Tag: Cancer Cells

Knowing Your Cancer, How Lymphoma Spreads

The following article lists some simple, informative tips that will help you have a better experience with Lymphoma.

These are some facts according to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: 19. 5 out of every 100, 000 people in the world fashion Non – Hodgkins Lymphoma while 2. 8 out of every 100, 000 people in the world are diagnosed with Hodgkins disease. Hodgkins disease and Non – Hodgkins Lymphoma are two of the needed classifications of lymphoma, a cancer of the bodys lymph system. The lymph system, being part of our immune system, is tasked to eliminate bacteria, diseases and infection from our frame. But when the cells multiply abnormally, tumors begin to appear in the lymph nodes. You can feel these as lumps in the nodes of the neck, armpit and groin. Soon the cancer cells will spread in other parts of the build, how lymphoma spreads is a good thing to know.

Metastasis. This is a word we often hear in cancer patients. This is actually a term which refers to the spreading of cancer to the rest of the body. Lymphoma at first is a single tumor in one of the many lymph nodes of the body. What happens when the cancer cells cognize metastasis is that cancer – infected cells split today from the main tumor and moves to further part of the body. The cancer cells use the bloodstream to move from one area of the body to another. The cancer cell can attach itself to another lymph node or to other organs of the body. When it fastened firmly, the cells reproduce again until sensible creates another mass of tissue to form as a tumor. Then the full routine repeats itself.

For lymphoma, the cancer cells use the lymphatic system of the body to spread. The lymphatic construction of the body is pleasing much like the bloodstream, it is spread although out the body since it is responsible for keeping the habitus clean from infections and diseases. The lymphatic system is an open canal where cancer cells can travel and create more tumors.

The tumors are pretty deadly. Because of the accelerated rate of growth, these cancer cells can linger to make the tumors grow. Soon enough the tumors grow large enough that the healthy tissues or organs are prevented to function normally. Eventually the healthy tissues or organs commit halt functioning which spells death to the person.

Like any cancer, lymphoma has also a number of stages. These stages describe the severity of the condition and indicate how far the cancer cells have infected the body. Stage I is the first stage of the cancer. At this level, the cancer cells have only infected one lymph node or one part of the body. Because it is still developing, this stage is also referred to now the early disease.

The second stage or Stage II is far more alarming. At this point the cancer cells retain metastasis and have infected another one or even more lymph nodes or parts of the body. However, at Stage II the infection is limited to either above or below the persons diaphragm. This progression is called locally latest disease.

Stage III is known as the advanced disease. The cancer cells at this stage have found its way on both sides of the diaphragm and have established a number of tumors in those areas. The final stage or Stage IV or widespread disease is described by spread of the cancer cells to one or more of the bodys organs such as the bone, skin, liver or lungs.

This is how lymphoma spreads. That is why it is important for an early detection of the disease for proper and effective treatment.
Don’t limit yourself by refusing to learn the details about Lymphoma. The more you know, the easier it will be to focus on what’s important.

Knowing Your Cancer, Hodgkins disease

You should be able to find several indispensable facts about Lymphoma in the following paragraphs. If there’s at least one fact you didn’t know before, imagine the difference it might make.

Hodgkin’s lymphoma or otherwise proclaimed as Hodgkin’s disease is one of two kinds of lymphoma or a cancer of the lymphatic system. Thomas Hodgkin was the first person who published documented studies of the disease hence the cancer was named after him. Hodgkin’s lymphoma is different from the other benevolent of lymphoma chiefly through the presence of Reed – Sternberg cells in the cancer cells. These Reed – Sternberg cells burden perform seen through an open biopsy. In contrast, cells seen on non – Hodgkins lymphomas are mutated B – cells or T – cells.

It has been observed that Hodgkins lymphoma oftentimes begin to develop in the lymph nodes in the neck. This is again quite different from non – Hodgkins lymphoma which beings in different locations in the frame. Nonetheless, since this is cancer were talking about, from the neck lymph node spreading to other lymph node groups, the lungs, spleen, and bone marrow is one shot natural and inevitable if no treatment is undergone. It seems and that Hodgkin’s lymphoma targets the immediate nearby lymphatic regions before leaving eventually the lymphatic system and spreading throughout other organs of the body.

