Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a type of cancer that originates in white blood cells, called lymphocytes, which grow in a disorderly manner, leading to symptoms such as lumps in the neck, groin or armpit, night sweats, weight loss, fever , tiredness, itchy body or feeling short of breath, for example.
Some factors that may increase the risk of developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma include exposure to high doses of radiation, HIV infection, mononucleosis or hepatitis, or autoimmune diseases that affect the immune system, such as lupus, hemolytic anemia, or rheumatoid arthritis.
If non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is suspected, it is important to consult an oncologist or general practitioner to carry out a complete assessment and recommend the most appropriate treatment, which can be done through surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy or even a bone marrow transplant.
Symptoms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma
The main symptoms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma are:
- Lumps in the neck, armpits and groin;
- Night sweats;
- Fever or chills;
- Weight loss for no apparent reason;
- Excessive tiredness;
- Pain or swelling in the belly;
- Itching on the body;
- Loss of appetite.
In addition, a person with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma may also experience nausea, vomiting, headache, feeling short of breath, red or purple lumps on the skin, easy bleeding, pain or pressure in the chest, cough, double vision, difficulty to speak, mental confusion, convulsions or paralysis.
However, in most cases, lymphoma does not cause any symptoms and is only identified in more advanced stages. Therefore, it is important to consult your general practitioner as soon as you notice the appearance of swelling, especially if it is accompanied by other symptoms, so that tests can be carried out and, if the disease is confirmed, treatment can be started as soon as possible.
How to confirm the diagnosis
The diagnosis of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is initially made by the general practitioner and then by the oncologist through a physical examination, evaluation of the person’s symptoms and health history.
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In addition, the doctor also orders blood tests, such as complete blood count, liver and kidney function tests, and lactate dehydrogenase levels, screening for sexually transmitted infections, such as HIV and hepatitis B, and imaging tests, such as X-ray, tomography computerized imaging, magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasound.
Other tests that the doctor may also order to confirm the disease and identify the type of tumor and its stage are an echocardiogram, pulmonary function tests, biopsy of the lymph node or affected tissue, myelogram, lumbar, peritoneal or pleural puncture.
Possible causes
The exact causes of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma are not yet fully known, but it is known that it occurs due to a mutation in the DNA in lymphocytes, which begin to multiply uncontrollably.
Some factors may increase the risk of developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, such as:
- Family history of non-Hodgkin lymphoma;
- Age, being more common after age 60;
- Sex, being more common in men than women;
- Some viral or bacterial infections, such as H. pylori, HIV, hepatitis, Epstein-Barr or HTLV 1;
- Celiac disease;
- Autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, hemolytic anemia or Sjögren’s syndrome;
- Use of immunosuppressive medications;
- Previous treatment with chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
Furthermore, Hodgkin’s lymphoma can also appear in children, and the risk is increased in children who have a congenital disease that causes a deficiency in the immune system, such as ataxia telangiectasia, Chediak-Higashi syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome, or due to HIV infection or mononucleosis, for example.
How the treatment is carried out
The treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma must be carried out according to the guidance of the oncologist or oncohematologist, and varies depending on the type and stage of the lymphoma, and surgery and the use of medications that reduce the multiplication of the tumor, stimulate the production of blood cells and improve a person’s quality of life.
Thus, treatment for this type of lymphoma is done with a combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy, where the use of medications that act with the aim of stopping the multiplication of cancer cells, eliminating the tumor and increasing the production of cancer cells are indicated. body’s defense.
Chemotherapy sessions last an average of 4 hours, during which the person receives injectable medications. However, when non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is more serious, the doctor may also recommend radiotherapy sessions at the site of the lymphoma. Both chemotherapy and radiotherapy can cause side effects such as nausea and hair loss.
In addition, the doctor may also recommend treatment with a bone marrow transplant or CAR T-cell gene therapy, which is a technique that consists of altering the immune system so that tumor cells are easily recognized and eliminated from the body. Learn more about CAR T-cell gene therapy.
Is non-Hodgkin lymphoma curable?
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is curable, especially when diagnosed in the early stages. Furthermore, depending on the type of tumor, stage, the person’s general health and the type of treatment used, Hodgkin’s lymphoma may be curable.
Therefore, it is important to have regular exams or medical consultations, especially in the case of people who have risk factors, so that non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is diagnosed early and treatment is started as quickly as possible, thus increasing the chances of a cure.
