Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
Non-hodgkinienLe lymphoma lymphoma, also known as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, is the cancer that originates in the lymphatic system, the disease spread network, and fights throughout your body. In non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, tumours develop from lymphocytes – a type of white blood cell.
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is more common than the other general type of lymphoma – Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Many subtypes of non-Hodgkin lymphomas exist. The most common non-Hodgkin lymphoma subtypes include large B-cells diffuse lymphoma and follicular lymphoma.
Symptoms
Symptoms of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma may include:
swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or groin
abdominal pain or swelling
Chest pain, cough or difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Fever
Sweats
Weight loss
When to see a doctor
Make an appointment with your doctor if you have a
Causes
Doctors are not sure what causes non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma occurs when your body produces too many abnormal lymphocytes – a type of white blood cell. Normally, lymphocytes pass through a predictable life cycle. Old lymphocytes die, and your body creates new ones to replace them. In non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, your lymphocytes do not die, but continue to grow and divide. This overproduction of lymphocytes is being squeezed into the lymph nodes, which swell.
B cells and T cells
of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma can begin in the:
Cells B. B cells fight infection by producing antibodies that neutralize foreign invaders. Most non-Hodgkin's lymphoma comes from B cells. Subtypes of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that involve B lymphocytes include diffuse large cell lymphoma B, follicular lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma and lymphoma Burkitt .
. T lymphocytes T cells are involved in killing directly foreign invaders. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is less common in T cells. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma subtypes that involve T cells include T-cell peripheral lymphoma and T-cell cutaneous lymphoma.
Whether your non-Hodgkin's lymphoma stems from your B cells or T cells allows you to determine your treatment options.
When non-Hodgkin's lymphoma occurs
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma usually involves the presence of cancerous lymphocytes in the lymph nodes, but the disease can also spread to other parts of your lymphatic system. These include the lymph vessels, tonsils, adenoids vegetation, spleen, thymus and bone marrow. Sometimes, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma involves organs outside your lymphatic system.
Risk Factors
In most cases, people with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma have no obvious risk factors, and many people who have risk factors for the disease never develop it. Some factors that may increase the risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are:
Medications that suppress the immune system. If you have had an organ transplant, you are more susceptible because immunosuppressive therapy has reduced your body's ability to fight new diseases.
Infection with certain viruses and bacteria. Some viral and bacterial infections appear to increase the risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Virus related to the increased risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are HIV and Epstein-Barr virus. Bacteria associated with an increased risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are Helicobacter pylori causing ulcer.
Chemicals. Some chemicals, such as those used to kill insects and weeds, may increase your risk of developing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. More research is needed to understand the possible link between pesticides and the development of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
The advanced age. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma can occur at any age, but the risk increases with age. This is the most common in people in their 60s or so.
Preparing for your appointment
Make an appointment with your family doctor or general practitioner if you have any signs or symptoms that concern you. If your doctor suspects that you have non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, you may be referred to a physician who specializes in diseases that affect blood cells (hematologist).
Because appointments can be brief, and because there is often a lot of ground to cover, it's a good idea to be well prepared. Here is some information to help you prepare and what to expect from your doctor.
What you can do
Be aware of the pre-appointment restrictions. By the time you make the appointment, be sure to ask if there is anything you need to do in advance, such as restricting your diet.
Note All the symptoms you are experiencing, including those that may seem unrelated to why you programmed the appointment.
Write key personal information, including important constraints or recent changes in life.
Make a list of all the medications, vitamins or supplements you take.
Consider taking a family member or friend along. Sometimes it can be difficult to remember all the information provided during an appointment. Someone who accompanies you may remember something you missed or forgot.
Write questions to ask your doctor.
Your time with your doctor is limited, so preparing a list of questions can help you make the most of your time together. List to your questions of the most important at least in time the case runs out. For non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, some basic questions to ask your doctor:
Do I need non-Hodgkin's lymphoma?
What type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma do I need?
At what stage of Ma non-Hodgkin's lymphoma?
Is my aggressive or slow-growing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma?
Will I need more tests?
Will I need a treatment?
What are my treatment options?
What are the possible side effects of each treatment?
How does treatment affect my daily life? Can I continue to work?
How long will the willingness treatment last?
Is there any treatment that you feel is best for me?
If you had a friend or relative in my situation, what advice would you give this person?
Do I need to see a specialist? What does this cost, and my insurance cover?
