Dr Ashok M L, Internal Medicine, Apollo Speciality Hospital | Tuesday, 15 September 2026
For someone living with lymphoma, immunity can become part of everyday decision-making in ways that are often invisible to others. It can influence whether a busy commute feels manageable, whether dinner with friends needs extra planning, or how a family responds when someone at home develops a cough.
This is not about living in fear or avoiding life. It is about recognising that lymphoma—and some of the treatments used to manage it—may change how the body responds to common infections. Awareness can help patients, families, workplaces and communities offer practical support without making someone feel isolated.
Lymphoma can affect the immune system directly, while treatment may add another layer of vulnerability. Anti-CD20 therapies, including rituximab, target B cells, which play an important role in producing antibodies. A 2026 study of people starting anti-CD20-containing treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma observed falling levels of IgG antibodies and T-helper cells, alongside increased infections.
In practical terms, this may make ordinary exposures feel less ordinary. A crowded indoor meeting, a child returning from school with a respiratory virus, or a packed train during flu season may require a different calculation than before. Risk can vary depending on treatment type, timing, medical history and the level of infection circulating in the community. This is why individual conversations with a clinical team remain important.
Lymphoma is a chapter in a person’s story, not the whole book; the people around them can help ensure that the story continues with hope, connection, and belonging
Recovery can also be more complex than it appears from the outside. A person may have completed treatment, returned to work and feel physically stronger, while certain parts of their immune protection are still rebuilding. A 2026 study of rituximab-treated B-cell lymphoma patients found that COVID-19 booster antibody responses remained weaker than in healthy controls, even when B-cell counts had returned to normal.
This does not mean vaccination has no value. Instead, it highlights why protection may need to be layered. Vaccines can remain important, while practical measures—such as good ventilation, avoiding close contact with people who are unwell, testing when appropriate and seeking advice early if symptoms develop—may offer added reassurance. The 2026 CORSA study also found that lymphoma patients could have weaker and less diverse vaccine-related immune responses than healthy participants.
The social impact of lymphoma is often shaped by the people and systems around the patient. A flexible employer can make it easier to avoid unnecessary exposure during treatment. Friends can reschedule a visit if they are ill. Families can make plans for infection seasons, travel or social events without making the person with lymphoma feel excluded.
For younger people with lymphoma, conversations about immunity may be particularly important. A 2026 Ontario study of children, adolescents and young adults found that infection-related intensive-care admissions were substantially more common among lymphoma patients than among matched controls. The research suggested that, for some people, previously unrecognised inherited immune differences may be relevant. This may make a careful history of severe or repeated infections useful during care and follow-up.
Access to healthcare also matters. Immune monitoring, including checks of IgG antibody levels, may help clinicians identify people who need closer follow-up or preventive support. Yet the anti-CD20 study found that only a minority of patients had this type of monitoring. Differences in access to testing, specialist advice, vaccinations and timely treatment may influence how confidently a person can return to work, education, travel and social life.
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There is also reason for cautious optimism. Early research is exploring personalised approaches that may help the immune system recognise lymphoma cells more effectively. While these treatments are not yet routine care, they point towards a future of more tailored immune support.
For now, awareness remains powerful. Lymphoma may change everyday risk calculations, but informed choices, supportive relationships and accessible healthcare can help people stay connected to the lives that matter to them.
