Are You Suffering from Lymphoma? Know about its Types and Treatment

What is Lymphoma?

Lymphoma is a type of lymphatic cancer. It grows in lymphocytes, a kind of white blood cell. These cells are crucial to the body's immunological defenses and aid in the battle against the disease.

Given that this particular cancer is found in the lymphatic system, it has a high propensity to metastasize or spread to other body tissues and organs. Lymphoma spreads most frequently in the liver, bone marrow, or lungs.

Although it can strike anyone at any age, it is most frequently found in children [1] and individuals between the ages of 15 to 24. It is often curable.

Types of Lymphoma

Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma are the two main types of lymphoma. There are numerous variations of this.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma

The presence of persistently swollen glands may indicate lymphoma. The most prevalent type of lymphoma, non-Hodgkin, often arises from B and T lymphocytes (cells) in tissues or lymph nodes throughout the body. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma tumour growth occasionally skips some lymph nodes while expanding on others. 95% of cases of lymphoma are caused by it. [2]

Hodgkin lymphoma

Doctors can recognize Hodgkin lymphoma, an immune system malignancy, by the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells, which are disproportionately large B lymphocytes. Cancer frequently spreads to nearby lymph nodes when a person has Hodgkin lymphoma.

Early Signs and Symptoms of Lymphoma

Lymphoma symptoms are comparable to other viral illnesses, like the common cold. They often go on for a longer duration. Some people do not witness any signs at all, while others could observe swollen lymph nodes. The body is covered in lymph nodes, and the swelling frequently occurs in the neck, groin, abdomen, or armpits. The swellings are often slightly painful. If the swollen glands press against bones, organs, or other structures, they could become uncomfortable. Back pain and lymphoma can sometimes be confused. During diseases like the common cold, lymph nodes can also enlarge. The swelling does not go away with lymphoma. If the swelling has developed due to an infection, pain is also more likely to accompany it.

Overlapping symptoms can result in incorrect diagnoses. Anyone with consistently swollen glands should schedule an appointment with their doctor.

Additional signs of both types of lymphoma

• Persistent fever without an illness
• Chills, fever, and night sweats
• Reduction in weight and appetite
• Uncommon itching
• Ongoing tiredness or lack of energy
• Lymph node discomfort following alcohol consumption

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma signs

• Ongoing coughing
• Breathing difficulty
• Discomfort or bloating in the abdomen

Symptoms of lymphoma in females can be subtle or slow if it ensues from their reproductive organs. Although it is extremely rare, if it is left untreated, it can also spread to the cervix causing cervical cancer.

If an enlarged lymph node happens to be pressed against spinal nerves or the spinal cord, symptoms like pain, weakness, paralysis, or altered sensation may develop. Through the lymphatic system, lymphoma can quickly spread from the lymph nodes to other body regions. In addition, the immune system is less effective in fighting infections as malignant lymphocytes invade other tissues.

Causes of Lymphoma

• Are 60 years of age (at least) and have NHL
• Are older than 55 or between the ages of 15 and 40 for Hodgkin lymphoma
• Are male, despite the possibility that some sub types are more prevalent in women
• Have a weakened immune system as a result of HIV/AIDS, an organ transplant, or due to an immunological disorder you were born with
• Have an immune system disorder such as celiac disease, lupus, Sjögren's syndrome, or rheumatoid arthritis
• Have a virus like Epstein-Barr, hepatitis C, or human T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma infection (HTLV-1)
• Have a close family member who battled lymphoma
• Were exposed to benzene or pesticides and weed killers
• Received prior treatment for Hodgkin or NHL
• Received radiation therapy as cancer treatment

How is Lymphoma Diagnosed?

It is not routinely screened for. A person should visit a doctor immediately if they continue to experience viral symptoms. The physician will enquire about the patient's personal and family medical history to rule out other illnesses. Additionally, they will perform a physical examination, looking for any potential swellings in the armpits, pelvis, neck, and abdomen. The doctor will search for indications of infection close to lymph nodes because this is the most common cause of the swelling.

