Lymphoma

Also called: Non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Lymphoma is a cancer of a part of the immune system called the lymph system. There are many types of lymphoma. One type is Hodgkin disease. The rest are called non-Hodgkin lymphomas.

Non-Hodgkin lymphomas begin when a type of white blood cell, called a T cell or B cell, becomes abnormal. The cell divides again and again, making more and more abnormal cells. These abnormal cells can spread to almost any other part of the body. Most of the time, doctors don't know why a person gets non-Hodgkin lymphoma. You are at increased risk if you have a weakened immune system or have certain types of infections.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma can cause many symptoms, such as

  • Swollen, painless lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or groin
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Fever
  • Soaking night sweats
  • Coughing, trouble breathing or chest pain
  • Weakness and tiredness that don't go away
  • Pain, swelling or a feeling of fullness in the abdomen

Your doctor will diagnose lymphoma with a physical exam, blood tests, a chest x-ray, and a biopsy. Treatments include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, biological therapy, or therapy to remove proteins from the blood. Targeted therapy uses substances that attack cancer cells without harming normal cells. Biologic therapy boosts your body's own ability to fight cancer. If you don't have symptoms, you may not need treatment right away. This is called watchful waiting.

NIH: National Cancer Institute

Symptoms of Lymphoma

The following features are indicative of Lymphoma:
  • swollen, painless lymph nodes in the neck, groin or armpits
  • unexplained weight loss
  • fever
  • soaking night sweats
  • coughing
  • trouble breathing
  • chest pain
  • weakness and tiredness
  • swelling, pain or a feeling of fullness in the abdomen

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Common Causes of Lymphoma

The following are the most common causes of Lymphoma:
  • too many abnormal lymphocytes in the body

Risk Factors for Lymphoma

The following factors may increase the likelihood of Lymphoma:
  • medications that suppress the immune system
  • infection with certain viruses and bacteria
  • chemicals exposure
  • older age

Prevention of Lymphoma

Yes, it may be possible to prevent Lymphoma. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
  • maintain a healthy immune system
  • maintain a healthy weight
  • eat a healthy diet

Occurrence of Lymphoma

Number of Cases

The following are the number of Lymphoma cases seen each year worldwide:
  • Common between 1 - 10 Million cases

Common Age Group

Lymphoma most commonly occurs in the following age group:
  • Aged > 50 years

Common Gender

Lymphoma can occur in any gender.

Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Lymphoma

The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Lymphoma:
  • Physical examination: To diagnose the size and condition of lymph nodes
  • Blood and urine tests: To diagnose infection and other disease
  • Imaging tests: To diagnose tumors in the body with CT scan, MRI and PET
  • Biopsy: To get a sample of lymph node for testing

Doctor for Diagnosis of Lymphoma

Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Lymphoma:
  • Hematologist
  • Oncologist

Complications of Lymphoma if untreated

Yes, Lymphoma causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Lymphoma is left untreated:
  • bone marrow
  • bone and neurologic lesions

Procedures for Treatment of Lymphoma

The following procedures are used to treat Lymphoma:
  • Chemotherapy: To kill cancer cells
  • Radiation therapy: To kill cancer cells or reduce tumors with high-powered energy beams
  • Stem cell transplant: To kill lymphoma cells

Self-care for Lymphoma

The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Lymphoma:
  • Regular exercise: To reduce or prevent lymphoma
  • Quit smoking: Avoid the use of tobacco

Alternative Medicine for Treatment of Lymphoma

The following alternate medicine and therapies are known to help in the treatment or management of Lymphoma:
  • Massage therapy: Relax muscles and alleviate body pain
  • Do meditation: To ease the side effects of medicines
  • Do regular exercises: Helps to reducing stress

Patient Support for Treatment of Lymphoma

The following actions may help Lymphoma patients:
  • Education: Learn about this disease to treat or prevent its symptoms
  • Keep friends and family close: To get practical support from your friends and family

Related Topics

Last updated date

This page was last updated on 2/04/2019.
This page provides information for Lymphoma.

Related Topics

Hodgkin Disease

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