical referral.
The four phases of clinical trials represent different stages of a treatment’s development.
Phase I trials are the earliest phase, designed to select the best dose and schedule of giving a drug or combination. It is important to understand that there is wide variability within phase I trials; not all are for new drugs just beginning development. Some Phase 1 trials, for example, test a combination of established drugs so much more would already be known about their safety and efficacy. These types of questions can be answered by the clinical trial team. Phase II trials most commonly test a new treatment (or combination) for a disease. In lymphoma studies, sometimes the disease will be limited to FL, while other trials may include all indolent lymphoma types or even other types. Generally, you and your doctor will know what treatment you are receiving in Phase I and II trials. Phase III studies are randomized comparisons of a standard therapy arm (also called cohort) with an experimental treatment arm (or arms), which might be adding something to or replacing standard treatment. You will be randomly assigned to one of the arms. Depending on the trial you may or may not know what arm you are on. To avoid bias, studies that are designed to test whether adding a drug to standard therapy is of benefit may include a placebo control for the experimental drug, but it is important to know that in such trials you will still be getting standard treatment. In FL, there are times when you may not need treatment, i.e. standard care is observation. In those cases, a Phase III trial might be designed to see whether earlier treatment is helpful, in which case there may be a no treatment arm, but that would be the normal approach for you at that point in time. This will be carefully explained to you by the study team and in the informed consent document. Phase IV trials are done after a treatment has been approved for your disease and might be designed to get more information about the treatment, such as side-effects..
What you need to know before taking part in a clinical trial
If you and your doctor decide that a Follicular Lymphoma clinical trial is a good option for you, the researchers will explain the treatment, how it is given and where , for example whether or not you’ll have to stay in hospital.
They also have a legal and ethical obligation to tell you:
- What the trial’s aim is.
- What the different treatment groups are.
- Potential benefits.
- Likely risks and side effects – very new trials may not have a vast amount of information on side effects but it’s vital the researchers give you all the details they do already have.
- What sorts of tests or checkups you’ll have throughout the trial.
- How often you’ll need follow-up appointments.
- Whether the researchers want to keep blood or tissue samples for future research.
- Where your treatment will be.
All of this information will be contained in the “Informed Consent Document” and Patient Information Sheet that must be given to you to read, review and then have the opportunity to ask questions about, and discuss with your family or other support systems if you want. After you sign the consent form, you will be given a copy of the signed form to keep as well.
It’s important to remember that you can leave the trial at any time, and do not need to give a reason. If you choose to leave the trial, it won’t impact your ongoing care, however, you should always discuss this with your doctor to make sure that there is no interruption in your care .
What happens in Follicular Lymphoma clinical trials?
Joining a Follicular Lymphoma clinical trial usually starts with a discussion with the doctor and their clinical trial staff. They will explain the trial and answer any questions. If you agree to enroll in the trial, you will sign an informed consent form. The team will also carry out screening, generally an exam, lab work (blood tests) and in some cases repeat scans, to make sure you fit the trial’s eligibility criteria.
Once accepted, you’ll have an initial visit to again check your physical condition and possibly some additional testing. These checks will give them a baseline to compare with during and at the end of the trial.
If the trial is a randomized design, you’ll be put into a group. Neither you or your doctor control which group you are in. You’ll go through the steps of the treatment as outlined in the informed consent and have regular tests to check your progress, both for improvement in your FL and for any toxicity. Treatments usually continue for either a specified period of time or as long as your disease is not progressing, as long as there are no serious side effects, and this will be described in the consent form. After you finish treatment, there will be periodic evaluations, exams, blood work (blood tests) and scans to monitor you and your FL.
Our mission and FL trials
As a dedicated Follicular Lymphoma charity, we’re passionate about leading new and determined efforts to find cures for FL. Follicular Lymphoma clinical trials are an essential part of this. However, before taking part in one, it’s vital to make sure you have all the information you need.
Our Precision Medicine Programme aims to improve and speed up the development of new treatments and, ultimately, a cure.
Please don’t hesitate to contact the Follicular Lymphoma Foundation and connect with the FLF community.
“Running the Virgin Money London Marathon” by Emily Watson
“Running the Virgin Money London Marathon” by Emily Watson
On Sunday 3rd October 2021, I ran every single step of the London Marathon for Follicular Lymphoma Foundation. Words honestly cannot express the feeling of crossing that finish line knowing how much money and awareness I had made for the Follicular Lymphoma Foundation (FLF) – I raised over £3,000 for the FLF!
When I found out I had got a ballot place for the Marathon many large charities contacted me asking to raise money for them, many of which I would have loved to raise money for. However, I chose the FLF as it is a charity very close to my family’s hearts. My uncle was diagnosed with Follicular Lymphoma 9 years ago and I felt it would be a great opportunity to support a charity that directly focuses on his cancer.
The FLF were so grateful for me choosing them as a charity to run the London Marathon for, I was their first ever London Marathon runner, and it was just as huge for them as it was for me.
The Training
I started slowly training for this back in March when I struggled to run over a mile. My amazing mum, who is not a runner herself, would wake up early with me and drive us to a flat area where we would both tackle a small run. Together we got up to 5K!
