Non Hodgkins Lymphoma v's Tattoo

Hi Ian,

Don't know about the Rituximab, does it affect your immune system at all?

I asked my oncologist how long I'd have to be off chemo before it was 'safe' to have another tattoo ..... he gave me that look (you know what I mean I'm sure) and said to ask the chemo nurses. They wouldn't commit to an answer either!!

Still haven't had mine done! I think the most important thing would be to establish how robust your immune system is and only the medics can tell you that.

Bad Fairy x

See below what rituximab does, might not be wise whilst having treatment but as Fairy says only your consultant can advise you.

Rituximab  

Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody. Monoclonal antibodies are used to try to destroy some types of cancer cells while causing little harm to normal cells. They are designed to recognise certain proteins that are found on the surface of some cancer cells. The monoclonal antibody recognises the protein and locks onto it (like a key in a lock). This may then trigger the body’s immune system to attack the cancer cells and can sometimes cause the cells to destroy themselves.

Rituximab is used to treat several different types of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It locks onto a protein called CD20, which is found on the surface of one of the main types of normal white blood cells (B-cell lymphocytes). It is also present on the surface of most of the abnormal B-cell lymphocytes that occur in some types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Rituximab acts by attacking both abnormal (malignant) and normal B-cell lymphocytes. The body can quite quickly replace any normal white blood cells that are damaged.

hiya, i had hodgkins lymphoma, and was on ABVD, i asked my nurses and doctor because i wanted a tattoo aswell, and they were quite suprised at me asking, because i was the youngest there at 20 years old, and all the other patients are in ther 50's , 60's on wards, so i guess they werent used to that kind of question. any ways, i had finished my treatment, and i got told to wait 6 mnths for a tattoo or peircing to reduce risk of infection and all that.... so now ive still got another 3-4 months to wait... hope this helps, but while having treatment i wouldnt risk it...

Thanks for the advice everyone . Think I'll wait a bit. I know what you mean about the look Bad Fairy, sometimes they make you feel like a school kid, never mind they do their best.