Treatment for Lymphoma Cancer

Treatment for Lymphoma Cancer

Lymphoma is a type of cancer found in the immune system’s lymphatic cells. This type of cancer is present as solid lymphoid cells. It can be caused due to helicobacter pylori bacteria, epstein-barr virus and exposure to benzene and other hazardous solvents. Symptoms include swollen lymph nodes, recurring fevers, chest pain, night sweats, lower back pain, rashes and weight loss. It is diagnosed through CT scan, MRI scan, PET scan, X-rays, lymphangiogram, biopsy and blood tests. The type of treatment given lymphoma cancer depends on the type of lymphoma cancer the patient is suffering from. Hence, before discussing the methods of treatment for cancer of this type, let us first understand the types of lymphoma cancer.

There are two main types of lymphoma cancer in human beings. These are Hodgkin’s lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is caused due to the Reed-Sternberg cells, while Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is caused due to B-lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes (types of white blood cells). All these cells are present in the immune system of the body. They fight against the cancerous cells, but in the end become infectious. These two types of lymphoma cancer can be treated using stem cell transplantation, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Radiation Therapy for Lymphoma Cancer Treatment

Radiation therapy is commonly given for the treatment for both types of lymphoma cancer. It is given when the cancerous cells have found in clusters in the human body. This method is generally avoided if the cancer spreads in the other parts of the body. In some cases, Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma cancer, radiation therapy is generally given in combination with chemotherapy.

Stem Cell Transplantation for Lymphoma Cancer Treatment

This method of treatment for lymphoma cancer is used when the patient’s body does not respond to any other treatment methods. It is given for both Hodgkin’s as well as Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma cancer. In case of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma cancer it is given when the cancer is found to have recurred in the patient’s body.

Chemotherapy for Lymphoma Cancer Treatment

Chemotherapy is not the common form of treatment for lymphoma cancer. However, it can be given in combination with radiation therapy for the treatment of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma cancer. In this method, combination of different drugs is given to kill the cancerous cells. These drugs can be administered either through intravenous injections or through pills.

Chemotherapy is not the common form of treatment for lymphoma cancer. However, it can be given in combination with radiation therapy for the treatment of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma cancer. In this method, combination of different drugs is given to kill the cancerous cells. These drugs can be administered either through intravenous injections or through pills. In most of the cases, R CHOP chemotherapy regimen is given to the patients suffering from Hodgkin’s lymphoma, while R ESHAP chemotherapy regimen is given to the patients suffering from Non Hodgkin’s lymphoma. It is advised to discuss about the regimen with your doctor to avoid further complications.

Immunotherapy for Lymphoma Cancer Treatment

This method is mostly used for the treatment of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma cancer. It is administered through drugs, often called monoclonal antibodies that target the cells found on the surface of the lymphoma cells. These monoclonal antibodies react with the healthy cells of the immune system to boost up their energy to fight with the cancerous cells present inside the body. Some of these drugs commonly given by the oncologists are Bexxar and Zevalin.

Sometimes, patients suffering from Non Hodgkin’s lymphoma are also told to undergo MINE Chemotherapy. This type of chemotherapy is given only when the Non Hodgkin’s lymphoma is observed to be relapsed in the patient. Treatment for lymphoma cancer is effective, though aggressive in the advanced stages. If proper care is taken by the patient, he/she can enjoy a prolonged life after the prescribed lymphoma cancer treatment is completely over.

Lymphoma Cancer ,Risk Factors

Lymphoma Cancer

Lymphomas are an uncommon group of malignancies that are often quite sensitive to treatment. Depending on the extent of the disease and the type of lymphoma, a hopeful outcome is often expected.

Lymphomas are malignancies of the lymphatic system; they are categorized as being Hodgkin or Non-Hodgkin in variety. There are many Non- Hodgkin lymphoma types and these are categorized as either being low, intermediate or high grade. Lymphomas of higher grade act more aggressively. Treatment depends on the type and stage of the disease.

Most lymphomas are treated with intravenous chemotherapy. Radiation therapy may be added after chemotherapy to "consolidate" the treatment – to help maximize local control. For early disease, radiation can be used definitively, without chemotherapy.

Risk Factors

For most lymphomas, patients have no known risk factor. Known risk factors:

Immunosuppression – i.e. HIV
Epstein Bar Virus
Helicobacter Pylori (bacteria that causes stomach ulcers)
Human T-cell Leukemia/Lymphoma virus type-1
Hepatitis C virus

Symptoms

High fevers, weight loss, and night sweats are classic symptoms of lymphoma. Lymphoma may be diagnosed after testing has been completed on swollen lymph nodes or abnormal growths. Lymph node swelling can cause local symptoms including pressure on adjacent tissues and organs.

Diagnosis

Biopsy is necessary to prove the diagnosis of lymphoma. Often an enlarged lymph node is biopsied.