Are there any brochures or other printed materials that I can take with me? What WEB sites do you recommend?
In addition to the questions you have prepared to ask your doctor, feel free to ask additional questions as they occur during your appointment.
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor may ask you a number of questions. Being prepared to answer them may give you more time to cover other points you wish to address. Your doctor may ask:
When did you start to feel the symptoms?
Were your symptoms continuous or occasional?
What is the severity of your symptoms?
What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
What, if anything, seems to aggravate your symptoms?
Tests and Diagnosis
Tests and procedures used for the diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are:
The physical exam. Your doctor can perform a physical examination to determine the size and condition of your lymph nodes and whether your liver and spleen are hypertrophied.
Blood and urine tests. Blood and urine tests can help to eliminate an infection or other disease.
The imaging exams. Your doctor may recommend imaging tests for tumors to look into your body. Imaging techniques may include X-rays, computed tomography (CT), Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or positron emission tomography (PET).
Collect a sample of lymph node tissue for testing. Your doctor may recommend a biopsy to taste or remove a lymph node for testing. Analyzing the tissue of the lymph nodes in a laboratory can reveal if you have non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and, if so, what type.
You're looking for cancer cells in the bone marrow. To find out if the disease has spread, your doctor may request a bone marrow biopsy. This involves inserting a needle into the pelvic bone to obtain a bone marrow sample.
Treatments and medications
Your treatment options are determined according to the type and stage of your lymphoma, your age, and your overall health.
Treatment is not always necessary
If your lymphoma seems to be growing (indolent) slow, see Wait an approach can be an option. indolent lymphomas that do not cause signs and symptoms may not require treatment for years.
Delaying the treatment does not mean that you will be on your own. Your doctor will probably plan regular checks every month to monitor your condition and make sure your cancer doesn't progress.
Lymphoma treatment that causes signs and symptoms
If your non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is aggressive or causes signs and symptoms, your doctor may recommend treatment. Options may include:
. Chemo chemotherapy chemotherapy is a drug treatment – orally or by injection – that kills cancer cells. Chemotherapeutic drugs can be administered alone, in combination with other chemotherapy medications or in combination with other treatments.
Radiation therapy. Radiotherapy uses high-power beams of energy, such as X-rays, to kill cancer cells and reduce tumors. During radiotherapy, you are positioned on a table and a large machine directs the radiation at specific points on your body. Radiation therapy can be used alone or in combination with other cancer treatments.
Stem cell transplant. A stem cell transplant is a procedure that involves very high doses of chemotherapy or radiation therapy, in order to kill lymphoma cells that can only be killed with standard doses. Later, healthy stem cells – your own or from a donor – are injected into the body, where they can form new healthy blood cells.
Medications that improve the ability of your immune system to fight cancer. Biological medications help immune to fight the cancer of your body's system. Rituximab (Rituxan) is a type of monoclonal antibody that attaches to B cells and makes them more visible to the immune system, which can then attack. Rituximab reduces the number of B cells, including healthy B cells, but your body produces new healthy B cells to replace them. B cancer cells are less likely to reproduce.
Medications that provide radiation directly to cancer cells. Radio-immunotherapy drugs are made of monoclonal antibodies that carry radioactive isotopes. This allows the antibody to be fixed on the cancer cells and to deliver radiation directly to the cells. Two radio-Immunotherapy medications – ibritumomab (Zevalin) and Tositumomab (Bexxar) – are used to treat lymphoma.
Adaptation and Support
A diagnosis of cancer can be overwhelming. Over time you will find ways to deal with the distress and uncertainty of cancer. Until then, you may find contributing to:
Learn enough about lymphoma to make decisions about your care. Ask your doctor about your non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, including your treatment options and, if you wish, your prognosis. As you learn more about non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, you can become more confident in making treatment decisions.
Keep friends and family close. Keeping your strong close relationships will help you deal with your non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Friends and family can provide the practical support you will need, such as helping to take care of your home if you are in the hospital. And they can serve as emotional support when you feel overwhelmed by cancer.
Find someone to talk to. Find a good listener with whom you can talk about your hopes and fears. This can be a friend or family member. The concern and understanding of a counsellor, a medico-social worker, a clergyman or a cancer support group may also be helpful. Ask your doctor about support groups in your area. or consult your phone book, library or cancer agency, such as the National Cancer Institute or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
0 comments:
Post a Comment