Did you know that about 5% of all cancers is composed of lymph node cancer ? Also known as lymphoma, this condition affects both men and women, commonly within the age range of 15 to 54. Between the sexes though, men are more likely to have it.
The Lymphatic System
The purpose of the lymphatic system is to fight infections. It facilitates the distribution of the lymph fluid and white blood cell all over the body. As you can guess, it can be a huge problem when this system goes down.
Lymphoma
Like other kinds of cancer, lymphoma develops when the cells in the body grow out of control. This overgrowth causes tumors and they are the ones cancerous. Lymphomas are typically made up of T cells or B cells—both being white blood cells.
There are two basic kinds of lymphoma, Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Hodgkin’s lymphoma is also sometimes called Hodgkin’s disease. It has the same symptoms with the other type but it has a predictable way of going from one node region to the next. It also responds differently to treatments.
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Actually, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma can be further divided into various lymphomas. Each can be classified according to the type of cells it has as well as the location in the body. Most of these lymphomas can be found in the lymphatic organs and the lymph nodes. Since the lymphatic tissues are everywhere in the body, you can conclude that non-Hodgkin’s may develop in the stomach, liver, and other organs in the body.
Causes of Lymphoma
There’s not a single definite cause for lymph node cancer. However, there are factors which have been observed to increase the risk of having it. Some of them are the following:
- Having autoimmune disease like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.
- Weak immune system as the case of people with HIV or AIDS. They are 50 to 100 times more prone to having lymph node cancer.
- Taking medications which repress the immune system.
- Gastritis or stomach ulcers caused by H.pyelori, a kind of bacteria.
- Having any of these viruses: Epstein Barr virus (EBV), HTLV-1, or HHV-8.
The most noticeable and earliest sign of lymphoma is the appearance of lump or lumps in the neck, armpits, abdomen, or groin. You can discover them yourself or during your visit to the doctor for a routine check up.
You may also notice some red patches on the surrounding area of the inflamed nodes. Nausea, vomiting, coughing, breathlessness, and abdominal pain can also be some of the symptoms of the cancer.
Aside from the mentioned common symptoms, some lymphoma patients may develop “B symptoms” and these are the following:
- Night sweats
- Fever over 100 degrees Fahrenheit that comes and goes especially at night time
- Fatigue
- Itchy skin without any obvious rash
Of course, having these signs does not automatically mean you have lymphoma. However, if you have been having them for extraordinarily long, say, a couple of weeks, then it wouldn’t hurt to see your doctor.
Diagnosis
When being checked for lymph node cancer, the doctor would often perform these tests: physical exam, blood tests, imaging tests, and biopsies.
During the physical exam, the doctor will check your lymph nodes in the neck, underarm, and groin. He or she will also check whether your spleen or liver is enlarged. As he or she is doing these, he or she would also ask about any recent infections you may have had as well as the condition of your overall health.
The blood tests would help rule out infections as well as detect the presence of any cancer cells.
Imaging tests, on the other hand, will make any inflammation of the lymph nodes more visible.
Finally, a biopsy would confirm whether the bulging nodule is truly a sign of lymphoma.
Treatment
Once the doctor diagnoses you with lymph node cancer, he or she will immediately recommend the most effective treatment that you must go undergo. As cancers have stages, the treatment course would depend on how advanced your case is. The methods available for fighting lymphoma are chemotherapy, radiation therapy, bone marrow transplant, and biological response modifier therapy.
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