lymphoma cancer symptoms | Lymphoma: symptoms, treatment, definition

Lymphoma: symptoms, treatment, definition

Lymphoma is a cancer that attacks the lymphatic system. Two large families of lymphoma are distinguished: Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin lymphomas. The latter are much more frequent and affect about 90% of patients.

Definition of lymphoma

Also called lymphatic cancer, lymphoma is a disease that attacks the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system brings together a hundred lymph nodes, the spleen, the tonsils, the bone marrow and the thymus which are connected to each other by vessels in which the lymph circulates.

Lymph is a transparent liquid composed of lymphocytes (white blood cells) and defense cells that produce antibodies to fight infections. It is the abnormal development of these lymphocytes that is the origin of lymphoma.

There are two categories of lymphoma: Non-Hodgkin lymphomas and Hodgkin's disease, which is much rarer and mainly affects young adults aged between 20 and 40 years. This lymphoma is manifested in the lymph nodes.

Different types of lymphoma

Non-Hodgkinienssont lymphomas are more heterogeneous and develop most often from B lymphocytes and more rarely from T lymphocytes. In addition to the lymph nodes, these types of lymphomas can also develop in the spleen and bone marrow.

There are more than 50 non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Some, such as Burkitt lymphoma and mantle lymphoma, are aggressive and evolve rapidly. So they must be immediately taken care of. Other types, such as follicular lymphoma or MALT lymphoma, evolve slowly, sometimes over several years.

Symptoms of lymphoma

Symptoms of lymphoma can often go unnoticed at the onset of the disease. For a doctor, the disease can also be difficult to diagnose since its different signs may resemble those of other pathologies.

The first symptom of lymphoma is often a non-painful increase in the lymph nodes of the neck, groin or armpits. Then it can add fever, chills, night sweats, great fatigue and unexplained weight loss. The patient may also experience stomach or chest pain depending on the location of the lymphoma.

Cancer of the lymphatic system evolves in four stages. In the first stage, only one group of lymph nodes or one organ is affected. In stage two, lymphoma extends to several ganglion groups but remains on one side of the diaphragm before extending, at the third stage, to both sides of the diaphragm. At Stage 4, cancer is very advanced and has developed beyond the lymphatic system.

What are the causes of lymphoma?

Researchers have not yet found the exact causes of lymphoma. However, a number of factors may promote the onset of cancer such as Epstein-Barr virus, malaria and HIV, Helicobacter pylori bacteria, or some immune deficiency such as Wiskott-Aldrich syndromes or Sjögren's.

Environmental factors such as exposure to pesticides, some medications or chemotherapy may also result in lymphoma.

How is lymphoma treated?

Lymphomas are most often treated with radiation and chemotherapy. The treatment however depends on the type of lymphoma and its stage. When the lymphoma is detected early, radiotherapy can destroy the cancer cells locally. It is less invasive than the chemotherapy that it, is used when the lymphoma reaches several parts of the body.

In some cases, the patient will also be required to receive a bone marrow transplant to increase the chances of successful treatment and reduce the risk of relapse. This graft is in most cases taken from the patient before the start of chemotherapy treatments.

Survival rates in an adult patient with lymphoma ranged from 50 to 80%.