Sunday, May 23, 2010
Lymphoma - Overview
Overview
The term “lymphoma” identifies more than 67 subtypes of cancer that affect the lymphatic system. These 67 subtypes are divided into two groups of lymphoma:
- Hodgkin Lymphoma: Representing 6 types of lymphoma and more than 800 annual diagnoses
- Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL): Representing at least 61 types of lymphoma and more than 66,000 annual diagnoses.
Hodgkin lymphoma and NHL differ in the way they originate, proliferate, and are treated.
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma develops in the lymphatic system, which plays a vital role in the body’s ability to fight off infection. In NHL, lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) undergo anomalous mutations that cause tumors to develop.
Signs and Symptoms
- Swollen Lymph Nodes in the neck, armpit, or groin
- Night Sweats
- Fatigue
- Weight Loss
- Abdominal Pain or Swelling
- Itchy Sensations
- Chest Pain
- Trouble Breathing
- Fever
- Coughing
Learn More
Understand the signs and symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis and staging, treatment, and prognosis of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma by visiting the Lymphoma Research Foundation. Also, visit the Know Cancer Community and Education pages to share your stories and learn more about the effects and future of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Hodgkin Lymphoma
Hodgkin lymphoma, also known as Hodgkin’s disease, is a cancer that originates in the lymph tissue of the lymph nodes, spleen, liver, and bone marrow. It is distinguished from other forms of lymphoma by the presence of the Reed-Sternberg cell.
Signs and Symptoms
The signs and symptoms associated with Hodgkin’s lymphoma are flu-like in nature. As a result, many patients ignore their symptoms, wrongfully assuming that they can be treated with over-the-counter flu and cold remedies. Symptoms may include:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Night Sweats
- Weight Loss
- Itchy Skin
Mantle cell lymphoma
Epidemiology
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (NHLs) are a very heterogeneous group of cancers that develop in the lymph nodes present throughout the body. There are over 25 subtypes of NHL, and mantle cell lymphoma accounts for 6 to 8% of these cases. In older staging systems, mantle cell lymphoma was classified as indolent because it was (and still is) generally incurable with chemotherapy. It also occurs more often in elderly patients, which is more characteristic of indolent NHL. However, the average survival is significantly shorter than with other types of indolent lymphomas, only two to three years. Currently, most oncologists view mantle cell lymphoma as an aggressive type and treat it accordingly. Approximately 4600 patients are diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma in the United States each year.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of mantle cell lymphoma is most often unknown. As with most cancers, a family history increases a patient’s risk to some extent. In addition, suppression of the immune system may lead to the development of mantle cell lymphoma. This includes immune suppression associated with organ transplant (from the drugs taken to prevent organ rejection) and with HIV/AIDS infection. Occupational exposures, notably pesticides, also increase the risk of mantle cell lymphoma. In fact, the Midwest, where farming is prevalent, has the highest incidence of NHL in the United States. Finally, infection with viruses, such as hepatitis C and the Epstein-Barr virus, may increase the risk of developing mantle cell lymphoma.
Signs and Symptoms
Enlarged (swollen) lymph nodes are the most common presenting sign in patients with mantle cell lymphoma. The swollen lymph nodes are usually hard, fixed in place, and painless to the touch. In addition, some patients also have non-specific symptoms, such as fevers, drenching night sweats, and unexplained weight loss greater than 10% of body weight. These are termed "B" symptoms and indicate the presence of more advanced disease. Patients with mantle cell lymphoma tend to have bone marrow and spleen involvement more often than patients with other types of aggressive NHL. In addition, the gastrointestinal tract (most notably the colon) may be involved.
Diagnosis and Staging
The most important diagnostic procedure in patients suspected of having lymphoma is the lymph node biopsy. Many cancers can be diagnosed by inserting a small needle into the tumor mass and withdrawing cells for examination under a microscope. This is called a “fine needle aspiration” or FNA. For lymphoma diagnosis, however, the preferred technique is removal of the entire affected lymph node for examination by a pathologist. It is of the utmost importance that these biopsies are examined by a pathologist who is experienced in diagnosing lymphomas. Knowing the subtype of NHL is crucial for determining long-term prognosis and treatment options.
Once the diagnosis of mantle cell lymphoma is established, patients should undergo tests to determine the extent of disease. This should include CT scans of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis, a bone marrow biopsy, a complete blood count, serum chemistries (including lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and uric acid), and an HIV test. Because the colon is frequently involved in mantle cell lymphoma, a colonoscopy is recommended as routine work-up as well. Hepatitis B testing is also recommended due to reports of hepatitis reactivation during chemotherapy. Finally, a baseline echocardiogram or MUGA scan to evaluate heart function should be done prior to chemotherapy, as some drugs can damage the heart.
All of the above testing leads physicians to establish a "stage" of mantle cell lymphoma for each patient. Stages for mantle cell lymphoma include the following:
- Stage I: One involved lymph node group
- Stage II: Two or more involved lymph node groups on the same side of the diaphragm
- Stage III: Multiple lymph node groups involved on both sides of the diaphragm
- Stage IV: Disseminated involvement of extra-nodal sites, such as the liver or bone marrow
An "A" or "B" is added to the stage number to indicate the presence or absence of the "B" symptoms previously described. For example, a person with mantle cell lymphoma with bone marrow involvement, as well as recurrent night sweats and weight loss, would be considered to have "Stage IVB" disease.
Prognostic Factors
Mantle cell lymphoma itself is considered a poor prognosis in patients with aggressive types of NHL, with an average survival of only two to three years. In addition, stage at the time of diagnosis is a crucial prognostic factor in patients with mantle cell lymphoma: A higher stage indicates more advanced lymphoma, and therefore has a worse prognosis. Unfortunately, 70% of patients with mantle cell lymphoma present with stage IV disease. Other poor prognostic factors include presence of "B" symptoms, concurrent HIV/AIDS infection, age greater than 60 years, high LDH level time of diagnosis (indicative of more advanced disease), and poor performance status (inability to care for oneself).
First-Line Treatment of Mantle Cell Lymphoma
As discussed, mantle cell lymphoma responds significantly less well to standard chemotherapy than other types of aggressive NHL. There is no standard first-line therapy, and all patients with this diagnosis should consider participation in a clinical trial.
Few patients present with localized mantle cell lymphoma, therefore clinical studies of treatments are limited to case series. Most guidelines recommend radiation to the sites of lymphoma, with or without combination chemotherapy such as R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone).
Occasionally, patients may present with aymptomatic, advanced mantle cell lymphoma. Because advanced mantle cell lymphoma is not curable, these patients may be observed carefully until the disease progresses and/or symptoms occur.
Most patients with mantle cell lymphoma present with symptomatic advanced disease (stages III and IV). Treatment should consist of combination chemotherapy plus rituxumab. Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody drug that specifically kills B-cell lymphomas. It is synergistic with chemotherapy, meaning that the two types of medications work better together. All of the regimens used to treat other types of aggressive NHL, such as R-CHOP, have been used to treat mantle cell lymphoma as well. It should be noted that although up to 70% of patients will have a response to these regimens, none are curative in patients with advanced disease.
