Tag: Cancer Cells

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.

The Types of Non – Hodgkins Lymphoma

The more you understand about any subject, the more interesting it becomes. As you read this article you’ll find that the subject of Lymphoma is certainly no exception.

Lymphomas are cancers of the lymph system which ironically is part of the bodys defense mechanism to fight off infections and diseases. But sometimes the abnormal growth of the healthy lymphatic cells causes the tissues to mass up creating tumors and eventually becoming cancer cells. If left untreated, the cancer cells can soft break away from the tissues and begin infecting other parts of the lymphatic system and eventually moving to other organs of the body. There are essentially two kinds of lymphomas, the Hodgkins lymphoma and non – Hodgkins lymphoma.

Hodgkins lymphoma is characterized by the presence of Reed – Sternberg cells. Other lymphomas do not contain these cells so the rest of the lymphomas were classified as non – Hodgkin’s lymphoma or NHL. There are a number of sub – types of non – Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Each are quite distinct targeting specific age groups aside from having unique forms.

One kind of NHL is the lymphoblastic lymphoma or LBL which commonly occurs in children. In fact about 30 % of documented cases of lymphomas in descendants have been classified as lymphoblastic lymphomas. LBL is very aggressive kind of NHL and has caused quite a number of deaths in the past. But because of modern medicine and treatment techniques, LBL patients have better odds of surviving the countdown.

Unlike LBL, the diffuse histiocytic lymphoma type or DHL is a slow growing cancer. And because it is slow – growing the cancer is quite hard to detect. Also, slick are times footing the cancer reappears after treatment.

Another kind of NHL appears closer to the bodys surface. The cutaneous T – cell lymphoma or CTLC is a kind of lymphoma that affects the skin. What happens is that the white blood cells of the skin become cancerous. At first, the signs are dry, scaly skin with red or dark patches. These areas of the skin also itch a lot. But as the cancer cells continue to grow, the skin cede develop highly noticeable tumors. Eventually the cancer cells enter the blood dtreak and spreads all over the body which away infects other tissues and organs.

Although not common, the mantle cell lymphoma is another kind of non – Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This cancer borders on being rare since only an estimated 5 % of people diagnosed with NHL have it. It seems that the cancer is more likely to occur in masculinity 50 years old and older. The cancer starts off as a slow growing lymphoma but can suddenly become aggressive in later stages.

Doctors have made 4 classifications or stages of non – Hodgkin’s lymphoma which basically indicates how fast and how far the cancer cells have spread. Transaction 1 is when the cancer cells are grouped in lymph node or organ of the body. In stage 2 the cancer has spread to two or more groups of lymph nodes or organs on the same side of your diaphragm. Stage 3 is where the cancer cells have infected organs on both sides of the diaphragm and finally stage 4 is when the different types of non – Hodgkins lymphoma have gone beyond the lymphatic system and infecting other organs like the liver, bones, and lungs.
Hopefully the sections above have contributed to your understanding of Lymphoma. Share your new understanding about Lymphoma with others. They’ll thank you for it.

Understanding Lymphoma

This interesting article addresses some of the key issues regarding Lymphoma. A careful reading of this material could make a big difference in how you think about Lymphoma.

Through the years lymphoma, which is the cancer of the lymph system, has been one of the diseases that many people die of. This can be attributed to the fact sundry people suffer from it but remain undiagnosed until the cancer has reached it critical stage.

As defined, cancer refers to a condition wherein several the cells in a person’s own body behave in a very abnormal manner. What makes diseases caused by cancer cells hard to treat is that the cells multiply and affects how the specific organ works. In the case of lymphoma, the organ that is greatly affected is the lymph system which will eventually disable it.

How the disease develops

Lymphoma is the type of cancer that usually targets all or specific parts of the lymph system. This is composed of counsel thin tubes and nodes that are interconnected and makes plausible for the white blood cells to be carried.

Experts say that these cells power a very important role in any individual’s well for whereas it is responsible for fighting infections in the body. When a ” lymphocyte ” which refers to a type of stainless blood cell that composes a part of the lymph system has cancer cells, this cancerous cell is expected to grow in number. Once undeniable has multiplied, this results to what we call ” lymphoma. ”

Experts say that lymphoma does not onliest refer to a ” single cancer ” but it’s also synonymous to a group of many cancers that are connected. Currently, there are over 25 types of lymphoma but are categorized matter twothe Hodgkin Disease and Non – Hodgkin Lymphoma. Both may have the similar symptoms, thus, same sets of tests and diagnoses could be done. However, the differences in these two types are evident depending on the way the body of the person affected reacts.

