Lymphoma Cancer Symptoms

Certain signs of lymphoma are similar to those of many other diseases. So, you may not be diagnosed immediately.

Doctors use a variety of tests to determine the presence of lymphoma, and determine the extent to which the cancer has spread. These include CT scans, PET scans and a bone marrow biopsy.

Survival rates are the percentage of patients who have survived a specific form of lymphoma over a given period of time. These statistics cannot tell you what will happen to your cancer.

Symptoms

The first sign of lymphoma can be swollen (enlarged) lymph nodes located in the neck, armpit, or groin. Lymph nodes are the most important part in the body's system of lymphatics, which runs across the entire body. They help fight infections and are a crucial part of the lymphatic system. The lymph nodes can also be caused by other factors, such as obesity or a cold. If you're experiencing swelling lymph nodes that are not painful, see your doctor for an examination.

Other symptoms include itchy skins, fevers, loss of appetite as well as weight loss, aching joints and bones as well as itching in large areas such as night sweats, itchy red and purple patches that appear under or on your skin (if lymphoma began in your skin). Some types of lymphoma can cause a build-up of fluid in blood vessels, which can cause anaemia, which is a low level of red blood cells.

Sometimes, lymphoma begins in the lymphoid gland Lymphoma Cancer and it spreads to other organs like the spleen. The stage of lymphoma that is in this case can be called extranodal. This is demonstrated by adding an 'E" to the stage of lymphoma.

Sometimes, lymphoma affects the brain and cause symptoms like confusion, memory problems or mood swings. This is referred to as 'chemo-brain', however it could also be caused by other illnesses, such as fatigue or an illness that is viral.

Diagnosis

Your doctor will do an examination of your body, and check your lymph nodes. Your doctor may think you have lymphoma if your lymph nodes are swelling, but this symptom is also a sign of other ailments. Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and previous health issues, as well as your family history. The doctor will then run blood tests. These tests will include a complete blood count (CBC) to determine excessive numbers of certain types of blood cells, and an aspiration of the bone marrow and biopsy to search for cancerous cells in bone marrow.

A bone marrow biopsy is a test that removes a small amount tissue or fluid from a bone within your body, for instance the pelvic bone or the top of the hip bone. This procedure is typically performed when you experience pain in your bones or if lymphoma has spread into the bones. A spinal tap, which entails inserting a needle into the lower back to remove a sample cerebrospinal liquid, is usually done only when you suffer from certain types of lymphoma.

Imaging tests can be used to determine whether lymphoma has spread from the lungs and spleen to other organs of the body. These tests may include chest x-rays and a magnetic resonance (MRI) scan or a computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen, pelvis and chest. You may also undergo PET scan (positron-emission tomography), or a combination PET/CT scan. This will aid your doctor to identify areas that have more cancerous cells as well as get more detailed images.

Treatment

If you are diagnosed with lymphoma by your healthcare provider, they will discuss options for treatment. These include radiotherapy, chemotherapy and bone marrow/stem cells transplantation. The kind of treatment you will receive will depend on the type of lymphoma, its stage and your overall health.

Different kinds of tests are utilized by healthcare professionals to identify and stage lymphoma. The results of the tests help them determine the most effective treatment. You may require a biopsy depending on the stage and type of lymphoma. This allows the collection of tissues, fluids or cells to be examined under the microscope. Healthcare professionals can also perform a lumbar puncture to get cerebrospinal fluid from the space around your brain and spinal cord.

Most types of lymphoma are treated with chemotherapy. The kind of chemotherapy you receive is contingent on the type lymphoma you're suffering from. If you are suffering from an indolent non Hodgkin lymphoma your doctor might recommend a combination known as bendamustine and the drug rituximab. If you have advanced non-Hodgkin lymphoma the treatment known as SMILE (dexamethasone methotrexate ifosfamide, l-asparaginas and ifosfamide) might be recommended.

Stem cell transplantation is utilized for both Hodgkin disease and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In this procedure, healthy stem cells are transplanted directly into the bloodstream. They replace your damaged blood cells, and also improve the efficiency of your immune system, which may prevent cancer from coming back.

Prognosis

The outlook (prognosis), for lymphoma is based on the type of cancer and the stage of the disease. Treatment may destroy cancer cells and bring the disease into the stage of remission. It can also improve the quality of life and reduce symptoms.

Lymphoma is a condition that occurs when a disease-fighting white blood cell develops mutations that cause it to multiply beyond control. It can cause swelling in the lymph nodes and the liver. It could also be transmitted to the lungs and bones.

Doctors can diagnose lymphoma with physical examination or blood tests, as well as imaging scans. They can also collect the tissue sample from a lymph node to confirm the diagnosis and to check for the stage of the lymphoma. They may also suggest a bone marrow biopsy to determine if cancer cells have spread to bone marrow.

Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are two treatment options. Chemotherapy is available as a single drug or in combination. It is available as a pill or liquid, depending on the type of chemotherapy. Radiation therapy makes use of powerful beams of X rays or proton to kill cancerous cells or stop them from forming.

Your outlook could be affected by your age, health in general, and the type of lymphoma you have. Other factors that impact your prognosis include the stage you are diagnosed with and the grade of your lymphoma, which refers to how abnormal your cells appear under the microscope.