What is lymphoma cancer?
What is lymphoma cancer
Introduction
Your lymphatic system is an essential component of immunity. This system is similar to the circulation system; the latter distributes blood while the former supplies a fluid called lymph. Lymphoid system has multiple constituents such as lymph fluid, vessels that transmit lymph from one place to another, lymphatic nodes, lymph-organs and lymphatic / lymphoid tissues.
Difference between blood and lymph
Lymph is one the bodily fluids that pass through lymphoid vessels. These vessels play a critical part in reaching lymph to the heart, this paves way for circulation of this fluid. In essence, lymph is similar to plasma seen in the blood. This fluid is made of cells called lymphocytes.
Lymphocytes are chiefly white blood cells which are endowed with immunity boosting properties. Unlike blood, lymphocytes are of three (3) different types. These include T-type lymph cells, B-type lymph cells and natural killer cells (also referred as NK). Of such three cells, B-type lymph cells and T-type lymph cells are essential in determining responses to external threats and / or infections. B-type lymph cells are strongly linked to the production of antibodies. On the other hand, T-type lymph cells focus in enhancing the immunity potential of your system.
On sensing a likely risk – caused either by a ‘unfriendly’ microbes or harmful pathogens – your lymph makes an added count of antibodies. This nullifies infections and allied risks – especially those posed by microbes like viruses or bacteria.
Lymphatic Nodes
Lymphatic nodes are very tiny constituents of your lymph network. Nodes facilitate fortification of your body against threats of infections or possible invasions of microbes as well as pathogens. They are of very small size admeasuring only about 1.4 centimetres (cms). They bear the shape of either a small battery (AAA sized cells) or that of a kidney.
Humas have more than 610 lymphoid nodes in their system. These are located at multiple points of your body; and ensure to offer an overall immunity. Some lymphoid nodes are felt – you may feel a tiny lump underneath your skin. Those under your armpit – for instance – can be sensed. In some people, nodes in neck as well as groin can also be felt as smaller bumps below skin. Overall, most of these 610+ nodes are not visible; not do human beings know how they operate to secure your system from external threats and risks causing infections, maladies, etc.
Lymphoma cancer
Lymphoma is one of the cancerous conditions. This shows up in your lymphocytes i.e., which are cells of your lymph. As mentioned, these cells are white blood cells present in lymph. Lymphoma is diagnosed through biopsies done on these lymphoid nodes. Your caregiving team in the lab may take a sample of a node; this is done by removing either a small part of the node or a substantial portion of it.
The sample is then subjected to assessment under a microscope in the clinical lab. You need to remember that not all forms of lymphoma are harmful. There are few – like the small lymphocytic cancer (SLCs) – are considered as dormant forms of cancers. These do not show up through any characteristic symptoms. Also, they do not inflict any harm to your body. Owing to this, caregiving teams may not choose to offer treatment(s) to this form of cancer.
There are some active / fast-growing forms of lymphoma. The fastest among this type is the Burkitt’s lymphoma. These forms of cancers are notorious for their faster growth rate. With a speedy rate, they are known to deteriorate your condition in a rapid manner. Hence, if left unattended to, this form of cancer – i.e., Burkitt’s syndromes can cause a fatal result over a shorter span of time.
Medical science adopts a two-pronged approach to classify lymphoma cancers. This way of classification buckets these cancers as 1 – Hodgkin lymphoma and 2 – non-Hodgkin version of lymphoma cancers.
Risk factors that are likely to cause the non-Hodgkin version of lymphoma include onset of a few specific types of autoimmune health problems, excessive usage of immunosuppressant meds, being regularly exposed to corrosive chemicals like pesticides, vermicides, etc., incidence of viral infections such as HIV / AIDS, etc. People who consume meat – especially red meat; also, those who are frequent smokers may also get non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Hodgkin form of lymphoma takes a minor share of about 10% of entire incidence of lymphoma. But this is not the case with non-Hodgkin lymphoma; this version has a substantial size of the total pie – amounting to as high as 89% of total occurrences. Risk factors of the Hodgkin form of lymphoma cancers are mostly stem from being infected with a viral strand – known as Epstein Barr virus. As an added risk – those who have a family track record of Hodgkin form of lymphoma are more likely to get these cancers.
You need to know that Epstein Barr virus is a member of the herpes family of viruses. This type of viral strand is the foremost to be identified as a cancer-causing virus. Such viruses are known as oncogenic microbes.
Lipoma symptoms
Lipoma is a type of outgrowth underneath your skin. These are usually harmless and are also painless. These outgrowths are essentially fatty tissues of the adipose genre. These are often besieged by a capsule-kind of structure which are not linked to a muscle or tissues. One of the major symptoms of lipoma is the formation of such bumps underneath the skin; these are soft and are also mobile. If you press them with your fingers, they move from one place to another. These bumps may not affect your motor function; however, bumps formed near nerves or joints may slow down your mobility.
As high as 93% of people living with lipoma may have only one (1) bump. However, in some rare instances – multiple bumps can show up. These structures are not larger than 2.5 centimetres in width; big-sized lipomas may reach a size of more than 9 centimeters. Most of them show-up at the upper portion of the human body i.e., a portion where fatty fats are found in large quantities. These are found in your neck, chest or shoulders. In a handful of instances, lipoma bumps have been spotted on internal organs like stomach or linings of the intestines.
Medical researchers are not sure of what triggers lipoma. Factors like genetic triggers, a few medical conditions and age of a person are considered as likely risk factors. In more than 60% of incidence, mutations at DNA-level are observed. Clinical conditions like type-2 form of diabetes mellitus, high level of blood cholesterol and being obese are considered as other likely triggers. As lipoma is a harmless condition, it may not need a treatment plan. But if lipoma bumps are impacting your daily lifestyle, treatments such as liposuction or surgical interventions are offered.
Cancer lymph nodes in neck
There are 300+ lymphatic nodes in the neck and head region. Cancer lymph nodes in neck can either be non-Hodgkin or Hodgkin lymphomas. Cancers spreading to lymphatic nodes in neck may spread from salivary or thyroid gland, skin and head regions. In some remote instances, cancers found in digestive system, breasts and lungs may also spread to lymph nodes in neck.
A salient symptom of cancer lymph nodes in neck is swelling of such nodes. But not all types of swellings are due to a cancerous condition. In general, inflammation of lymphatic nodes in neck means that your system is waging a war against an infectious condition. Other symptoms of cancers liked lymphoma are itchiness of skin, breathing problems, increase in body temperature and excessive level of tiredness. One of the time-tested ways to diagnose cancer lymph nodes in neck is a biopsy. It is done by numbing areas surrounding the swollen node and removing a part of it.
This removal (excision) is done under the guidance of CT scan or ultrasound. Excised sample is then assessed in a lab for possible onset of cancers. In some cases, additional testing like tests done on blood samples or scanning is done. Treatments offered to cancer lymph nodes in neck include transplantation of stem cells, administration of steroids, targeted therapy, immune therapies, etc.
Among those below 55-years, early diagnosis of lymphoma, onset of lymphoma in one site, fit enough to perform everyday activities, etc., have a positive outlook of survival. In such people, the five-year-survival-rates are higher than 65% – in case of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Rate of survival of such people with Hodgkin lipoma is more than 85%.
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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).