My fantastic dad (who is a runner and has done this loads of times) then took me and mum out for a run pushing us to about 5.5 miles! This was huge at the time; it was my longest run ever and I had just done this with both of my parents!
I started using a 12-week training plan, which as it got longer, became tougher and more time-consuming. I will always remember my first long run where my boyfriend, Jack, and I had done about 9.5 miles when we thought we had done 8 miles! Both of us were over the moon and it was a huge step in my training. I also booked into a couple of half marathons to help keep my training going and have a feel for races; practising pacing myself and running around other people.
I then had to start pushing for the higher miles; 15, then 18 and then 20! It was not easy, but I would always share on Facebook how I was getting on whilst sharing my JustGiving page. After completing these longer runs, having the support through donations was incredible and helped me so much.
I remember the day I hit my target. I was so happy, I cried! I couldn’t believe that I had raised £1,000 for a charity that meant so much to me. As the date was getting closer, I was raising more and more money. I remember discussing with Caroline Lane, FLF’s Head of Marketing and Communications, one day how I’d love to reach £2,000 and then that day I did!
The Marathon
That day, the nerves did not hit until I was in Greenwich Park surrounded by thousands of other people about to run the race. While waiting to start, the lady next to me was tearing up which made me emotional. You really start to think at this point; you remember all the training you have done, all the money and awareness you have raised.
As I began the run, there was one man who run past me and said, ‘thank you for running for Follicular Lymphoma, I am a follicular lymphoma survivor myself’. Unfortunately, I did not get the chance to chat with him further, but to have someone say that to me at the start of the race really touched me. I was so proud to be wearing the FLF branded running vest that the charity had provided for me.
Caroline Lane, FLF’s Head of Marketing and Communications, who had supported me with the fundraising came to cheer me on at the start of the race which was fantastic. She was so smiley and encouraging – it was amazing to have the support from the charity themselves. My family and friends were there every step of the way, it was honestly the most surreal feeling. I could not be more thankful to everyone that was there supporting me on the day!
Nothing felt better than seeing my family and friends when it started getting tough from mile 15. Though I kept pushing as I told myself I was not allowed to walk unless I had run further than the 20 miles. I knew I could do it as I had done that before. Seeing my family at 18 miles was a huge help as I was massively struggling at this point (running about 15 minutes a mile) but I kept going!
When I hit between 19-20 miles, there was a lovely lady who was walking alongside me that looked like she was struggling too. We got talking and started sharing our stories and journeys. We completed the last bit of the race together and I could not have been more thankful to her as I would not have been able to keep going without her support! We were laughing and embracing the atmosphere (and the pain) – it was phenomenal!
Crossing that finish line had never felt so incredible and I could not have done it without the support of everyone there.
The support I received from the FLF was incredible and made it even more worthwhile. They were so grateful for every penny that was raised! I even had Nicola Mendelsohn, who founded the charity, contact me directly on Instagram after the race to personally thank and congratulate me.
By the end of the race, I had raised over £3k for Follicular Lymphoma Foundation. I’d encourage anyone to raise money for the FLF – their support throughout has been incredible – from the moment I told them I was running for them in the Marathon to on the day and after, checking in on me a day or so after to ensure I was ok and resting. If you have any doubts about doing fundraisers for them, don’t. You will be supported brilliantly throughout the whole process. I’d like to thank everyone who donated and helped raise over £3k for the FLF.
The Follicular Lymphoma Foundation research goals – patient poll results – September 2021
The Follicular Lymphoma Foundation research goals – patient poll results – September 2021
The FLF places the patient at the heart of our organisation. This survey collated the unmet needs and prioritised our research goals.
The FLF announces appointment of its first chief medical officer
The FLF announces appointment of its first chief medical officer
Dr Mitchell Smith brings to the FLF over three decades of experience focused on blood cancers.
The Follicular Lymphoma Foundation (FLF) has today announced the appointment of Dr Mitchell Smith as the Foundation’s first Chief Medical Officer. Mitchell R. Smith, MD, PhD was most recently the Professor of Medicine, Chief of the Division of Haematology and Oncology, and Associate Cancer Centre Director for Clinical Investigations, at the George Washington University Cancer Centre in Washington DC.
Initially Dr Smith will lead the Precision Medicine Programme which aims to develop new and personalised treatments for Follicular Lymphoma patients.
“We are delighted to have Mitchell join the FLF at a period of significant growth and development for the charity. Our mission is to lead new and determined efforts to find treatments and cures for FL – and I’m thrilled that Mitchell will now lead on these exciting new developments. His depth and range of experience in lymphoma, which includes clinical trials, translational research and patient care and education, will be especially valuable during this pivotal time at the charity” said Lady Mendelsohn CBE, Founder of the FLF.
Dr Smith said “It is an honour to take on this role in the FLF at such an exciting and significant period in their journey. With rapid scientific advances leading to deeper understanding of lymphoma biology and to novel targeted therapeutics, this is an opportune time to focus on follicular lymphoma. I am looking forward to helping deliver the significant progress planned by the FLF, especially via the Foundation’s Precision Medicine Programme with the ultimate goal of developing new treatments and ultimately cure for FL” said Dr Smith.