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Font Size:  Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia...    1. What is
Waldenström macroglobulinemia?      Waldenström
macroglobulinemia (WM) is a rare, indolent (slow-growing) non-
Hodgkin lymphoma (cancer that begins in the cells of the immune
system). WM is also called lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma. It starts
in white blood cells called B lymphocytes or B cells.       B
cells are an important part of the body’s immune system. They
form in the lymph nodes, spleen, and other lymphoid tissues,
including bone marrow (the soft, spongy tissue inside bones).
Some B cells become plasma cells, which make, store, and release
antibodies. Antibodies help the body fight viruses, bacteria,
and other foreign substances.       Lymphoplasmacytic cells are
cells that are in the process of maturing from B cells to plasma
cells. In WM, abnormal lymphoplasmacytic cells multiply out of
control, producing large amounts of