The regimen R-HyperCVAD has shown higher response rates (up to 80%) and the potential for prolonged survival compared to other regimens. This treatment includes the drugs rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone alternating in cycles with high-dose methotrexate and cytarabine. R-Hyper-CVAD should be used very cautiously in patients over the age of 65 years due to toxicity risks. The addition of "R" or rituximab, in the regimens used to treat mantle cell lymphoma does significant increase the percentage of patients responding to treatment, but it is unclear if this drug actually improves overall survival.
The incurability of mantle cell lymphoma with standard doses of chemotherapy has lead many clinicians to consider hematopoietic stem cell transplant (also called bone marrow transplant) as part of first-line therapy in good performance status patients. The most common type of bone marrow transplant is an autologous transplant, in which the patient’s own blood stem cells are harvested, then re-infused following very-high-dose chemotherapy. Most studies to date have primarily included patients younger than 65 years. In these patients, bone marrow transplant produces durable remissions, with more than 80% of patients living at least three years.
Treatment of Recurrent/Refractory Mantle Cell Lymphoma
Regardless of the initial treatment given, almost all patients with mantle cell lymphoma have recurrent disease. The average time to recurrence of 18 months. Many salvage chemotherapy regimens have been studied for recurrent mantle cell lymphoma. None has proven superior to another, and patients are not cured with these standard-dose regimens. Participation in a clinical trial is always a good choice for patients with relapsed mantle cell lymphoma.
Most salvage regimens include the agent fludarabine:
- FC: fludarabine, cyclophosphamide
- FMR: fludarabine, mitoxantrone, rituximab
- FCMR: fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, mitoxantrone, rituximab
Other agents that have activity in recurrent mantle cell lymphoma include chemotherapy drugs such as cladribine and bendamustine, bortezomib (an agent which disrupts cellular homeostasis and has activity in indolent NHL as well), and anti-angiogenesis drugs such as thalidomide and lenalidomide, which inhibit blood vessel formation by the lymphoma cells.
Bone marrow transplant is also a treatment option for patients with a good performance status who have recurrent or refractory mantle cell lymphoma. This treatment strategy can improve the time patients are without active lymphoma, but bone marrow transplant is not a curative procedure in relapsed mantle cell lymphoma. If the patient has previously undergone an autologous bone marrow transplant as part of first-line therapy, then an allogeneic bone marrow transplant (blood stem cells from another person, usually a sibling) may be offered. Bone marrow transplant, especially the allogeneic type, is associated with a high degree of toxicity and should only be performed at cancer centers with staff experienced and skilled in this procedure.
Supportive Care Issues
Tumor lysis syndrome leading to kidney failure and heart arrhythmias is a risk in mantle cell lymphoma patients with advanced disease. These patients can be identified by a high LDH level, high uric acid level, and/or bulky disease (greater than 10 cm). Patients at high risk for tumor lysis syndrome usually receive their cycle or two of chemotherapy in the hospital.
Infections due to bone marrow involvement with lymphoma and/or chemotherapy immune suppression are common in mantle cell lymphoma patients. Prophylaxis with antibiotics may be appropriate in some, and patients should always contact their oncologist if they develop a fever.
Although they are important drugs for the treatment of mantle cell lymphoma, doxorubicin and mitoxantrone have the potential to cause congestive heart failure. Patients at highest risk are those receiving cumulative doses of doxorubicin greater than 450 mg/m2 or of mitoxantrone greater than 160 mg/m2, age greater than 70 years, and those with a history of heart disease. All patients receiving doxorubicin and/or mitoxantrone should have their heart function monitored regularly, and if there is evidence of heart failure, therapy should be stopped. Once damage to the heart occurs, it is generally not reversible.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Childhood Lymphoma
The term childhood lymphoma refers to cancers that originate in the body's lymphatic tissues during childhood and include the lymph nodes, thymus, spleen, tonsils, adenoids, and bone marrow, as well as the lymph vessels that attach them. Although there are many types of cancer that eventually spread to parts of the lymphatic system, lymphomas are distinctive because they originate there. Statistics report that there are about 1,700 children below 20 years of age who are diagnosed with lymphoma each year in the United States. Childhood lymphomas are divided into two basic categories, Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, based on the appearance of their cancerous cells, and is the third most common type of cancer in children.
Some of the children have other nonspecific symptoms, such as fatigue, poor appetite, itching, or hives. They also show symptoms such as unexplained fever, night sweats, and weight loss.
In the United States, there are nearly 500 new cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma detected each year in children. This disease occurs generally after 3 years of age in children. NHL is more common than Hodgkin's disease in children younger than 15 years of age.
Although there are no lifestyle factors that have been definitely linked to childhood lymphomas, children who have received either chemotherapy or radiation treatments for other types of cancer are at a greater risk of developing lymphoma. The first important step in the diagnosis of the enlarged lymph node is a biopsy that involves the removal and examination of tissue, cells, or fluids from the body.
Treatment of childhood lymphoma is largely determined by staging, a way to classify patients as per the spread of the disease at the time of diagnosis.
There are four stages of lymphoma, ranging from Stage I to Stage IV. This stage at diagnosis guides medical professionals deciding the type of therapy and helps doctors in prognosis. Treatment involves radiation, chemotherapy or both, depending on the type and stage of the cancer as well as the age and health of the child.
Monoclonal Antibody - Alternatives for Treating Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or NHL is a serious affection which occurs due to the presence of B cells (B lymophocytes), a type of white blood cells which usually lead to severe complications such as tumors. Even though, treatments with chemotherapy and radiation are considered effective for many people who suffer from NHL, on the other hand for many pantients these procedures can be very toxic.
In addition to this, specialists have developed in the laboratories a new theraphy to treat NHL, a theraphy known as Monoclonal-antibody which has been proved to be safe and effective for certain patients. As we know the body produces antibodies, substances which have the role to fight against bacteria and viruses. Moreover, monoclonal antibodies have been produced in laboratories like many other antibodies and have the role in producing anti-tumor effects. Since most NHL patients have B cells, treatment with monoclonal-antibodies has brought important results in healing lymphoma and much more they have been prescribed with other toxin or radioactive particles that usually kill cells.
Furthermore, monoclonal antibody treatments usually include medications as Rituxan or Bexxar. First of all, treatments with Rituxan are considered very effective for people who suffer from NHL and may be used for other types of lymphomas too. Rituxan is the only monoclonal antibody treatment approved for NHL and most of the time has been studied in patients that have relapsed low grade NHL. Moreover, it can be taken without other medicines and it is usually given intravenously once a week for 4 weeks. In contrast to other procedures, Rituxin doesn't offer serious side effects such as hair loss, vomiting, and low blood counts.
