Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment of Lymphoma

Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment of Lymphoma by Jeremy Parker

Would you know if you had lymphoma? Do you even know what to look for? Below is a short description of lymphoma and information on the symptoms to look for, how the doctor will diagnose it and the possible treatments available today.

What is lymphoma?Lymphoma is a type of cancer that affects the lymphocyte cells of the immune system. It generally originates in one or more of the lymph glands and causes them to swell to the point that they become uncomfortable although not painful. The common lymph glands that are first affected include those in the neck, in the armpit area and in the groin. Unfortunately the cancerous lymphocytes can break away from the main growth in the lymph glands and travel around the body in the lymphatic system and in the blood. This means that lymphoma often affects the entire body and causes symptoms in areas far from the original site of growth.

What are the common symptoms of lymphoma? There are a number of common signs and symptoms that are associated with lymphoma however it must be pointed out that these symptoms can also be caused by numerous, less severe conditions and so anyone suffering with any of the following symptoms should not self-diagnose lymphoma. The common symptoms include:

Swollen lymph glands – although these often develop in the neck, armpit and groin areas they can also develop in the chest and these lymph glands can not be felt externally. This means that they can be swollen for some time without causing any external swelling that can be felt with the fingers.

Fever and night sweats – because cancerous cells are present in the body the immune system launches an attack and this causes the body’s internal temperature to rise, which is felt as a fever.

Unexplained weight loss - lymphoma can affect any system within the body and occasionally it affects the digestive system which then fails to function at its best. This means that food is not absorbed properly and the body begins to lose weight.

Tiredness and fatigue – again this can occur when the digestive system is affected and the impaired food absorption leaves the body with little energy. It also occurs because the body is constantly trying to fight the spread and development of cancerous cells.

How is lymphoma diagnosed? Usually the doctor will have an idea of the diagnosis from your description of the symptoms and from performing a physical examination i.e. to feel for swelling in the lymph glands. From here he/she will refer you to the hospital for further tests which may include x-rays, CT and MRI scans to see how far the cancerous cells have spread, blood tests and even bone marrow biopsies. These tests will be able to confirm the presence of lymphoma and they will pinpoint exactly what type of lymphoma you have and how far it has progressed.

How is lymphoma treated? There are a number of ways that lymphoma can be treated however the exact course of treatment will depend on a number of factors including what type of lymphoma is present, how far it has spread, how fast it is growing and your general state of health. The options include chemotherapy, radiotherapy and bone marrow transplants however every case is different and your course of therapy will be individual to your illness so that you have the best chance of recovery possible