Lymphoma Treatment
Lymphoma treatment
Introduction
Lymphoid or lymphatic system is very much integral to immunity. This system works akin to how your blood is circulated all over the body. Instead of blood, this system has a fluid called lymph. This fluid is made of cells called as lymphocytes.
Apart from the lymphatic fluid, this system has vessels to circulate this fluid, nodes – these are present in multiple sites of your body, lymphatic tissues, etc. Lymph is taken to the heart from where it is pumped to all organs and tissues. For the uninitiated, lymph resembles a lot with plasma component of the blood.
So, what is lymphoma?
Lymphoma is one of the blood conditions which is categorised under tumors. It primarily affects your white blood cells present in lymph. It can be treated with a few approaches; key among them are radiation therapies, sittings of chemotherapy, targeted therapies – to name a few. Ther are cases wherein bone marrow transplantation fared as part of treatment plan.
Not all forms of lymphoma may require an immediate start of treatment plan(s). There are a few conditions wherein your caregiver i.e., medical oncologist may decide to wait to understand the progression of cancers like lymphoma.
Lymphoma essentially involves the cells of your lymph fluid. These cells i.e., lymphocytes are another version of white blood cells. Lymphoma is best identified and diagnosed through a biopsy. This test is done on one or more of your nodes of lymph. Biopsy is conducted by removing a part of a node. The node is them examined underneath a lab-based microscope.
Not all versions of lymphoma are active and agile. There are a few – like the small lymphocytic cancer – that rest without causing any effects. These are usually quite harmless, and doctors treat them only if some adverse symptoms are experienced. Active variants of lymphoma such as Burkitt’s syndrome or Burkitt’s lymphoma are known for their accelerated rate of growth
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Lymphoma is categorised into two broad categories namely, Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma . Among these, Hodgkin lymphoma takes a humble share of nearly 10% of the total number of lymphatic cancers. Non-Hodgkin form of lymphoma is the most widely experienced kind; its share hovers at more than 86% of total number of cases.
Risks factors that trigger non-Hodgkin form of lymphoma include presence of other variants of autoimmune health problems – say, type 2 diabetes, etc., incidence of infectious conditions like HIV / AIDS, etc. In some instances, excessive intake / use of drugs belonging to the immunosuppressants genre of meds has triggered risks of these cancers. On a related note, being exposed to poisonous items such as vermicides or pesticides has also caused such conditions.
On the other hand, risks linked to the incidence of Hodgkin lymphoma are: being infected by strands a virus known as Epstein Barr. Those who have had Hodgkin lymphoma (and had been treated) may also get it. At this juncture, it helps to know that Epstein Barr virus is part of the family called herpes virus. This is one of the first-discovered strands of oncogenic viruses. Strands belonging to the oncogenic genre are known to cause cancers and other similar autoimmune conditions.
A related condition is follicular lymphoma; this is also associated with lymphocytes. This condition shows up when there is an accelerated growth of B-type white cells present in your lymph. Such cells are also referred to as centrocytes as well as Centro blasts. This condition derives its name as it occurs at follicular level of lymphatic nodes as well as tissues.
In general, centralistic-lymphoma and centrocyte-lymphoma are quite identical to follicular version of lymphoma. The first names are no longer in use, and lymphoma is broader term to denote such sub-genres. Follicular form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma cancer is seen mostly in US and Europe. In numerical terms, about 10% of all non-Hodgkin form of lymphoma are categorised under follicular form of cancers.
Lymphoma cancer symptoms
Most signs of lymphoma cancer are generic symptoms. However, if you sense discomforts for a few days’ time, you are advised to consult with a qualified medical practitioner. Your physician is likely to conduct a thorough physical examination. In almost cases, a panel of lab tests are also ordered.
A few of the unmistakable signs are swellings of nodes of your lymphatic network; you may see an inflammation of nodes present in armpits as well as groin. These are pain-free and may not cause many disturbances to your daily walks of life. But, if they persist for long or are a disturbance o your daily lifestyle, you need clinical assistance without any further delay. Accompanied by these swellings, you may observe spells of fever, nighttime sweats – you may wake up drenched with sweat, a sudden loss in weight and anorexia.
A few other possible signs of cancers linked to lymphoma include itchy skin, respiratory conditions like wheezing or panting for breath, being tired during most part of the day, etc.
Lymph node cancer
Your body has more than 650 lymphatic nodes; these are present throughout your body, at various sites. Of these, nearly 290 (or more) are in your head as well as neck zones. Cancers encountered in lymph nodes of head and neck can be either Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin form of lymphoma cancers. Once these cancers start spreading, they may spread to near as well as far-off places. For example, cancers in head can originate thyroid or neck region. Similarly, lymphomas in neck can come from head as well as from the glands secreting saliva. There are also cases wherein cancers in neck have originated from lungs or from breasts!
Nodes are removed either in full or partially for doing a biopsy; biopsies are commonly used techniques to diagnose lymphoma cancers. Excision of nodes are performed either with ultrasound can or with computer-based tomography scans i.e., CT. Samples of nodes are examined in a lab-setting to explore the incidence of lymphoma. Your doctor(s) may order more tests – such as blood tests – if added evidence is needed
Lymphoma treatment
Conditions like lymphoma cancers are treated by a host of treatment pathways. The most-often used way of treating is medications-based approach called chemotherapy. In some cases, use of powerful and focused ionised radiations is employed – this pathway is known as radiation-based therapy. There are also cases wherein transplantation of stem-cells is done.
You need to know that chemotherapy employs an all-out meds-intensive approach for managing lymphoma cancers. The caregiving team – also known as oncologists – use prescription meds to cure / manage the signs. Doses of such drugs are offered at prescribed doses, through well-scheduled sessions. This pathway is also used for several other types of cancers.
Meds administered as part of chemotherapy aim at remedying the underlying cancers. But, if your lymphoma cancers are at an advanced stage, aim is to prolong your lifespan. These decision rest solely with your team of caregivers. You are advised to adhere to their treatment plans without many deviations(s).
While administering meds, the team of medical oncologists will ensure drugs that bear the clearance of food & drug administration (the FDA) are always used. The FDA has approved scores of meds to be used for chemotherapy purposes. One of the basic prerequisites of drugs qualifying for treatment is their ability to get absorbed with relative ease. This is one of the reasons chemo meds offer systemic treatment – by ready absorption, the active ingredients become part of your body and reach all possible sites. This property helps gain access to almost all cancerous cells as well as tissues in your body.
In general, which treatment plan to select is solely dependent on the stage of cancers, your age and if you are having other ailments. Presence of other treatment plans(s) is also another variable. These factors have a bearing on which pathway(s) is chosen and at what sequence each pathway is rendered onto the patient.
In the last decade, the outcomes of lymphoma cancer treatments have improved at a substantial scale. More younger patients – those aged less than 50 years – are able to survive longer. The 4+ year rates of survival has crossed the 60% mark among older patients of cancers. Among those aged less than 50 years, the rates of survival have breached the 65% mark a few years ago.
Lymphoma cancers need proper medical attention, and care is offered under the supervision of a qualified oncologist(s). You are advised to see a doctor if you are witnessing swellings in armpits or neck. Seeing a healthcare provider at an earlier stage can help arrest cancers at earlier stage. At such stages, the odds of survival are very high.
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Shetty B s a cardiologist in Chennai, with extensive experience in the field. He completed his MBBS from Madurai Kamaraj University, followed by an MD in General Medicine and a DM in Cardiology from The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University (TNMGRMU).