Secondly, another monoclonal antibody which is being tested in laboratories is Bexxar. This medicine is a murine monoclonal antibody and doesn't have a naked form due to the presence of a radiocative iodine molecule which is attached to it. Just like Rituxan, this agent is administered intravenous with the first dose having a trace amount of radioactivity and the second dose containing most of the radioactive iodine. On the other hand, Bexxar has some negative aspects, such as fever, chills or shakes and in some cases NHL patients may have temporary drop in blood counts.
Thirdly, another monoclonal antibody which has been studied as NHL treatments is Oncolym. This agent has been studied in a radiolabeled form like Bexxar and has proved to be toxic like other radiolabeled antibodies. In contrast, LL2 is a humanized antibody, using a naked, unlabeled form as well as a radiolabeled form.
To conclude, monoclonal antibodies can be very effective in treating NHL due to their low toxicity and also the advantage of combining them with each other and also by using them in combination with chemotherapy or other procedures. It is important to say that people who suffer from NHL should be aware of their condition and become well-informed in order to follow the suitable treatment.
Diagnosing Lymphoma
Lymphoma is one of the few types of cancer that can develop and grow in the body without an individual knowing and it is only when the cancer spreads around the body to other organs that obvious symptoms become apparent. There are a number of symptoms that are commonly associated with lymphoma, such as swollen lymph glands, chronic fatigue, fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss, however all of these symptoms can and often are caused by much less serious conditions such as a simple infection or the flu.
When the symptoms persist however most sufferers go to the doctor and although the doctor might have suspicions as to their cause he will undoubtedly send the individual for a series of diagnostic tests before confirming the presence of lymphoma. These diagnostic tests may include:
Blood tests
Because lymphoma affects the lymphocyte cells that travel in the blood stream, performing microscopic analysis of these cells can show if they are abnormal in shape and size or if they are present in very large numbers. Occasionally the cancerous lymphocytes will still be confined to the lymph glands and so will not show under the microscope however even during this early stage they release chemicals that are known as cancer markers and specific tests on blood can identify these markers.
CT and MRI scans
These are very high definition imaging techniques that can show just how large a tumor has grown and where in the body secondary tumors have spread to, if indeed they have spread. If the primary lymphoma tumor is in a position to be removed by surgery i.e. by removing the affected lymph glands, then the imaging techniques can help to identify possible complications before the surgery begins so that the surgeon doesn’t encounter anything unexpected. They can also help to show how other lymphoma treatments are working because any shrinkage in the tumor size will be apparent when two separate images, taken at different times, are compared.
X-rays
X-rays are commonly used in the diagnosis of lymphoma because when a radioactive agent is injected into the blood stream it causes any abnormal or cancerous cells to glow brightly on the X-ray film. By performing a torso scan i.e. of the major organs, any affected areas can easily be identified and the cancer specialist can get a good idea of the extent of the lymphoma and what treatment will be most appropriate.
Bone and liver biopsies
When other diagnostic tests have been performed and the lymphoma has been identified as late stage then bone and liver biopsies may be carried out. This involves a very thin slither of either bone or liver tissue being taken with a hollow needle and the resulting tissue is examined with a microscope. Generally if cancerous cells are found in either of the two sites then the lymphoma is deemed incurable and any treatment offered will be palliative i.e. it will make life more comfortable and it may prolong life for a short period of time.
Lymphoma can be a difficult cancer to treat and so it is important that it is diagnosed early. Some of the diagnostic tests are uncomfortable however they are much more preferable to endless rounds of chemotherapy and the adverse side effects that accompany it.
How To Stop Lymphoma Ruling Your Life
Being diagnosed with lymphoma will be incredibly stressful and when treatment starts it may be that you are at the hospital five days a week for up to eight weeks at a time. Obviously this is going to put immense pressure on both you and your family and so the times in between treatment courses should be enjoyed as much as possible so that your lymphoma doesn’t completely take over your life.
You may want to book your dream vacation or visit all the places you have always wanted to see. Life is short at the best of times and being diagnosed with a potentially fatal disease means that your life may be shorter than normal, thus you should try to fit in as many fun times as you can while you can.
You don’t have to travel around the world to have fun – a day in the park or a trip to the wildlife sanctuary can also be a lot of fun, especially when you take your family, and spending time with your loved ones will often give you the extra strength you need to fight your disease. As you continue with your treatment you may find that you get tired more quickly but that doesn’t mean you can’t continue to have fun. Playing board games with friends and family can create a lot of laughter and this in itself will help to lift your spirits.
Maybe you could take up a new hobby that gets you out of the house a few times a week and allows you to make new friends that don’t know about your lymphoma. Just feeling and acting normal will help you to forget about your condition for a couple of hours and you may also meet people who give you a new perspective on life so that some of your stress becomes easier to cope with. Do something you have always wanted to do – learn to sail, ice skate or dance; whatever makes you happy. At the end of the day it is your life and you should do whatever you want to do, even if it is out of character or a little bit silly!
Try new foods and visit new restaurants or alternatively learn to cook exquisite meals for you and your family. If cooking isn’t for you then find your own passion and go with it. It doesn’t matter if you embarrass yourself or if you find you’re not a natural – who cares, just have fun with it. Your lymphoma is going to be an important part of your life, as is your treatment, however your state of mind and your happiness are also very important factors and they may help in your recovery.
Do whatever you need to do to stay positive and if this means having copious amounts of fun then so be it. Everybody has something that they find enjoyable however highly energetic activities should be restricted to once or twice a week – after all you don’t want to have to convalesce in bed for weeks on end because you went mad and decided to climb your favorite mountain in two days flat! Just be sensible and if all else fails, have fun.
Treating Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Until now, patients suffering of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma were treated with chemotherapy and radiation. In some of the cases the treatment was useful but in most patients treatment was very toxic and did not lead to a cure. The scientists are trying to find a better treatment that will not have such toxic effects on the organism.
Scientists have tested the "Monoclonal-antibody–based" therapy and the conclusions were promising. An antibody is a substance created by the human immune system to fight against foreign germs, viruses and bacterium. Each antibody is designed to recognize a specific target (antigen). When the antibody and the antigen get connected, the immune system is alerted and so it is ready to fight with the foreign substance.
Monoclonal antibodies are made in a laboratory and are all the same and are designed to fight only one type of foreign substance like tumors.
Until now scientists have tested antibodies created by a mouse model, a human model and chimeric (half mouse, half human) and they want to see which one is the most effective against cancer.
Most of the patients diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma are affected by tumors made out of B-cell lymphocytes, and so, monoclonal antibodies are designed to fight these modified B-cells that create tumors.
During tests, a toxic substance designed to kill cancerous cells has been attached to the antibody in order to reach these cells. Also, radio-labeled antibodies were tested to see if they can improve the radiation therapy. The radio-labeled antibodies are nor suitable in the therapy of those who have bone marrow cancer because radiation could cause hematological toxicity.
Since tests begun the only monoclonal antibody approved to be used was Rituxan. The treatment is followed once a week, for a month and the drug is given intravenously. Rituxan does not give such unbearable side effects like radiation or chemotherapy does; its side effects are only chills, fever or shakes. The radio-labeled combination has been tested too and the anti-tumor effects are quite remarkable. The side effects seamed to be manageable.