Lymphoma tests

Test results will demonstrate the presence of lymphoma. Blood tests and biopsies can identify the presence of lymphoma and aid a physician in differentiating between various forms. A surgeon takes a sample of lymphatic tissue during a biopsy. The doctor will then submit it to a lab for analysis. A lymph node may be removed entirely by the surgeon or only partially. They may occasionally use a needle to collect a tissue sample. There may be a need for a bone marrow biopsy. A local anaesthetic, sedative, or general anaesthetic may be necessary.

Biopsies and other testing methods can be used to determine whether cancer has spread to other body parts and to confirm the tumour's stage.

A physician might order imaging tests such as

• An MRI scan
• A PET scan
• A CT scan
• Ultrasound imaging of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis

A Spinal Tap

During a spinal tap, a surgeon will remove and test spinal fluid while using a long, thin needle and local anaesthesia.

Cancer staging is based on the kind, growth rate, and cellular features. The malignancy is contained in a small area in stages 0 or 1. By stage 4, cancer has spread to more organs, making treatment difficult for doctors.

Indolent lymphoma, which stays in one location, is another term a doctor might use to describe lymphoma. Some lymphomas are aggressive, which causes them to invade other body regions.

How is Lymphoma Treated?

• Haematologists are medical professionals who focus on problems with immune cells, bone marrow, and blood
• Oncologists deal with malignant cancers
• Pathologists may collaborate with these clinicians to help plan and determine whether a particular course of treatment is effective

The patient's lymphoma type, stage of the illness, age and general health, and other factors affect the lymphoma treatment options.

Doctors will stage a tumour to indicate how far the malignant cells may have progressed. For example, in contrast to a stage 4 tumour, which has moved to other organs like the lungs or bone marrow, a stage 1 tumour is restricted to several lymph nodes.

Non-hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL) tumours are also rated on their rate of growth by doctors. These words comprise

• Low-grade or passive
• Middle-grade or hostile
• High-grade or highly aggressive

Treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma

Radiation therapy is frequently used as part of Hodgkin's lymphoma treatment to shrink and kill malignant cells. To kill malignant cells, doctors may also prescribe chemotherapy drugs. Immunotherapy drugs such as nivolumab (Opdivo) and pembrolizumab (Keytruda) support the body's T cells in their fight against cancer.

Non-lymphoma Hodgkin's Treatment

NHL can also be treated with chemotherapy and radiation. Biological treatments that concentrate on malignant B cells are also sometimes successful. Nivolumab is an example of this kind of medication (Opdivo).

CAR T cell therapy is an option for some patients, such as those with large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). CAR T cell therapy treats cancer with the body's cells - immune cells are removed from the body, modified in a lab with new proteins, and reintroduced.

A bone marrow or stem cell transplant may be utilized in some cases of Hodgkin's lymphoma and NHL to increase the number of healthy immune system cells. These tissues or cells may be taken from patients before chemotherapy and radiation therapies. Family members may also be able to give bone marrow.

Complications of Lymphoma

Even after being cured, some NHL patients continue to have issues.

A Compromised immune system

A common side effect of NHL treatment is immune system deterioration, which might worsen as you recover. But your immune system will typically recover in the months and years following therapy. Unfortunately, a weakened immune system makes a person more susceptible to infections and increases the likelihood that illnesses will result in significant complications.

Any signs of infection should be reported to your doctor or care team immediately since severe consequences may arise without rapid treatment. This is especially crucial in the initial weeks following treatment.

Vaccinations

You should confirm that all of your immunizations are up to date

However, discussing this with your doctor or care team is crucial, as it might not be safe for you to receive "live" vaccines until many months after your course of treatment is complete. A weakened version of the virus or organism being immunized against is present in live vaccines.

Infertility

Infertility can result from non-Hodgkin lymphoma chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This might be either temporary or permanent. Your care team will calculate the likelihood of infertility in your particular situation and discuss your alternatives. Before receiving treatment, it may be possible in some circumstances for men to store samples of their sperm and for women to keep samples of their eggs to use when trying to conceive later.

You can reach out to Bajaj Finserv Health to speak with a cancer specialist for further information on lymphoma. You can also schedule an oncologist consultation. In addition, you can also get consultation from the convenience of your home to receive accurate information on cancer symptoms and other concerns so that you can live a healthy life from now on.