Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Cancer
What Is Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Cancer ?
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Immunohistochemistry and Molecular Testing
- The technique of staining samples using particular antibodies to let you know if there is tumor growth.
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