Bexxar is another monoclonal antibody that is being tested but is not yet approved for Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It has a radioactive iodine molecule attached to, and also binds to the surface of B-cells. Side effects are similar to those caused by Rituxan, but the patient is advised to take an oral iodine supplement in order to protect its thyroid from any damage caused by radioactive iodine. Bexxar has been tested on low-grade NHL and one third of the patients had a complete remission, and 70% responded well to the treatment.
It is possible for the patient to develop an immune response against the antibody because this is a foreign substance too, but such cases are rare and appear mostly in the patients that did not have chemotherapy and have a less affected immune system.
Oncolym is another monoclonal antibody that is being tested. Results recommend it for a more aggressive form of NHL.
Before replacing the standard treatment, monoclonal antibodies have to be tested more and secure doses must be established for preventing other damages to install in the human body.
Lymphoma: Who is Susceptible?
Lymphoma, as with virtually every other form of cancer, can strike anybody at any time during their life however some groups are more susceptible to the disease than others. Studies around the world have shown that age, gender and geographical location affect whether you have a high or low risk of developing lymphoma however there are always exceptions to these suggestions.
Age
Lymphoma is generally regarded as a disease of the elderly and this is true to a certain extent. There are many more cases reported in the over 60s than in the under 60s however this isn’t the only age group that are thought to be at risk. People over the age of 60 often have weaker immune systems than their younger counterparts and so when mutations occur in the DNA of certain cells the body cannot eradicate these defective cells and they go on to multiply and form a cancerous growth. Strong immune systems kill mutated cells before they have the chance to multiply and differentiate which means that younger people are less susceptible to lymphoma.
Unfortunately it would seem that 25-35 year olds also show a marked increase with regards to number of diagnosed lymphoma cases however researchers are still trying to figure out why this is so.
Gender
Studies have shown that men are about three times more likely to suffer from lymphoma than women. Again research is continuing into why this is so however scientists think that female hormones may play a protective role with regards to lymphoma development or alternatively that male hormones make the gender more prone to the disease. As people age the two genders levels out and the probability of a male developing lymphoma is only slightly higher than that of a female developing the disease. This confirms that hormone levels may in fact influence whether a person is susceptible to the disease or not.
Geographical location
It would seem that people living in highly developed countries such as the UK, America, Australia, Germany etc. are at a much higher risk of being diagnosed with lymphoma than those living in places like Africa and Asia. This may have a lot to do with lifestyle and environment i.e. rich fatty foods, air pollution and other carcinogenic agents may decrease a person’s resistance to DNA mutations, however it may also be due to other factors such as natural immunity and the use of prescription drugs. Again nobody knows for sure and more research is still needed.
Even though certain age groups and people in some geographical locations are more susceptible to lymphoma than others, this doesn’t mean that you are exempt from developing the disease if you don’t fall into these categories. Children as young as two years old have been diagnosed with the disease, and so it is obvious that nobody is one hundred percent safe from lymphoma. You should make a point of checking your lymph glands regularly for any signs of swelling and in addition you should definitely consult the doctor should you feel anything wrong.
General aspects of Mantle Cell Lymphoma
Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) takes part to a group of cancers which affect the lymphatic system. This diseases are known as non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. The immune system is a part of the lymphatic system. It's role is to protect the body against agents that can determine infection and disease. It is represented by a network of tubular channels called lymph vessels that drain a fluid with a watery aspect known as lymph. Lymph is drained from different areas of the body into the bloodstream. It accumulates in the tiny spaces between tissue cells and contains proteins, fats, and certain white blood cells called lymphocytes.
Lymph circulates through the lymphatic system and it is filtered by small structures called lymph nodes. This filtering helps to remove microorganisms (e.g., viruses, bacteria, etc.) and other foreign bodies that can affect the human body. The lymph nodes are organized in groups and they are located throughout the body, including the neck, under the arms, at the elbows, and in the chest, abdomen, and groin. In the lymphatic nodes are stored the white blood cells called lymphocytes. They may also be found in other lymphatic tissues. The lymphatic system includes mot only the lymphatic nodes, but also the spleen and the tonsils. The role of the spleen is to filter worn-out red blood cells and produces lymphocytes. The tonsils helps to fight infection too. Lymphatic tissues also include the thymus. It is a relatively small organ located behind the breastbone. It is thought to play an important role in the immune system until puberty. Another important role in the immune system is played by the bone marrow, which is the spongy tissue inside the cavities of bones. The bone marrow produces blood cells. Lymphatic tissue and circulating lymphocytes can also be found in other regions of the body, such as the skin, small intestine, liver, and other organs. There are two main types of lymphocytes: B-lymphocytes and T-lymphocytess. The B- lymphocytes produces specific antibodies in order to destroy certain invading microorganisms The T-lymphocytes destroy directly the microorganisms or helps the activities of other lymphocytes.
The cause of Mantle cell lymphoma and of the other cancers of the lymphatic system called lymphomas is represented by the errors that can occur in the production of a lymphocyte. This kind of errors determine the lymphocyte to transform into a malignant cell. If there is an abnormal, uncontrolled growth and multiplication of malignant lymphocytes it may lead to the enlargement of a lymph node region or even regions. The malignant process can involve the spleen and bone marrow and spread to other tissues and organs. The results of the malignant proliferation are specific complications that threaten the life of the patient.. The symptoms and physical findings are different from case to case. They depend on the extent and region or regions involved and on different other factors.
Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas are considered to be lymphomas caused by abnormal B-lymphocytes and or derived from abnormal T-lymphocytes. Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a B-cell lymphoma that develops from malignant B-lymphocytes which can be observed in a region of the lymph node called the mantle zone. The Non- Hodgkin's lymphoma may also be described considering certain characteristics of the cancer cells which can be seen under a microscope. it is very important how rapid is their tendance to grow and spread. Non- Hodgkin's lymphoma can be considered a low- grade lymphoma The malignant cells tend to grow and spread slowly. There are few associated symptoms. There are also "intermediate-" or "high-grade" lymphomas in which the malignant cells grow rapidly. This forms require prompt treatment. Experts have classified MCL as an aggressive lymphoma, even if there are some aspects of indolent lymphoma.
According to various studies MCL affects men over the age of 50 years. Many affected patients have widespread disease at diagnosis, with involved regions including multiple lymph nodes, the spleen, and sometimes the bone marrow, the liver, and even regions of the gastrointestinal tract.
Hodgkin's Lymphoma, The White Cell Cancer
Many types of cancer are known our days, but Hodgkin’s disease is one that can be cured if the medical advice and treatment is followed properly. Hodgkin’s disease, named after the physician that identified it, is cancer of the lymphoid tissue. First of all this disease affects the immune defense system, leading to a weak organisms’, unable to fight infectious particles found in human bodies.