According to studies, Hodgkins lymphoma is more likely to develop in young adolescents particularly those within the age range of 15 to 24 as well as those who are more than 60 dotage aged. Besides this is totally colorful from non – Hodgkins lymphoma which rarely happens in young people and instead is more common to people tired 60 years old and above.

In determining a diagnosis, one can actually self – diagnose at least initially. A doctors expertise is still needed, of course, for a more accurate diagnosis of the disease. The symptoms that posses been reported are not that different from the antithetic kinds of lymphoma. The presence of a painless lump in the lymph nodes in the neck, underarm, or groin, recurrent fevers, unexplained qualification termination, night sweats and fanatical skins are among the warning signals of developing lymphoma.

Among the usual tests your doctors would require you to undertake includes glowing tests to check abnormalities in the blood counts, blood assembling, and abnormal erythrocyte sedimentation rate ( ESR ), X – rays to look at the lymph nodes, computerized tomography or CT scan and enterprising resonance imaging or MRI scans of the chest, pelvis, and abdomen to see if the cancer has already spread to other parts of the body.

Other scans that could be used to properly diagnose and determine the stage of the cancer are the positron emission tomography or PET scan which scans the cancer at a cellular level and the gallium scan which looks for radioactive intake of gallium which can mean the onset of the disease. There are other tests and procedures which doctors might conduct on you all in the aid of a opportune and accurate diagnosis.

Hodgkins lymphoma has several sub – types, namely nodular sclerosis ( NS ) which hits the lower neck, chest and collarbone, lymphocyte predominance ( LP ) which is made of malignant L&H cells which have a ” popcorn “, mixed cellularity ( MC ) which has lymph nodes that are usually contain Reed – Sternberg cells and inflammatory cells, lymphocyte depleted ( LD ), and nodular lymphocyte crack ( NLP ).

As they say, knowing is half the battle. Knowing more about Hodgkins disease is a good thing. You can contribute fully to the decision making process if you know precisely the situation you are in.
As your knowledge about Lymphoma continues to grow, you will begin to see how Lymphoma fits into the overall scheme of things. Knowing how something relates to the rest of the world is important too.

Some Side Effects of Lymphoma Treatment

Are you looking for some inside information on Lymphoma? Here’s an up-to-date report from Lymphoma experts who should know.

Lymphoma is cancer of the lymphatic system. Like other cancers, lymphoma rap serve as treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy among with other methods like antibody treatment and even through bone marrow transplants. And just like any other type of cancer, there are some notable side effects of lymphoma treatments.

Treating cancer is rather toxic to the body. Cancer cells multiply in an abnormal standard. This rate of increase produces a mass of tissue which becomes a tumor. When left alone the cancer cells eventually suffocate the healthy cells nearby and shut down their functions. Whole organs can shut down completely which obviously means death to that person. Eradicating these cancer cells is the key element in cancer treatment procedures. However, the overall goal of cancer treatments is to destroy cancer cells without killing the normal and healthy cells nearby.

Chemotherapy is a common method of killing those cancer cells. This treatment uses various drugs to eliminate the cells. However, the drugs restful affect some of the healthy cells. Among the more common side effects of the treatment in lymphoma patients includes decreased blood cell production, diarrhea, fatigue, mouth sores and hair loss. Decreased in blood production includes the normal red blood cells, the white blood cells and even the platelets. Some patients also reported feelings of nausea after the treatment. And because the drugs used for the treatment can also harm the production of sperm and egg cells, it is a medical fact that the treatment can indeed cause temporary or even permanent sterility of patients.

Instead of drugs, radiation therapy uses x – rays to kill the cells. But just like chemotherapy, the use of high business x – rays can kill the neighboring healthy cells. Common side effects of this treatment allow for feeling tired all the time like all your energy was drained out of your body. Hair loss and nausea are also common problems when patients undergo radiation therapy. But hair loss is limited to areas where the treatment is actually targeted. Nausea and skin changes matching getting red or itching are other known side effects.