Staging

Tests are performed to evaluate the extent of the disease, meaning how far it has spread. Staging exams utilized in the management of lymphoma include bone marrow biopsy, a CT scan of chest/Abdomen/Pelvis, and PET/CT scan.

Lymphoma Cancer Video Tutorials

Lymphoma Cancer Video Tutorials

What is Lymphoma ?

What is Lymphoma

Lymphoma is simply defined as a type of cancer in the lymph system. British physician Thomas Hodgkin was the first to publish initial descriptions of the condition in 1832. Thus, the specific type of lymphoma he described (Hodgkin’s lymphoma) was appropriately named after him. After his initial description, many other studies looked at several other forms or types of the cancerous disease.

A cancer appears when several of our bodies’ cells begin behaving abnormally. The body is comprised of various kinds of cells found in different organs like the nerves of blood. At times, normal cells cease getting usual biological signals that make them stop growing. When that happens, the cells abnormally continue to multiply and grow. This is the formation of cancer cells. When the cancer cells grow, the affected organ stops working normally. Several of the cancer cells also start to break off from the original site, spreading into many other body parts and affecting many other organs.

The lymph system comprises an interconnected network with thin nodes and tubes carrying white blood cells. Such cells are responsible for fighting off infections. This way, they are vitally significant to the body’s overall well-being. When a lymphocyte (a specific kind of white blood cell) in the lymph system starts to become cancerous, it would tend to multiply and grow leading to formation of lymphoma.

Which part of the body is usually affected by lymphoma? The cancer could affect any part of the lymph system. Usually, patients initially notice abnormal enlargement of the lymph nodes, specifically in the areas of the groin, the neck, and the armpits. However, lymphoma could also manifest in several other organs of the body. This is because minimal amounts of lymph tissue pass into practically every organ in the body as white blood cells reach out to different areas to perform control of infections.

This type of cancer is currently the most usual form of blood cancer or hematological malignancy especially in the developed countries. Lymphoma comprises about 5.3% of overall forms of cancers in the United States alone. It comprises of up to 55.6% of blood cancers diagnosed. According to data released by the US National Institute of Health, Hodgkin’s lymphoma is accounting for about 1% of total cases of cancer across the country. Patients with HIV infection and exposure to certain medications and drugs have higher incidences of lymphoma for obvious reasons.

Many forms of lymphoma are indolent (occurring lifelong even without medication or treatment) or aggressive (causing fast deterioration of health and eventually death). However, most incidences of aggressive lymphomas are responding ideally to treatment. In other words, they are curable. This condition is not a single type of cancer because it comprises of a group of several related forms of cancers. There are about 30 various types of identified lymphoma. In a broad sense, lymphoma could be categorized as either Hodgkin or Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Of course, each type has its own features and manifestations and results to different outcomes in the long term.

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Whst is Lymphoma Cancer Diseases

Lymphoma is a group of blood cell tumors that develop from lymphatic cells. The name often refers to just the cancerous ones rather than all such tumorsSigns and symptoms may include enlarged lymph nodes, fever, drenching sweats, unintended weight loss, itching, and feeling tired The enlarged lymph nodes are usually painless. The sweats are most common at night.

There are dozens of subtypes of lymphomasThe two main categories of lymphomas are Hodgkin lymphomas (HL) and the non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL). The World Health Organization (WHO) includes two other categories as types of lymphoma: multiple myeloma and immunoproliferative diseases. About 90% of lymphomas are non-Hodgkin lymphomas Lymphomas andleukemias are a part of the broader group of tumors of the hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues.

Risk factors for Hodgkin lymphoma include infection with Epstein–Barr virus and a history of the disease in the family.Risk factors for common types of non-Hodgkin lymphomas include autoimmune diseases, HIV/AIDS, infection with human T-lymphotropic virus,immunosuppressant medications, and some pesticides. Eating large amounts of red meat may also increase the risk.^]Diagnosis, if enlarged lymph nodes are present, is usually by lymph node biopsy. Blood, urine, and bone marrow testing may also be useful in the diagnosis. Medical imaging may then be done to determine if and where the cancer has spread.^]Lymphoma most often spreads to the lungs, liver, and/or brain.

Treatment may involve one or more of the following: chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, and surgery. In some non-Hodgkin lymphomas, an increased amount of protein produced by the lymphoma cells causes the blood to become so thick thatplasmapheresis is performed to remove the protein. Watchful waiting may be appropriate for certain types. The outcome depends on the subtype with some being curable and treatment prolonging survival in most. The five-year survival rate in the United States for all Hodgkin lymphoma subtypes is 85%, while that for non-Hodgkin lymphomas is 69%.Worldwide, lymphomas developed in 566,000 people in 2012 and caused 305,000 deaths. They make up 3–4% of all cancers, making them as a group the seventh-most common form. In children, they are the third-most common cancer. They occur more often in the developed world than the developing world.