In some cases lymphoma develops in organs like stomach or intestines, but mostly in the lymph nodes or the lymphatic tissue.
Two types of lymphoma are known: Hodgkin’s and non Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Hodgkin’s disease affects especially old people that are over 60. The malignant cells developed by Hodgkin’s disease are also known as Reed Sternberg cells.
Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a disease that affects people with weak immune system, and people exposed to the virus called Epstein Barr. It affects people of any age, but most of the cases are seen at old men past 60.
Enlarged lymph nodes and unexpected weight loss are first symptoms for Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and for the confirmation of the disease the possible patients should go to a physician. The procedure of illness determination involves a microscopic watch at a sample of the lymph node tissue.
Depending on the stage when it was discovered, this disease can need a complex or a less complex treatment in order to guarantee patients recovery or even life. In advanced stages lymphoma can be discovered not only in lymph nodes, but almost anywhere including patches of lymphatic tissue or, as I said before, in organs like stomach or intestines.
Lymph nodes are located in different parts of the body including the neck, the chest and groin, and the armpit.
Lymphocytes are divided in two groups: B cells and T cells, each one of these groups with different functions.
The B cells or B lymphocytes are meant to produce immune cells. When an infection is found the B cells change in plasma cells that stick to the infection and secretes antibiotics. The T cells or T lymphocytes come to destroy antigens or infected cells. The B and T cells are part of the normal lymphocytes, but the cause for Hodgkin’s lymphoma the malignant or lymphoma lymphocytes. These cells can divide slowly or rapidly. Either way they cause lymph nodes or other organs to enlarge, depending on their position.
The lymph glands or any other organ, even if we talk about the stomach or intestines, are surely going to be affected by a large group of malignant lymphocytes, making unpleasant consequences unavoidable.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Mantle Cell Lymphoma
Examined under the microscope, the Mantle cell lymphoma appears as an expansion of the mantle zone area of the lymph nodes.It is represented by a homogenous population of malignant small lymphoid cells, which are cancerous cells that travel from the bone marrow to the lymph nodes and spleen. They are different from the normal lymphocytes, they are not mature properly. Mantle cell lymphoma is a rare type of Non- hodgkin's lymphoma.
The lymphocytes are white blood cells produced by the immune system of the human body. Regarding their origin, there are two types of immune cells, the B cells which are made in the bone marrow and the T cells which are made in the thymus. After they are made they are eliminated in the lymph which is a clear liquid that bathes tissues and circulates in the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system in the place where occur the cancers known as lymphomas. If the B cells are affected there can be a Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma which include follicular lymphomas, small non-cleaved cell lymphomas (Burkitt's lymphomas), marginal zone lymphomas (MALT lymphomas), small lymphocyte lymphomas, large cell lymphomas. In this category of diseases is included the mantle cell lymphomas too.
At the beginning, the MCL cells develops in limited areas. Regarding this aspect there are three subsets of MCL cells: the mantle zone type, the nodular type and the blastic or immature type. In the most cases these various types develop together and the diagnoses are of mixed mantle and nodular type. During the development of the MCL the non-cancerous mantle centers also become invaded by cancerous cells. In about 20% of these cases, the cells become larger and they are imature ones.
As it is initially slow-growing, this type of cancer it was first believed to be a low-grade cancer, but the average survival rate it was substantially shortened. Because of the mixed nature of MCL cells, specialists tend to give this disease a new classification. The presence of the blastic type of cells is considered as a high-grade cancer because it spreads at about the rate of other lymphomas belonging to that category. It is very important to describe the precise nature of these cells, because this may help specialists involved in the study of MCL to get to an agreement.
Mantle cell lymphoma affects persons with ages between 50 - 70 years and it is diagnosed more frequently in women. This type of cancer has the shortest average survival of all lymphomas.
Nowadays the cause of MCL is unknown. It has many symptoms that appears in other lymphomas too. Patients generally complain of fatigue, low grade fevers, night sweats, weight loss, anemia, rashes, digestive disturbances, chronic sinus irritation, recurrent infections, sore throat, shortness of breath, muscle and bone aches and edema. A more specific symptom is the spleen enlargement. This clinical aspect is present especially in the nodular type of MCL. An early stage is the swollen lymph nodes. At the beginning this has no explanation because the general health of the patient is good. Anemia is another syptom that characterizes MCL, but it is a mild type of anemia. Some patients can also report lower back pain and burning pain in the legs and testicles. In an advanced stage of the MCL the lymph nodes increase in volume, the general health is compromised and the symptoms become more pronounced. In the end stage the MCL spreads to the central nervous system and appear the neurological symptoms.
As MCL is very similar to several other lymphoma types, imunologic tests are recommended for a correct diagnosis. One of this kind of tests is Immunophenotyping which determine what kind of surface molecules are present on cells, and which is the exact type of lymphoma, from a tissue sample.
When the diagnosis is sure it must be known that mantle cell lymphoma has already spread into many other tissues such as the lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow or to the ring of adenoid, palatine and lingual tonsils at the back of the mouth or even to the gastrointestinal tract. If the MCL spread to the colon it is diagnosed as multiple lymphomatous polyposis.
The treatment for MCL is established depending on the type of MCL and it stage.
There is no standard treatment for MCL patients. The patients diagnosed with MCL have been treated with surgery, radiation, single drug or combination chemotherapy and stem cell transplants. The most common chemotherapy regimens for treating MCL includes the drugs: Cyclophosphamide (cytoxan, neosar), adriamycin (doxorubicin or Hydroxydoxorubicin), vincristine (Oncovin), and Prednisone and it is called CHOP.
Treatment Options for Mantle Cell Lymphoma
A rare form of the Non-Hodgkin disease is the Mantle cell lymphoma. This disease is quite dangerous because its tumor grows very fast and ends up affecting most of the organs. Generally, people are diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma only when the disease has affected more organs and so, treating them is a little bit difficult because several areas of the body must be treated in the same time. The most indicated treatment in this case is chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy tries to stop cancerous cells from growing or dividing. There can be used oral drugs or drugs injected into the vein or muscle that will reach the cancer cells by entering the bloodstream, and is called systemic chemotherapy. In mantle cell lymphoma doctors use a combination of four drugs administered in a single day and then repeated every 3 weeks for 6 times.
In most of the cases, mantle cell lymphoma therapy is not useful and even if the response to the treatment seemed to be good, the disease comes back very often. In preventing this, doctors have used different drug combinations and the most successful was one treatment used in leukemia too. This treatment is unbearable for many of the patients due to its side effects, and doctors will not recommend this drug combination if they feel that the patient will not tolerate the treatment.
In most cases, after chemotherapy is done, stem cells previously taken from the patient’s blood or bone marrow or from a donor will be thawed and replaced through an infusion, in order to restore the body’s blood cells destroyed by the chemotherapy.
Biological therapy has proved to be useful in treating many forms of lymphoma, and it uses monoclonal antibodies. These antibodies are made from an immune system cell and are designed to seek and destroy all the substances that can help cancer cells to grow and develop. One of the monoclonal antibodies used in treating Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is Rituximab. This antibody could be used in treating mantle cell lymphoma too.
