Lymphoma
Cancer of the lymphatic system, affecting lymph nodes and tissues.
Cancer Treatment
Lymphoma
Lymphocytes are part of the body’s lymphatic system, which includes organs like the lymph nodes, spleen, thymus and bone marrow. Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system, which develops in lymphocytes, a category of white blood cells. These cells help fight diseases/infections in the body and play an essential role in building the body’s immune system.
Due to the presence of cancer cells in the lymph system, it quickly spreads to different tissues and organs throughout the body, most often to the liver, bone marrow, or lungs. They are often treatable, and the prognosis depends on the type and the stage of lymphoma.
People can develop lymphoma irrespective of age, but it is among the most common causes of cancer in children and young adults aged 15 to 24, and the condition is often treatable.
Symptoms of Lymphoma
- Some people will not experience any symptoms. Others may notice a swelling of the lymph nodes. There are lymph nodes all around the body. Swelling often occurs in the neck, groin, abdomen, or armpits.
- The swellings are often painless and may become painful if the enlarged glands press nearby organs, bones, and other structures, and some people tend to confuse lymphoma with back pain.
- Lymph nodes can also swell during common infections, such as a cold. In lymphoma, the swelling due to infections does not resolve and is usually accompanied by discomfort.
The overlapping of symptoms can often lead to misdiagnosis, and it would be best for individuals with persistent swollen glands to have a consultation with their doctor.
Types of Lymphoma
There are two main types of lymphoma: Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, both having multiple sub-types.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, the most common type, typically develops from B and T lymphocytes (cells) in the lymph nodes or tissues throughout the body. Tumour growth in non-Hodgkin lymphoma may not affect every lymph node, often skipping some and growing on others. It accounts for 95% of lymphoma cases.
Hodgkin lymphoma
Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer of the immune system, identified by the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells, which are abnormally large B lymphocytes. In people with Hodgkin Lymphoma, the cancer usually moves from one lymph node to an adjacent one.
Other symptoms of both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma may include:
- ongoing fever without infection
- night sweats, fever, and chills
- weight loss and reduced appetite
- unusual itching
- persistent fatigue or a lack of energy
- pain in lymph nodes after drinking alcohol
Some additional symptoms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma include:
- persistent coughing
- shortness of breath
- pain or swelling in the abdomen
- Pain, weakness, paralysis, or altered sensations may occur if an enlarged lymph node presses against spinal nerves or the spinal cord.
Diagnosis of Lymphoma
A doctor may request imaging scans to help diagnose lymphoma since there are no routine screening tests for lymphoma. If an individual is experiencing persistent viral symptoms, it is advisable to seek medical consultation immediately.
The doctor gets acquainted with the individual’s personal and family medical history and tries to rule out other factors. A thorough physical examination will be conducted, including a closer inspection of the chin, neck, abdomen, groin, and armpits, where swellings tend to occur. He then looks for signs of infection near lymph nodes since this accounts for most cases of swelling.
Risk factors of Lymphoma
Different risk factors increase the risk of both types of lymphoma.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Risk factors for non-Hodgkin lymphoma include:
- Age: Most lymphomas occur in people aged 60 years and older. However, some types are more likely to develop in children and young adults.
- Sex: Some types are more likely in women. Men have a higher risk of other types of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.
- Ethnicity and location: African American and Asian American people have a lower risk for non-Hodgkin lymphoma than white people. Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma is more common in developed nations.
- Chemicals and radiation: Nuclear radiation and certain agricultural chemicals have links to non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
- Immunodeficiency: Individuals with a less active immune system have higher risks due to the intake of anti-rejection medications following an organ transplant or HIV.
- Autoimmune diseases: This type of disease occurs when the immune system attacks the body’s cells examples include rheumatoid arthritis and celiac disease.
- Infection: Certain viral and bacterial infections that transform lymphocytes, such as the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), increase the risk. This virus causes glandular fever.
- Breast implants: These lead to the formation of anaplastic large-cell lymphoma in the breast tissue.
- Body weight and diet: Excess weight and obesity may affect the development of lymphomas. However, more research is necessary to confirm the link.
Hodgkin lymphoma
Risk factors for Hodgkin lymphoma include:
Risk factors for Hodgkin lymphoma include:
- Infectious mononucleosis: The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can cause mononucleosis. This disease increases the risk of lymphoma.
- Age: It affects young people aged 20–30 years, and those above 55 years have a higher risk of lymphoma.
- Sex: Hodgkin lymphoma is more common in men than women.
- Family history: The risk is slightly higher in individuals if the sibling is infected with Hodgkin lymphoma, and the risk significantly increases if the sibling is an identical twin.
- HIV infection: This can weaken the immune system and increase the risk of lymphoma.
Treatment for Lymphoma
Chemotherapy is one of the possible treatments that doctors use to treat lymphoma. The course of treatment depends on the type of lymphoma a person has and the stage it has reached.
Indolent or slow-growing lymphoma may not require treatment. Watchful waiting may be enough to make sure the cancer does not spread.
If treatment is necessitated it may involve the following:
- Biologic therapy: Drugs that introduce living microorganisms into the body are prescribed to stimulate the immune system to attack the cancer cells.
- Antibody therapy: A medical professional inserts synthetic antibodies into the bloodstream, which respond to the toxin produced by cancer cells.
- Chemotherapy: A healthcare team administers aggressive drug treatment to target and kill cancer cells.
- Radioimmunotherapy: This therapy delivers high-powered radioactive doses directly into cancerous B cells and T-cells to destroy them.
- Radiation therapy: A doctor recommends this type of therapy to target and destroy small areas of cancer. Radiation therapy uses concentrated doses of radiation to kill cancerous cells.
- Stem cell transplantation: This procedure helps restore damaged bone marrow following high-dose chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
- Steroids: This procedure involves injecting steroids to treat lymphoma.
- Surgery: A surgeon may remove the spleen or other organs after the lymphoma has spread. However, a cancer specialist, or oncologist, will more generally perform surgery to obtain a biopsy sample.
Outlook of Lymphoma
More than 72% of people diagnosed with non-Hodgkin Lymphoma have increased possibilities of surviving for at least five years with appropriate treatments. 86.6% of people with Hodgkin Lymphoma receiving appropriate treatment have increased chances of surviving for at least five years.
The chances of better treatment outcomes decrease as lymphoma advances. It is essential to seek medical attention for any symptoms of a cold or infection that continue for an extended period. Early diagnosis is vital to improve an individual’s survival chances with successful treatment outcomes.
Schedule Your Doctor Consultation Online!
Need medical advice? Schedule a visit with our specialists!
Testimonial
Feedback From Our Happy Patients
Insurances We Cover
