Lymphoma
By: Charlie pd:9
What is it?
Lymphoma is a cancer that begins in the lymphocytes. These cells are present in the lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, thymus, and some other parts of the body. With lymphoma the lymphocytes can change and grow out control. There are two main types either called Non-Hodgkin and Hodgkin. Hodgkin lymphoma moves from one lymph node to the next in an orderly fashion while non-Hodgkin patients are diagnosed when it is more severe. 90% of people with Hodgkin Lymphoma are cured it is known as the most treatable cancer.
How do I tell if I have non-Hodgkin or Hodgkin lymphoma?
In the United States there are at least 70,000 new cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosed each year while only 8,000 are diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. People between the ages of 15 to 24 and people 60 and above is where most often Hodgkin lymphoma is detected. While the median age for non-Hodgkin lymphoma is 60 but it occurs in all age groups. Some of the symptoms for Hodgkin lymphoma are painless swelling in the neck, underarms, or chest. For non-Hodgkin lymphoma it can arise in lymph nodes throughout the body. Some obvious symptoms are enlarged lymph nodes, swollen abdomen, feeling full after eating very little, chest pain or pressure, fever, and weight lose.
What causes lymphoma?
Some things that might cause lymphoma include:
- Problems with your immune system
- Certain infections
- A relative having lymphoma
- Getting older
- Chemicals
- Lifestyle choices
What can I do to try and prevent it?
There is no proven way on how it occurs but you can try eating a healthy diet and exercising to keep your body in the best shape to prevent it.
What do they do to treat lymphoma?
Some things they do include:
- Chemotherapy
- Steroids
- Bone marrow stimulants
- Blood transfusion
How do they diagnose it?
They can take chest X-rays or CT scans of the chest or neck to look for tumors or enlarged lymph nodes. Also, they can do a biopsy of the lymph nodes to diagnose the cause of the swelling. Some will require a blood test or ask about your family history.