Some treatments use steroids to control the growing of the cells. This is actually quite common and is used alongside at odds treatments. Steroids such as cortisone, prednisone and dexamethasone can cause insomnia, increased appetite, mood swings or changes and weight gain. The good thing about steroid treatment is that it is not used for long periods then the side effects are actually not strongly felt.

To counteract the side effects of lymphoma treatment, doctors suggests that you drink a lot of water before your treatment especially if you cede undergo chemotherapy. If you experience entrance sores, a good way to provide some comfort is by drinking milk and cream. Juices especially tomato and citrus juices are not a good idea when you have numerous sores in your mouth. Sound has been suggested that you eat several small chop chop portions during the day instead of eating full size meals.

Remember that your immune system at this point is compromised because of your low blood count so it would speak for advisable to stay away from whopping areas and people that are sick. Ask your doctors for other ways to lessen the side effects.
The day will come when you can use something you read about here to have a beneficial impact. Then you’ll be glad you took the time to learn more about Lymphoma.

Treating Lymphoma: The Various Procedures

When you think about Lymphoma, what do you think of first? Which aspects of Lymphoma are important, which are essential, and which ones can you take or leave? You be the judge.

Cancer is a word that most of us dread to hear from our doctors. We know that its something that should not be prejudiced lightly, plus we cant even count how many times we have seen in the movies and television about the difficulties of the disease and more often than not the sad ending that follows. So hearing you have cancer of the lymph cells, which what lymphoma really is, is more than enough to give you and your family a scare. Treating lymphoma is never easy both physically and mentally for the patient. Having the full support of the family is a good thing to have in situations like these.

Lymphoma develops when the lymph cells begin to multiply quickly beyond what is normal. This abnormal growth soon forms tumors. These lymph cells are found in blood and lymph nodes thus with the grown of the cancer cells it is only natural that the lymph nodes enlarge and manifests as painless lumps in the neck, armpits or groin.

There are two main types of lymphoma. The most common one is the Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This type is distinguished from the rest by the presence of the Reed – Sternberg cell. The spread of the cancer cells in Hodgkin’s lymphoma is more predictable and often quite limited unlike the non – Hodgkin’s lymphomas situation cancer cells develop first in changed organs before spreading suspicion the lymph nodes. The non – Hodgkins types of lymphomas are classified according low – grade, intermediate – grade or high – grade lymphomas which basically is based on how quickly the cancer cells spread.

Because of the number of types of lymphomas, the treatments vary. Often the treatments are combinations of various therapies and procedures. It is normal to have a number of treatments for a single lymphoma situation. Once the type of lymphoma has been diagnosed and identified, the closest step is to determine what stage it is in now. The kinds and extent of treatment of the cancer is dependent on the age of the patient and the degree or advance of the lymphoma. The treatment methods are either through chemotherapy, radiation therapy, antibody therapy ( or biological therapy ) and bone – marrow or stem cell transplantation. Again, combining one or two of these treatment methods is possible to address the present condition of a patient.

Chemotherapy uses various drugs to kill the tumor or cancer cells. The drugs can substitute taken orally or through injection. The advantage of using chemotherapy is that the drugs do not cause that much damage to the nearby normal and healthy cells. Radiotherapy, on the other hand, uses X – rays to kill the tumor cells. The rays damage the DNA of the cancer cells and because the DNA is damaged the cancer cells are unable to multiply which halts that growth of the cancer. Nearby healthy cells are damaged from the radiation bombardment so the goal in radiotherapy is minimize the damage to nearby, healthy cells. That is why those who undergo radiotherapy is scheduled to receive small doses of radiation at a time to lessen the damage to the cells.

Another treatment is the antibody therapy which uses antibodies which target unique molecules of a cancer cell. This attack from the antibody will eventually kill the cancer cells. And finally, the last way of treating lymphoma is by bone marrow or stem cell transplantations. These are medical procedures where the stem cells that were destroyed by high doses of chemotherapy and / or radiotherapy are replaced buttoned up surgery.
Of course, it’s impossible to put everything about Lymphoma into just one article. But you can’t deny that you’ve just added to your understanding about Lymphoma, and that’s time well spent.