Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that develops in the white blood cells called lymphocytes that protect an individual from infections and diseases. This cancer develops when the lymphocytes continue to divide abnormally and don’t die when they normally should. These abnormal lymphocytes accumulate in the lymph nodes or other parts of the body such as the bone marrow growing as tumors causing problems in the lymphatic system or the organ that are growing. Lymphoma can occur in any part of the body such as the spleen, lymph nodes, bone marrow, blood and other organs. There are two types of lymphomas; Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin. The non-Hodgkin lymphoma is the common cancer of the lymphatic system. The non-Hodgkin lymphomas are divided into two groups; B-cell and T-cell. Lymphomas can either be low-grade which is slow growing or high-grade that can be aggressive. Some examples of low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma include follicular lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, marginal zone lymphoma, small lymphocytic lymphoma and skin lymphomas. Few examples of high-grade non-Hodgkin lymphomas include diffuse large B cell lymphoma, burkitt’s lymphoma, peripheral T-cell lymphoma and lymphoblastic lymphoma.
Symptoms
The most common symptom associated with the non-Hodgkin lymphoma is the painless swelling of the lymph node in the neck, under the arms and the groin. Additional symptoms can include heavy night sweating, fever, unintended loss of weight and unexplained itching. When the lymphoma occurs in the bone marrow, the associated symptoms include anemia from low red blood cell counts, low white blood cell counts and low platelet counts that increase the risk of bleeding problems. If lymphoma develops in the brain, it is known as primary cerebral lymphoma and the symptoms can include headaches, changes in personality, seizures, difficulty thinking and a problem with moving parts of the body.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis is based on the physical examination, the symptoms evident and various specialized tests. The physical examination looks for enlarged lymph nodes in the tonsil, under the arm and the groin. It will also look to identify enlargement of the internal organs such as the liver and the spleen. The blood tests may be necessary to rule out various other diseases. The imaging tests such as a CT scan, x-ray and MRI scan can identify the location of the tumors. A biopsy involves a procedure that removes a sample of the lymph node which will be examined under the microscope for cancer. A bone marrow biopsy may also be required to determine if the bone marrow is involved.
Treatment
The treatment options are based on the health of the individual, their age and the stage of the disease. If the tumor appears to be slow growing, the wait and watch approach may be optional although the tumor will be monitored with regular check-ups. The aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma requires treatment that includes chemotherapy and radiation therapy which can either be used alone or in combination with other treatments. Biological therapy involves treatment that helps the body’s immune system fight off cancer. Stem cell transplant is optional that involves a procedure where the lymphoma cells are destroyed and healthy stem cells are injected into the body.
References
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/non-hodgkins-lymphoma/basics/treatment/con-20027792
http://www.lymphoma.org/site/pp.asp?c=bkLTKaOQLmK8E&b=6300139#TreatmentOptions
https://www.lymphomas.org.uk/about-lymphoma/types/non-hodgkin-lymphoma
