A drug used to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). It is also used to treat slow-growing B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that has gotten worse within 6 months of treatment with other anticancer drugs. It is being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. Bendamustine hydrochloride may damage the DNA in cancer cells and cause them to die. It is a type of alkylating agent and a type of antimetabolite. Also called Treanda.