Lymphoma is a cancer that affects lymphocytes, a type of defense cell in the body, and which can appear in the lymph nodes, bone marrow or other parts of the body, causing symptoms such as fever, night sweats, excessive tiredness and the appearance of lumps in regions such as armpits, groin and neck.
Although the symptoms are generally similar, there are different types of lymphoma, such as Burkitt’s lymphoma and follicular lymphoma, and their identification is usually done through biopsy of affected lymph nodes, which is important so that the most appropriate treatment can be indicated.
If lymphoma is suspected, it is important to consult a general practitioner, hematologist or oncologist for an evaluation and to initiate appropriate treatment, which may involve anything from chemotherapy to surgery.
Types of lymphoma
The main types of lymphoma are:
1. Hodgkin lymphoma
Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a type of cancer that arises from type B lymphocytes, which multiply excessively and become malignant, causing inflammation in the body and the appearance of symptoms, which normally begin in the lymph nodes of the neck, chest or armpits.
This type of lymphoma can be diagnosed in the earliest stages, so treatment and cure are easier. Learn more about Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
2. Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is more common than Hodgkin’s lymphoma, but its diagnosis usually only occurs in more advanced stages of the disease, so treatment can be more complex. This type of lymphoma also develops from the body’s defense cells, lymphocytes, and can develop in a disorderly manner and start in any part of the body. See more about non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Main symptoms
The main symptoms of lymphoma are:
- Fever;
- Night sweats;
- tongues that increase in size;
- Weight loss without apparent cause;
- Excessive tiredness;
- Itch;
- Discomfort.
Generally, tongues appear above the collarbone, in the neck, armpit, groin, but they can also occur in other parts of the body and, normally, the tongues do not hurt, they are harder, irregular and not very mobile.
In addition, other symptoms, such as abdominal pain, shortness of breath and cough, may also occur depending on the part of the body affected by lymphoma. Learn about other symptoms of lymphoma.
If lymphoma is suspected, it is important to consult a general practitioner, hematologist or oncologist for an evaluation and, if the diagnosis is confirmed, initiate the most appropriate treatment.
What is the difference between lymphoma and leukemia?
In leukemia, malignant cells begin to multiply in the bone marrow, while in lymphoma, the cancer begins in the lymph nodes, or tongues. Furthermore, although some symptoms are similar, such as fever and night sweats, in leukemia it is more common to experience bleeding and purple spots to appear on the body. Understand better what leukemia is and its symptoms.
How to confirm the diagnosis
The diagnosis of lymphoma is usually confirmed by a general practitioner, hematologist or oncologist taking into account the symptoms presented and a tongue biopsy, which in addition to confirming the diagnosis can also show the type of lymphoma.
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Other tests may also be requested to confirm the diagnosis:
- Bloodtests: they are used to evaluate blood cells and enzymes, as changes in the white blood cell count, such as an increase in lymphocytes and an increase in lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), may indicate the presence of lymphoma;
- X-ray: provides images of parts of the body that may be affected by lymphoma;
- Computed tomography: allows viewing of images of parts of the body with more detail than X-rays, which can detect lymphoma;
- MRI: like computed tomography, it is used to detect areas of the body affected by lymphoma through images;
- Pet-scan: is a type of computed tomography, which helps in detecting metastasis, which is when the lymphoma spreads to various parts of the body;
These tests can be useful in assessing the severity of the lymphoma and helping to recommend the most appropriate treatment.
Causes of lymphoma
Lymphoma is caused by the exaggerated multiplication of lymphocytes, which can affect the functioning of lymph nodes, bone marrow and other organs.
Furthermore, in cases of lower immunity, such as HIV infection and transplant recipients, some infections, such as the Epstein-Barr virus or Helicobacter pylori, use of immunosuppressive medications, autoimmune diseases and a history of exposure to pesticides and herbicides, there is a greater risk of developing lymphoma. .
How the treatment is carried out
Lymphoma treatment may involve:
1. Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a treatment that involves administering medications through a vein to eliminate the cancer cells that cause lymphoma. Therefore, chemotherapy drugs such as doxorubicin, bleomycin, dacarbazine and vinblastine may be indicated depending on the type and severity of the lymphoma.
Although side effects, such as hair loss, nausea and vomiting, may occur, treatment may take a few weeks or months, need to be repeated or complemented with radiotherapy and immunotherapy to increase its effectiveness. Check out how to alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy.
2. Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy is a treatment used to destroy cancer cells through radiation emitted by a machine directly into the lymph node affected by lymphoma and is generally used in conjunction with other treatment methods to increase the chances of eliminating the cells that cause lymphoma.
Furthermore, radiotherapy can cause side effects such as loss of appetite, nausea and a feeling of heat at the site applied. See what to eat to alleviate the effects of radiotherapy.
3. Immunotherapy
Some types of lymphoma can be treated with immunotherapy drugs, which help the immune system fight lymphoma cells, and side effects are generally fewer than those of chemotherapy.
These medications can also be indicated in conjunction with other treatment techniques, increasing the chances of curing lymphoma. Some immunotherapy medications used to treat lymphoma are rituximab, bortezomib, and lenalidomide.
4. Bone marrow transplant
In some cases, bone marrow transplantation may be an option and consists of destroying diseased cells related to lymphoma and replacing them with healthy stem cells, which can come from the person themselves or from a donor. Find out more about what stem cells are and how they can help.
Generally, before receiving healthy stem cells, it is necessary to undergo high-dose chemotherapy to kill all cancer cells in the body.
5. Gene therapy
T-cell therapy, also called CAR-T-cell therapy, is a form of treatment in which the body’s defense cells are removed and reprogrammed with a specific type of particle to increase immunity and the ability to fight cancer cells. when reintroduced into the body. This treatment is still being studied and is not available in all hospitals. Find out more about how treatment is performed using the CAR-T-cell technique.
6. Surgery
In some cases, generally when the lymph nodes increase a lot in size or when the lymphoma affects few lymph nodes, the doctor may recommend surgery to remove this organ.
Is lymphoma curable?
Lymphoma can be cured in some cases, especially when diagnosed in the early stages, however the response to treatment also depends on the type of lymphoma, which can make healing difficult.