There have been developed some new drugs but they are still under tests in clinical trials. Bortezomib is one of them and using it seems to lead to the death of cancer cells.
Using radiation therapy proved to be inefficient because it did not lead to a remarkably extinction of the cancer cells and it only weakened the human organism.
Until now there is no cure for this disease and no certain effective treatment. In order to discover a useful therapy, doctors will encourage you to join a clinical trial and help them improve the medical treatment of this terrible disease.
Lymphoma-A Consequence Of Rheumatoid Arthritis
RA, rheumatoid arthritis, is a disease that affects the cells around the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis involves a lot of pain but in the advanced stages can also mean immobility because in time, the tissues around the joints are deteriorating.
Not affecting the tissues around the joints, but the lymphatic tissues, lymphoma is a type of cancer that leads to weak immunity for the human body and affects the lymph nodes. The white cells, especially the plasma ones can’t end their mission of locating and destroying antigens or foreign materials because of the malignant or lymphoma lymphocytes that divide and enlarge the lymph nodes or other organs like stomach or intestines.
Is being well known that lymphoma makes more victims around men who past the age of 60, while rheumatoid arthritis chooses women. Trying to determine a connection between these two diseases we can easily figure out that the risks for a person to have both these diseases are low.
After further research scientists obtained a conclusion quite different from what we had imagined earlier. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis have chances to develop lymphoma. Their chances grow with their stage of disease. For a low degree rheumatoid arthritis patients the risk of developing lymphoma is not so high, but for those with a moderate or high level of rheumatoid arthritis the chances to develop this type of cancer are real high.
Archive notes tell us that in the last 30 years a insignificant percentage of rheumatoid arthritis patients suffered from lymphoma, being counted a number of less than 400 patients.
Patients with a very severe form of rheumatoid arthritis risk to develop lymphoma more than the other cases.
Most of all, the later studies show us that the treatment for rheumatoid arthritis has no connection with the development of lymphoma. The study was made over a rheumatoid arthritis specific treatment including methotrexate, oral steroids, anti-inflammatory drugs and aspirin.
Despite this study we can still hear opinions about the connections between rheumatoid arthritis treatment and the development of lymphoma, as a consequence.
Perhaps we have to take these opinions seriously, even though the two diseases rheumatoid arthritis and lymphoma refer to different types of patients, because both of them affect tissues and stop the white cells to take care of the immune system. That’s why patients with moderate or severe rheumatoid arthritis should talk to a specialist that could help them reduce the risks of lymphoma.
Mantle Cell Lymphoma-An Indolent Or An Aggressive Disease?
Mantle cell lymphoma is a non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma type of cancer and it represents affection of the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system, as part of the immune system, helps fighting against infections or foreign particles. The lymph drains through lymph vessels, a network of tubular channels, into the bloodstream and accumulates in lymphocytes. The lymphocytes or the white blood cells are divided in two groups: the B cells or the B lymphocytes and the T cells or lymphocytes, and can be located not only in the lymph nodes, but in the lymphoid tissue too.
B lymphocytes search the organism for infections or foreign bodies. When something wrong is found B cells transform into plasma cells and secrete antibodies to neutralize the infection. This is the moment when T cells get to do their job. Once neutralized by the B cells the infection or foreign body is destroyed by the T lymphocytes.
While moving through the lymphatic system, the lymph is filtered by the lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are located in various regions in our body such as neck, armpit, chest and groin and even abdomen, and have the mission to destroy antigens.
From the two categories of lymphoma that we know, mantle cell lymphoma is a non-Hodgkin’s disease, being a result of weakness from the immunity system. By dividing, slowly or rapidly, the malignant cells form a numerous population that enlarges the lymph nodes. Mantle cell lymphomas symptoms are different from a case to another, and are strictly related to the stage of disease, sex and age of the patient.
MCL is a B cell lymphoma that develops in the zone of the lymph nodes and it is a form of non-Hodgkin’s disease caused by the malignant B lymphocytes.
Mantle cell lymphoma is considered as being a two stage disease. In cases when lymphomas divide slowly the diagnosis is low grade disease, but in cases when the malignant cells divide rapidly the diagnosis is set as high grade lymphoma, in urgent need of proper treatment. Because of this classification of the mantle cell lymphoma, specialists have doubts about where to situate this lymphoma, along with indolent or aggressive diseases.
Mantle cell lymphoma affects especially men that are over 50. Fewer than 33% of the patients are women.
MCL symptoms are pretty much alike to the other lymphomas symptoms. The immune system is getting weaker and from this time towards, problems occur. In early stage the enlargement of lymph nodes is one of the most common symptoms just like anemia and in final stages neurological problems appear.
The Target Of The Treatment In Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Nowadays, cancer is one of the most serious problems in medicine.Specialists try to discover new treatments. In clinics, the patients with cancer that start a new treatment are closely followed. Physicians determine the optimal dose which have the minimal side effects and offers the most numerous chances of survival. Because doctors make often adjustments, the treatment given to the patients does not always match with the treatment that studies found it to be the most effective. That's why sometimes people receiving the treatment doesn't feel very well, even if that treatment is supposed to save their life. If the patients have to get chemotherapy it is very important to respect the recommended doses and schedule, and it is also important to know the reasons why this rules are not respected.
There are a lot of cases when different types of cancer, like breast cancer or even the Non- Hodgkin's lymphoma, are not correctly treated and it is not given the appropriate supportive therapy. It was proved that if those patients were treated appropriately and the treatment guidelines were followed, they would have a good chance of survival and possible cure.
The Non- Hodgkin's lymphoma is a very aggressive type of cancer or the most common type of lymphoma. In lymphomas are affected the lymph glands and nodes that are anywhere in the body. So this kind of cancer can occur everywhere in the body. There is also a Hodgkin's disease that can often occur in younger patients. The incidence of the Non- Hodgkin's lymphoma is bigger in older patients, most frequently around age 60, but latest it can occur in younger people too. There is no explanation why this is one of the cancers that affects more and more individuals over the last 20 years.
Even if it is a very aggressive form of cancer it is very responsive in treatment and potentially curable cancer, which is a resemblance with the Hodgkin's disease. An appropriate treatment can give the patients the chance to be cured and to live a normal life. This is justified for more than half of the patients.
So it was proved that the aggressive disease is more responsive to treatment which is a kind of a paradox which can be seen in many forms of rapidly growing cancers. The cells in this cancers are rapidly dividing, but they tend to be more responsive to treatment. The scientific explanation for this phenomenon is that the chemotherapy drugs are most active against rapidly growing cells.
The whole treatment in Non- Hodgkin's lymphoma can last for about four to five months. If there is an early stage disease, the patient may get a shorter course of chemotherapy. This method must be combined with radiation therapy to the affected area. Because the cancerous cells may be anywhere in the body the biggest part of the patients with cancer needs to be treated systemically with chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is a combination of four or five drugs. The whole treatment program can run over a period of about four to five months.
