North Houston Cancer Clinics

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Cancer

At North Houston, patients receive the best support and treatment options with the best staff and experts. Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma is a disease that occurs in the lymphatic system and can spread to other body parts. Treatment and diagnosis depend upon the patient’s health and cancer stage.

What Is Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Cancer ?

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma mainly involves the formation of cancerous lymphocytes. It can also spread to other parts of the lymphatic system and include organs not part of the lymphatic system.
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Cancer Treatments​

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Cancer Treatments

Professionals treat non-Hodgkin Lymphoma with chemotherapy and sometimes also with radiotherapy. In some cases, patients do not require this treatment immediately. Sometimes, a biopsy can perform the role if the tumor size is small.

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy can be performed with stem cell transplantation. It can be done frequently as an allogeneic transplantation of stem cells.

Radiotherapy
Radiation therapy includes some radiation, including X-rays and also other types of radiation that treat non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Monoclonal Antibody Therapy
Monoclonal antibodies are among the most common treatment methods for non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Drugs find proteins specifically on cancer cells in this method and work differently.

Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is also used to treat some types of non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. A kind of immunotherapy called CAR T-cell therapy is used in some cases where other treatments are not working. Immunotherapy can enhance the immune system’s ability to prevent and fight cancer cells. This therapy works after a short course of chemotherapy on the hospital’s premises.

Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Cancer Diagnosis

Understanding the Process

The diagnosis of non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL) contains several tests that have to be carried out to determine if there are any cancerous lymphocytes present in them.

  1. Medical History and Physical Examination
  • When physicians suspect NHL, they first take complete medical records of a patient involving symptoms, among others.
  • It is possible to physically examine such a person, looking for enlarged lymph nodes or other signs of abnormal organ growth.
  1. Imaging Scans and studies
  • CT scans, PET scans, and MRIs are commonly carried out to indicate how much this disease involves the lymph node.

The tests will also show the extent of the mass when it begins to form, where it is found, and how much it has spread throughout the body.

  1. Biopsy
  • The biopsy is also considered the gold standard in diagnosing NHL since it involves removing some tissues from affected lymph nodes or organs for meaningful testing at the laboratory level.

Under a microscope, pathologists look at the biopsies to ascertain malignancy and, more specifically, the type of NHL.

  1. Immunohistochemistry and Molecular Testing
  • The technique of staining samples using particular antibodies to let you know if there is tumor growth.
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Cancer Diagnosis
Risk Factors Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Cancer​

Risk Factors Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Cancer

Most people diagnosed with non-Hodgkin Lymphoma don’t show symptoms, and some people who have risk factors for this cancer may not develop this cancer.

Some common risk factors may increase the chances of non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.

Immunosuppressants: These are the medications that suppress the immune system.

Exposure to Radiation: Some studies show that radiation from nuclear reactions and atomic bombing have a high impact on the occurrence of non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Age: Older people are at a significant risk factor related to this disease.

Sex: The risk of non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is higher in men than in women.

Symptoms of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Cancer

Common signs and symptoms that appear in non-Hodgkin Lymphoma may include: 

  • Inflamed lymph nodes in armpits, neck, and head
  • Difficulty in breathing
  • Chest Pain with severe coughing and breathing
  • Fever 
  • Sweating
  • Unexplained Weight Loss
Symptoms of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Cancer​

Frequently Asked Question

Common signs that appear in the case of non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma include fatigue, sweating, and sudden weight loss with swollen lymph nodes in specific areas of the body. The patient may feel tiredness, chest pain, and difficulty breathing.
Chemotherapy is considered the most effective and initial method for the treatment of non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. It can be performed after the treatment is completed in case of recurrence of Lymphoma. It is a part of a bone marrow transplant.
The results and information show that more than 70% – 80% of people can live more than six years after detecting Lymphoma.
The spinal cord is the most affected skeletal organ in multiple myeloma because of the combined effects of disease and factors with multiple myeloma. Some other renal infections are also a factor of mortality.