What is Lymphoma?
Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer in which the white blood cells called lymphocytes grow uncontrollably. Lymphocytes are an essential part of the immune system and traverse throughout the body to ward off infections. The lymphatic system carries fluid called lymph and circulates it all over the body, similar to the circulation of blood. This fluid passes through the lymph node which are present throughout the body.
What are the types of Lymphoma?
There are majorly two kinds of lymphoma:
- Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: 95% of lymphoma cases are non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
- Hodgkin Lymphoma: This is a kind of cancer of the immune system and is detected by the presence of unusually huge B lymphocytes also called as Reed-Sternberg cells. In this kind the cancer spreads from one lymph node to the one beside it.
What are the symptoms of Lymphoma?
Few signs and manifestations of Lymphoma may include:
- Swollen lymph nodes (neck or armpit or groin area).
- Fever.
- Cough.
- Shortness of Breath.
- Night sweats.
- Loss of weight.
- Itching.
- Weakness.
How is Lymphoma diagnosed?
Lymphoma could be diagnosed by a range of tests, such as:
- Blood tests.
- Biopsies.
- CT Scan.
- MRI Scan.
- PET Scan.
- Spinal Tap.
- Ultrasound.
How can Lymphoma be treated?
Depending on the type and spread of Lymphoma, the treatment plan could include:
- Biologic Therapy: This treatment instigates the immune system to attack the cancer cells.
- Antibody Therapy.
- Chemotherapy.
- Radiation Therapy.
- Radio immunotherapy.
- Stem cell transplantation.
- Surgery.
What are the risk factors of Lymphoma?
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma risk factors include:
- Age: This kind of cancer is usually seen either in elderly people, older than 60 yrs or in children and young adults.
- Gender: Male are more prone to this cancer.
- Chemical Exposure: Being exposed to radiations and agricultural chemicals could increase the risk of Lymphoma.
- Immunodeficiency: People with a weaker immune system are more susceptible to this.
- Auto immune diseases.
- Infections: Certain bacteria or virus can affect the lymphocytes and increases the risk of cancer.
Hodgkin Lymphoma risk factors include:
- Infectious mononucleosis: The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection increases the risk of lymphoma.
- Age: Young adults and those above 55 years are more susceptible to Lymphoma.
- Gender: Male are more prone to this cancer.
- Family history: Having a family member especially sibling with this cancer greatly increases the risk of developing it as well.
- HIV infection.