Lymphoma

What is Lymphoma?

Lymphoma is a type of cancer characterised by uncontrolled growth of lymphocytes without cell death. This leads to an increased number and their accumulation throughout the body.

What are its main signs and symptoms?

Lymphoma has early symptoms, which can easily be overlooked or taken to be general and common health issues. Some of the early symptoms are listed below:

• Swollen lymph nodes of the neck or groin or the armpits
• Fatigue
• Unsteady or intermittent fever
• Night sweats
• Sudden and unexplained weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Hair loss
  
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However, if overlooked, the symptoms can get acute and more particular. Some of the advanced stage symptoms are

• Bone pain
• Breathing difficulty
• Prolonged weakness and fatigue
• Increase in the above-mentioned symptoms on a larger scale

What are its main causes?

Lymphoma occurs when the lymphocytes, i.e., the white blood cells, which are responsible for immunity against any foreign threat, start growing in large numbers due to different reasons.

The exact reason for such an outburst of lymphocytes is not known yet, and studies are conducted to determine the cause. Some factors, such as age and sex, are still predicted to be a risk factor of this cancer, but none have proved to be true to date.

Known risk factors for lymphoma that can be avoided are obesity, carcinogens, alcohol, smoking, radiation and tobacco.

How is it diagnosed and treated?

Based on the symptoms suggesting a lymph cancer, the doctor or hematopathologist recommends a biopsy to determine and examine the type of cell that is growing uncontrollably.

After detection of lymphoma cells, further examinations, including chest X-rays and blood tests along with computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), are carried out to determine the growth and identify the affected areas of the body.

The treatment modalities are based on the stage of cancer.

The most common treatment in the early stages are medicinal only; however, in the later stages, chemotherapy and radiation are introduced. Drugs, such as rituximab, which target the cancerous B-cells, are also found useful in such stages. In special cases of high immune deficiency, doctors carry out a bone marrow or stem cell transplant, which helps in building new and healthy immune cells.

1. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: US National Library of Medicine; Lymphoma.
2. American Cancer Society [Internet] Atlanta, Georgia, U.S; Lymphoma.
3. Center for Disease Control and Prevention [internet], Atlanta (GA): US Department of Health and Human Services; Lymphoma.
4. National Cancer Institute [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Lymphoma—Patient Version.
5. National Cancer Institute [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Lymphoma—Health Professional Version Patient Version TREATMENT.