Lymphoma is a form of blood cancer that affects a part of the immune system known as the lymph system. This occurs when a type of white blood cells called the lymphocytes grow out of control and continue to divide. The cancerous lymphocytes can thus travel to several parts of the body such as the lymph nodes, blood, bone marrow, blood, the spleen and develop a mass called a tumor. There are two types of lymphocytes; the B cells and the T cells but most lymphomas develop in the B-cells. There are two types of lymphoma; Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is an aggressive lymphoma that can occur in the lymph nodes or outside of the lymphatic system in the skin, breast, bone, brain or the gastrointestinal tract. There are several types of large B-cell diffuse lymphoma that can affect an individual’s prognosis or the treatment options. Some of the subtypes of large B-cell diffuse lymphoma include the central nervous system lymphoma, skin lymphoma, intravascular large B-cell lymphoma, ALK-positive large B-cell lymphoma and primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma.
Symptoms
The common symptom of large B-cell diffuse lymphoma is the painless enlarged lumps mostly on the groin, under the arms or the neck. The enlarged lymph nodes can grow quickly within a few weeks. It is also common to have lymphoma outside the lymph nodes. Different symptoms can develop based on the type of organs and tissue affected. When this cancer occurs in the stomach or the bowel, the symptoms can include abdominal discomfort, bleeding, diarrhea and pain. If it develops in the chest, the symptoms can consist of breathlessness and cough. Additional symptoms can include fatigue, night sweats, weight loss, loss of appetite, itching and fever.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis is usually based on a biopsy that involves a procedure to remove a sample of the affected area to determine if lymphoma cells are evident. Tests may also be done to determine the type of lymphoma. Additional tests such as blood tests, CT / PET scans may also be necessary to understand where the lymphoma is growing, the function of the heart and the kidneys. A bone marrow tests may also be done to determine is lymphoma is affecting the bone marrow.
Treatment
The treatment for this cancer is based on various factors such as the stage of lymphoma, the health of the individual and the part of the body affected. The early stage of the disease (stage 1 or stage 2) are treated with chemotherapy or chemoimmunotherapy followed by radiotherapy. During this treatment, medications are delivered intravenously which is administered on certain days followed by rest periods. The advanced form of this cancer is treated with the longer course of chemotherapy regime.
References
https://www.lymphomas.org.uk/about-lymphoma/types/non-hodgkin-lymphoma/diffuse-large-b-cell-lymphoma
http://www.lymphoma.org/site/pp.asp?c=bkLTKaOQLmK8E&b=6300153