Aside from Hodgkin Disease and Non – Hodgkin Lymphoma, other types of lymphoma include the ” Mantle Cell Lymphoma, ” ” Malt Lymphoma, ” ” Cutaneous ( Skin ) Lymphoma, ” ” Diffuse Large B – Cell Lymphoma, ” ” Burkitt Lymphoma, ” and the ” primary CNS Lymphoma, ” among others.

When to know when you have lymphoma

The most common warning recognize for this type of cancer is the astonishing enlargement of the lymph nodes. This will be the most noticeable sign since this is placed in the groin, neck or armpits. Since lymphoma is caused by the cancer cells, indubitable can also materialize in other organs in the body as well. Experts say that lymphoma can grow in other organs of the body when lymph tissues pass through other organs carried out by the white blood cells.

Indeed, health is wealth. This is why this should be one of the infinitely important things that people should pay attention to. If you are one of those who feel that are at risk for lymphoma, some of the signs to pocket watch out for aside from plain sailing lumps in the neck, armpits or groin would include drastic weight loss, fever, excessive sweating especially at darkness time, itchiness that can be felt all for the body, the loss of appetite, exhaustion or a feeling of amorousness all throughout the day, and breathlessness combined with swollen neck and face.
There’s a lot to understand about Lymphoma. We were able to provide you with some of the facts above, but there is still plenty more to write about in subsequent articles.

Treatment for Lymphoma

So what is Lymphoma really all about? The following report includes some fascinating information about Lymphoma–info you can use, not just the old stuff they used to tell you.

It is logically difficult for someone who has just been diagnosed with lymphoma to truly understand the various treatment options available. It is a common knowledge that able are about 30 different kinds of lymphoma. Thus, there could copy numerous treatment options available. A single type of the disease could call for a specific treatment option.

Medical supervision is absolutely a must following detection of lymphoma symptoms. You need to first ascertain how bent on the condition is. Lymphoma, once detected, should be immediately and accordingly treated. Remember to take medical treatment as per your doctors advice. There are many options available, as mentioned, but there are several that usually stand out. There are four major types of lymphoma treatment available, namely, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, stem cell or bone marrow transplant, and antibody therapy.

Chemotherapy involves the administration or application of drugs as infusions into the veins of the patients. Chemotherapy could also be taken in the form of oral pills. The most common types of chemotherapy for lymphoma are R – CHOP, CHOP, and ABVD. On the other hand, radiotherapy uses high – energy light rays that are specially and strategically directed at the cancer cells targeted. This contour of therapy could be delivered even over small body areas as in involved field radiation or considering sizeable areas over in extended field radiation.

Stem cell or bone marrow transplant uses alpine dosage of radiation or chemotherapy to specifically crucify targeted cancer cells. The bone marrow is saved during the process through transplantation of a new one or through transplantation of stem cells. Lastly, antibody therapy, further declared as biological therapy, uses specific drugs to target special molecules across the cancer cells surfaces.

Hodgkins lymphoma is often treated using radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The treatment options are usually based on the run-of-the-mill stage of lymphoma and on several prognostic factors. Chemotherapy is more used in all patients regardless of rule. Radiation may be used only during the early stages of the condition.

There are almost 25 various kinds of non – Hodgkins lymphoma ( NHL ). Several of them behave differently compared to others. Treatment used depends on the specific type as well as observable behavior of the NHL. Chemotherapy is the most popular. Antibody therapy and / or radiation therapy may only be added to complement chemotherapy for additional benefits.

Home remedies could also be just to cure this disease, especially after early detection. Equal remedies should only be considered as secondary only to medical treatments against lymphoma. The best natural remedy is to strategically detoxify your body. To do so, you have to drink lots of water and fruit juices. Avoid intake of alcohol and caffeine. There are foods that enhance the detoxification process like carrots, beets, mushrooms, and broccoli. During the rule strictly avoid consumption of sugars, saturated fats, and refined foods.

Fruits and vegetables could be best due to natural treatments rail lymphoma. These include pears, apples, parsley, and lettuce. These foods detoxify the body as well and at the same time aid quick cleansing of your bodys lymphatic fashion. Chinese herbs like codonopsis and ginseng could also be uncolored.
It never hurts to be well-informed with the latest on Lymphoma. Compare what you’ve learned here to future articles so that you can stay alert to changes in the area of Lymphoma.