Lenalidomide and rituximab
Lenalidomide are capsules you take at home. You have them every day, for 21 days. Then you have a break for 7 days. This is a treatment cycle.
You have rituximab as a
drip into a vein or as an
injection under your skin (subcutaneous injection). You have it on the 1st day (day 1) of each treatment cycle. It takes a few hours for the drip into your vein and 5 minutes for the injection under your skin.
You continue having treatment for as long as your cancer stays the same and the side effects aren’t too bad. You can have up to 6 treatment cycles (about 6 months).
After 6 treatment cycles you might be able to continue having rituximab alone. This is called rituximab maintenance.
During the rituximab maintenance, you have treatment every 3 months, for up to 2 years. You doctor can tell you more about this.
Lenalidomide, rituximab and bendamustine
You have bendamustine as a drip into your vein. And rituximab as a drip into a vein or as an injection under your skin. You have them on the 1st day of each treatment cycle. This takes a few hours. On the second day (day 2) you just have bendamustine.
You start taking lenalidomide capsules on day 3 of each treatment cycle. You take them every day, for 19 days. Then you have a break for 7 days.
You continue having treatment for as long as your cancer stays the same and the side effects aren’t too bad. You can have up to 6 treatment cycles.
After 6 cycles, you might be able to continue having rituximab alone (rituximab maintenance) for up to 2 years. Your doctor can tell you more about this.
Blood tests
Everyone taking part has some extra blood tests. You have them before the start of treatment and then:
- on day 14 of cycle 1
- before cycle 2 and cycle 4
- at the end of cycle 6
- after 1 year of maintenance treatment
- at the end of maintenance
The trial team might ask your permission to store your blood samples for up to 15 years and use them in future studies. You don’t have to agree to have your samples stored if you don’t want to. You can still take part in this trial.
Bone marrow and lymph node biopsy
You have a small amount of bone marrow fluid and tissue taken (a
bone marrow biopsy 
) as part of this trial.
You have the biopsy before the start of treatment and you might have it again at the end. This is only if the doctors find lymphoma cells in the first biopsy.
You might also have a lymph node biopsy before the start of your treatment.
Doctors use your lymph node and bone marrow samples to confirm your follicular lymphoma diagnose. They will also look for proteins to see if they can tell how the treatment is working.
The researchers will also ask you if they can keep your samples for up to 15 years and use it in future studies. Again, you don’t have to agree to have your samples stored if you don’t want to.