Even if this form of cancer is a curable one, there are people with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who being under-treated. This under- treatment means a substantial dose reductions or treatment delays during their chemotherapy. This is one of the reasons why some of this patients presents side effects and they don't get cured. It was proved in clinical trials that patients who receive the appropriate treatment do better than patients whose treatment is compromised by reducing the doses or not respecting the schedule. So the chances of long-term survival and cure are influenced by the way the treatments are being given.
There are some situations when reductions in doses of the treatment are unavoidable. This happens when there are older patients, or patients with a higher stage of disease, patients who aren't able to care for themselves. in this circumstances the treatment have to be delayed too.
The best moment to give the appropriate treatment are the early stages of the disease. Preventative care is very important. Specifically treatment to boost low white blood cell counts caused by chemotherapy, are more likely to receive the dose on time and to receive fuller dose intensity than those patients who didn't receive these agents. There many reasons,not only cancer, for which patients received these medications from the beginning.
Another cause of under- treatment is the situations when the patient doesn't tolerate the chemotherapy the way it was expected to be. So it increases the concern about side effects. There are situations when the reduction in dose of the treatment is established from the very beginning, before the patient had received any kind of treatment. This is a conscious decision of the doctor who consult the patient and gets to the conclusion that he won't tolerate the chemotherapy well. Other reductions in doses of the treatment occurs after starting therapy, because of the side effects. In this case reducing the dose is a strategy to reduce the side effects of treatment. This has negative results because it is very sure that to this patients the disease will come back months or years later.
Supportive care is very important. Older patients, patients who have more intensive symptoms from their disease or a higher stage of disease, need a type of a more aggressive supportive care. If they are supported in a right way it is also recommended to be treated the same as younger patients are. This increases their chances to be cured.When giving the supportive care it is important to analyze the risk factors. This are the patient's age that can easily lead to more side effects or in the most cases determine the physician to reduce the doses or schedule of the treatment, even before starting it. Giving the right supportive care enables the patients at a higher risk to receive the full treatment.
Supportive care helps physicians and patients with cancer to control nausea, vomiting and infections that can result because of the low white blood cell count. These are one of the most common side effects of the toxicity of the chemotherapy. Supportive care includes treatments that can improve the blood counts and also reduce the risk of infection. So if the patients seem not to tolerate the chemotherapy well, it is recommended to use the supportive care and not to modify the doses and schedule in treatment. This way the patient will be allowed to go through the full program.
There are different kinds of treatments available and it is very important for the patients recently diagnosed Non- Hodgkin's lymphoma to ask an oncologist about the side effects of those treatments and what can be done to diminish and to prevent them. It is very important for this patients to get the full treatment and to know that the target is to minimize side effects and to increase the effects of the appropriate treatment.
Keeping the Faith: Turning to Religion When Diagnosed with Lymphoma
Being diagnosed with a potentially life threatening medical condition, such as lymphoma, can often cause a person to revaluate their life and many find religion in the process. While some return to a lapsed religion, others find faith for the first time and, more often than not, just believing that there is something or someone in charge of their destiny can help them to come to terms with their predicament.
The very act of going to a place of worship, be it a church, synagogue, mosque etc. and interacting with others who have faith can give a lymphoma sufferer the positivism and strength to fight their condition. This is especially true when the sufferer lives alone or has no close family because the congregation pulls together and acts as a ‘super-family’ in times of need. They often make meals, help with the grocery shopping or just sit and listen so that the patient never feels alone and this solidarity can severely help during rigorous treatment regimes and during recovery.
Finding faith can also help a lymphoma patient to make amends with their God should the worst happen. It may be that they followed a religion in their younger years however because of other commitments they let their faith lapse. Finding themselves in a life or death situation may make them think about what they gave up and bring them back to the fold and under the protection of their God once more.
Even when a person has never shown any interest in religion before their diagnosis, they often find themselves suddenly believing in an all powerful, all forgiving entity simply because they don’t know what else to do. Many people who are faced with an uncertain future find that they need something solid to cling on to that will remain in their life for as long as they need it and religion fills this requirement. It doesn’t matter who you are, what you look like or even what you have done in your past, most religions are all encompassing and nobody is ever turned away. You don’t have to smile everyday and make jokes with other people; religion will be there on the good days and the bad days when you can’t find a civil word, unlike humans who tend to get upset when a cancer sufferer goes through a bad or depressing patch.
In addition to religion, other lymphoma sufferers may find faith in other places. Many find faith in their families and vow to live for them alone whereas others may believe in Mother Nature and so pray to her for a long and fruitful life. Faith can be found pretty much anywhere you look for it and different people find it in very different places. Lymphoma patients should believe in whatever they want to believe in to get them through their tough times, whether it is conventional or not. Who is to say that praying to the cancer fairies is any less useful than praying to a religious icon – whatever gives a person faith also gives them hope.
What Exactly is Lymphoma?
Lymphoma is not a single disease, it is in fact a group of diseases in which the cells of the immune system become cancerous and begin to divide and multiply in an uncontrolled manner in a lymph node. Initially a single lymph node may be affected however the cancer may quickly spread around the body through the lymphatic system so that other nodes and also other tissues, such as the bone marrow, become affected.
A number of the immune system cell types can become cancerous including the T cells and the B cells which are the body’s two main defense mechanisms against illness and infection. The immune system cells are carried in the blood stream and through the lymphatic system and so the lymphoma cancers can be very mobile and affect areas of the body far from the original cancerous site.
The fact that you have swollen lymph glands does not automatically mean you have a lymphoma cancer because there are a number of other diseases which cause the lymph nodes to swell; in fact any disease which requires the assistance of the immune system will cause mild swelling in many of the lymph glands. If however you have swelling in a single gland that is painless and symptom free then you should make an appointment with your doctor just to check it out.
There are various types of lymphoma cancer however the two main types are Hodgkin’s disease and non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Hodgkin’s disease is characterized by painless enlargement of one or more lymph nodes, most commonly in the chest, neck and armpits. If the caner has spread from these initial sites then fevers, night sweats, weight loss and bone pain can also occur. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which is the more common disease of the two, may start in exactly the same way however the patient may also develop an enlarged spleen, anemia and general malaise.
Because the lymphoma cancers are so mobile a sufferer can often experience symptoms in other areas of the body that they would not necessarily associate with cancer which means that unless you know what to look for i.e. swollen lymph glands, you may well dismiss the problem as being due to a simple illness, such as the flu, as this also causes many of the symptoms displayed by lymphoma patients. Also, because the cells of the immune system are primarily affected a person with a lymphoma cancer will quickly become more susceptible than usual to even the weakest pathogens i.e. their immune system becomes weaker and fails to protect the body from disease.
The good news is that as with other forms of cancer, lymphomas are treatable and so anyone diagnosed shouldn’t give up hope of leading a long and healthy life. You need to find out as much information as you can about the illness and find coping strategies that work for you and your family. You will need to undergo either chemotherapy, radiation therapy or possibly a bone marrow transplant however lymphoma patients today have a high survival rate and many people are cured of the disease totally.
