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Lymphoma is a cancer of cells that are part of the body's immune system called lymphocytes. In lymphoma, lymphocytes become abnormal and grow out of control. These abnormal cells can travel all over the body and often collect in the lymph nodes, causing them to swell.
Different types of lymphoma include:
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL, or sometimes just called lymphoma)
- Childhood Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Hodgkin lymphoma (Hodgkin disease)
- Skin lymphomas (cutaneous lymphomas)
- Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia
Some of the first signs of lymphoma may include:
- One or more large, swollen lymph nodes felt under the skin
- Fever
- Chills
- Night sweats
- Weight loss
- Tiredness
- Swelling in the abdomen
Other symptoms of lymphoma may include:
- Itching skin
- Loss of appetite
- Feeling full after only a small amount of food
- Chest pain or pressure
- Severe or frequent infections
- Easy bruising or bleeding
What Causes Lymphoma?
Causes of Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma include:
- Genetic mutations
- Changes in the immune system
- Immune deficiencies (due to inherited conditions, certain drugs treatments, organ transplants, or HIV infection)
- Autoimmune diseases
- Chronic infections
How Is Lymphoma Diagnosed?
Lymphoma is diagnosed with a physical exam and tests such as:
- Lymph node biopsy
- Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy
- Blood tests
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
- Tests to check liver and kidney function
- HIV test
- Hepatitis B and C virus test
- Imaging tests
- X-rays
- Computerized tomography (CT) scan
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Positron emission tomography (PET) scans
- Ultrasound
- Echocardiogram (an ultrasound of the heart) or a MUGA scan
- Lumbar puncture (spinal tap)
- Lung (pulmonary) function tests (PFTs)
What Is the Treatment for Lymphoma?
Treatments for lymphoma may include one or more of the following:
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Immunotherapy
- Bone marrow transplant (also called “stem cell transplant”)
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Reviewed on 3/25/2022
References
Image Source: iStock Images
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/lymphoma.html
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/lymphoma.html