Chlorambucil Anyone?

I was diagnosed with small cell lymphocytic lymphoma in May of this year. I had  B symptoms and the pathology reports indicated I had three worse prognosis factors, positive expression of CD38, ZAP-70 and deletion 11q22.3. I have extensive abdominal nodes. I am being treated at a cancer center in my hometown  My Oncologist is the esteemed founder of the center. He started me on oral chemo ,Chlorambucil ,and predisone.  I can't believe this but they gave me an overdose of prednisone which made me very ill. The instructions on the   bottle said to take  five  20.mg. tablets of prednisone  a day for eight weeks.After thirteen days of this high dosage I could not sleep and was ready to climb walls.I called the doctor and told them what was going on and they  told me to come in right away.There had been a mistake. I was only supposed to take this dosage for the first  five days of the cycle. I had to suspend treatment for a few weeks and now I am back on the cycle of prednisone and Chlorambucil . I am wondering why I am on chlorambucil when every one else I have read about  with the same condition I have is on Rituxin. It seems to be a much more effective drug. I have good insurance  so  I wonder why my doctor  has not put me on it. Chlorambucil seems to be outdated. I never read of anyone being on it. After that huge mistake  in the beginning I am also wondering if I should trust this clinic.They have a very good reputation and all former patients have nothing but good things to say about it. I just hope I am not being shortchanged in my treatment.Any  one.else taking Chlorambucil(leukeran)?

SLL is similiar to CLL, a indolent cancer that responds to treatment but almost always recurs.  I think chlorambucil is a reasonable option in your case.  Fludarabine is also possible, but more expensive, must be given IV and more side effects.  Rituxan could be used but it seems reasonable to keep it in reserve for relapses.  Its much more expensive and is given IV.

Thanks for your input. I guess I should be thankful that Chlorambucil has had little side effects on  me except for bladder irritation and some random abdominal pains. I was just curious as to why I had never read of anyone else with SLL  being on Chlorambucil. I realize that different lymphoma types require different  treatments. Thanks to the internet one can become quite educated on the subject and can communicate with others with the  same disease.Thanks again

here is an article for your review:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/406546_print

Thanks again, the article was very informative and I am satisfied that I am receiving  the most appropriate first line treatment.I would not like to have to take anything that has a lot of adverse side effects  or anything that would have to be administered through an IV line.My veins are ruined after a weeks hospital stay  with several IV line mishaps. I really appreciate your help.