Non-Hodgkin's
Tyler Bailey Period 7_8
What Is Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma?
It's a cancer that originates in your lymphatic system, the disease-fighting network spread throughout your body.
What Happens to the cells?
This type of Lymphoma causes your white blood cells to divide without order or control. The abnormal lymphocytes usually are either B-cell or T-cell lymphocytes. But most cases of NHL involve B-cell lymphocytes.
The Symptoms Are As Follows...
- Swollen, painless lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or groin
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fever
- Soaking night sweats
- Coughing, trouble breathing or chest pain
- Weakness and tiredness that don't go away
- Pain, swelling or a feeling of fullness in the abdomen
What Are The Causes?
- Getting older (60's or older)
- Being male, but others are more common in females
- Whites have a higher chance compared to African Americans and Asian Americans (United States and Europe basically)
- Chemicals such as benzene and certain herbicides and insecticides (weed- and insect-killing substances) may be linked with an increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
- Radiation exposure
- Having a weak immune system
- Diseases/infections (e.i.: HTLV-1, EBV, HIV, HHV8)
- Being overweight or obese
- Breast implants
Can it Be Prevented?
Most people with non-Hodgkin lymphoma have no risk factors that can be changed, so there is no way to protect against these lymphomas. For now, the best way to reduce the risk for non-Hodgkin lymphoma is to try to prevent known risk factors such as immune deficiency.
How is it Treated?
- Chemotherapy
Immunotherapy
- Targeted Therapy
- Radiation
- Stem Cell Transplant
How is it Diagnosed?
- If your symptoms suggest you might have non-Hodgkin lymphoma, your doctor will want to get a thorough medical history, including information about your symptoms, possible risk factors, family history, and other medical conditions.
- Next, the doctor will examine you, paying special attention to the lymph nodes and other areas of the body that might be involved, including the spleen and liver. Because infections are the most common cause of enlarged lymph nodes, the doctor will look for an infection in the part of the body near the swollen lymph nodes.
- If the doctor suspects that non-Hodgkin lymphoma might be causing the symptoms, he or she will recommend a biopsy of the area.