Who Does Lymphoma Affect?
Lymphoma is a form of cancer that affects a specific type of cell called the lymphocytes. These tiny but incredibly important cells are classed as cells of the immune system and so when they begin to mutate and become cancerous the immune response to infections, for example bacteria and viruses, is severely affected. As with all other forms of cancer, lymphoma can strike anyone at any time and because it doesn’t exhibit any obvious outward symptoms, many sufferers don’t realise they have developed the disease until it has already reached the later stages.
In terms of age there are two major age groups that are especially prone to lymphoma. These are 25-35 years of age and the over 60s. It is possible that the over 60s have naturally weaker immune systems because their body cells have had to defend from infection for so long. This means that when mutated cells do occur, and they do often occur within the body, the immune system is no longer able to eradicate them and they are able to multiply and develop into cancer. This is especially worrying when the cells that are mutated are in fact cells of the immune system i.e. the lymphocytes. Surprisingly, research into confirmed cases of lymphoma has shown that 25-35 year olds are also at higher risk of developing the disease. Nobody is sure why this is so at the current time and further research into the mechanisms of lymphoma development is needed to make the link.
In terms of gender, research has shown that men are around three times more likely than women to be diagnosed with lymphoma. Again why this should be so is still not known with any certainty however there are a number of thoughts which could explain the bias. For example, some scientists think that the female hormones may provide protection from the disease because as women age and the level of hormones within the body decreases, the probability of them developing lymphoma starts to equal that of their male counterparts. Alternatively it could be that male hormones somehow make men more susceptible and as men age and their hormone levels decrease they become less prone to the disease. Either way, more research is needed into the risk factors of lymphoma before a definite link can be made.
Lastly, in terms of geographical location it would seem that the Western world i.e. the UK, America, Australia, Germany etc, have much higher incidences of lymphoma than places such as Africa and Asia. This may be related to lifestyle in that a rich lifestyle with fatty food, alcohol, and other luxurious items in addition to the higher concentrations of pollution and other carcinogenic substances may predispose Westerners to lymphoma.
Why some people are affected by lymphoma while others aren’t still remains a mystery however there are many research institutes around the world that are working hard to find the answers. If you fall into either of the age ranges mentioned above and especially if you are male then you should stay vigilant and check you lymph gland regularly for any signs of swelling.
Lymph Nodes Cancer
Lymph node cancer or lymphoma is a cancer that accounts for approximately five percent of all cancers. It predominantly effects males but is not exclusive to men. Those most at risk are between the ages of fifteen and thirty four and those over the age of fifty-four. This does not mean that anyone outside of this age range is not at risk but statistically it does seem to fall inside those age groups at a greater rate. Like all other cancers, early detection and treatment is the key to a greater chance of recovery.
Hodgkins Disease is a form of lymph node cancer but is rare in its occurrence. It also statistically effects mostly men between the ages of fifteen and thirty-four and men over the age of fifty-four but is not exclusive to men only. Some of the most common symptoms of Hodgkins Disease are night sweats, unexplained wight loss, constant fatigue and unexplained fever. If you are experiencing any or all of these symptoms it is wise to have yourself examined by a doctor as these also could be the symptoms of another disorder.
All other remaining types of lymph node cancer are known as non-Hodgkins lymphoma. The majority of lymph node cancers treated are of the non-Hodgkins type. The symptoms of non-Hodgkins lymphoma are the same as Hodgkins Disease. Night sweats, unexplained fever, chronic fatigue and unexplained weight loss.Lymph node cancer is also known as lymphatic cancer. Those with a family history of lymph node cancer statistically fall within a higher risk group of contracting the disease. This is true for both men and women.
Lymph node cancer is a type of cancer that involves the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is an integral part of the bodies immune system. Statistically, the occurrence of lymph node cancer has increased approximately seventy-five percent since nineteen-seventy-three in the United States. Research has revealed that approximately one in fifty-two men and one in sixty-one women in the United States will contract non Hodgkin lymphoma within their lifetime. Studies have indicated that a greater exposure to herbicides and pesticides is greatly responsible for this increase.
Lymph node cancer is curable and if detected early and with effective treatment a person with lymph node cancer has a greater chance than ever before of being cured of this disease and if cured can expect to live a long and normal life. Many new and innovative treatments for lymph node cancer have been developed and are now available. The medical community has a greater understanding of lymph node cancer than in years past. Treatments that were once experimental and have been found to be effective are now being used to treat and cure lymph node cancer.
As a person ages it is to be expected that he or she will encounter medical challenges, it is part of the aging process. Lymph node cancer might be one of those challenges you encounter in your life's journey. How soundly these challenges are defeated depends greatly on how you approach them. A fighting spirit has been proven time and again to be a powerful weapon to have in your arsenal when battling cancers of all types. Accepting defeat in any challenge almost guarantees defeat. The will to fight and live on has carried so many cancer survivors to victory over the disease.
Diagnosing Lymphoma
To diagnose a lymphoma case if very difficult because many of the lymphoma symptoms are similar to those of other medical conditions. However, based on the symptoms, you might suspect a lymphoma case and go see a doctor, where you will have a physical examination. Only through this thorough examination, and sometimes x- rays, your doctor can diagnose you with lymphoma.
When you go see your physician for an examination because you suspect a lymphoma case, here is what to expect: he/ she will start to palpate all your lymph nodes. They are situated in your neck, right under your chin, around your tonsils, your elbows, shoulders, in your groin area and under your arms. Besides this examination of these areas of your body in order to proper diagnose lymphoma, your doctor will also feel your abdomen and chest to see if there is any swelling there as well. Your liver and spleen will also be examined by palpation. If your doctor, after this examination, believes that there is a presence of lymphoma, further test will be made. The physical examination is just the beginning of the lymphoma diagnoses process. The test that are made after the examination serve to better determine if you indeed are suffering from lymphoma or not. A biopsy, x- rays, blood tests and scans are the next tests that you will have to take in order to be diagnosed with lymphoma. If the results in those lymphoma tests are inconclusive, then you will probably also have to take a bone marrow test.
Lymphoma symptoms are not enough to diagnose this disease, because they can also be associated with other diseases as well. However, they serve to give you an idea that something is wrong. Here are some of the most common symptoms of lymphoma:
- swollen nodes, which are painless is the primary lymphoma sign;
- anemia, loose of weight and fatigue also tell you that you might be suffering from lymphoma;
- fever and sweating, mostly at night, for no apparent reason are also signs that indicate a lymphoma case;
- shortness of breath and an annoying, persistent cough are also lymphoma symptoms;
- itching, sometimes all over your body is one of the lymphoma signs as well;
There are also some other symptoms which can indicate a lymphoma case, but they are less common. Back pain or swollen tissues are some of the rare lymphoma symptoms. They appear because your lymph nodes can actually compress some of your nerves.
