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Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (Lymph Node Cancer)
is a type of
cancer.
Lymphoma is a general term for cancers
that develop in the lymphatic system.
Hodgkin's disease is one type of lymphoma.
All other lymphomas are grouped together and
are called non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Lymphomas
account for about 5 percent of all cases of
cancer
in the United States.
The lymphatic system is part
of the body's immune system.
It helps the body fight disease and infection. The lymphatic system includes a network of thin tubes
that branch, like blood vessels, into tissues
throughout the body. Lymphatic vessels carry lymph,
a colorless, watery fluid that contains
infection-fighting cells called lymphocytes. Along
this network of vessels are small organs called lymph nodes. Clusters of lymph nodes are
found in the underarms, groin, neck, chest, and
abdomen.
Other parts of the lymphatic system are the
spleen, thymus, tonsils, and bone marrow. Lymphatic
tissue is also found in other parts of the body,
including the stomach, intestines, and skin.
Cancer
is a group of many related diseases that begin in
cells, the body's basic unit of life. To understand
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (Lymph Node Cancer), it is
helpful to know about normal cells and what happens
when they become cancerous. The body is made up of
many types of cells. Normally, cells grow and divide
to produce more cells only when the body needs them.
This orderly process helps keep the body healthy.
Sometimes cells keep dividing when new cells are not
needed, creating a mass of extra tissue. This mass
is called a growth or tumor. Tumors can be either
benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
In
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, cells in the lymphatic
system become abnormal. They divide and grow without
any order or control, or old cells do not die as
cells normally do. Because lymphatic tissue is
present in many parts of the body,
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (Lymph Node Cancer) can start
almost anywhere in the body. Non-Hodgkin's
lymphoma may occur in a single lymph node, a group
of lymph nodes, or in another organ. This type of
cancer
can spread to almost any part of the body, including
the liver,
bone marrow, and spleen.
Signs and Symptoms of
Lymphoma
The most common
symptom of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (Lymph Node
Cancer) is a
painless swelling of the lymph nodes in the
neck, underarm, or groin.
Other symptoms of
lymphoma may include the following:
Night sweats
Constant
fatigue
Unexplained
weight loss
Itchy skin
Reddened patches on
the skin
When lymphoma
symptoms like these occur, they are not sure signs
of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (Lymph Node Cancer). They
may also be caused by other, less serious
conditions, such as the
flu or other infections. Only a doctor can make
a diagnosis. When symptoms are present, it is
important to see a doctor so that any illness can be
diagnosed and treated as early as possible. Do not
wait to feel pain;
early
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma may not cause pain.
Diagnosing Lymphoma
If non-Hodgkin's
lymphoma (Lymph Node Cancer) is suspected, the
doctor asks about the person's medical history and
performs a physical exam. The exam includes feeling
to see if the lymph nodes in the neck,
underarm, or groin are enlarged. In addition to
checking general signs of health, the doctor may
perform blood tests.
The doctor may
also order tests that produce pictures of the inside
of the body. These may include:
- X-rays:
Pictures of areas inside the body created by
high-energy radiation.
- CT scan (also
known as a "CAT scan"): A series of detailed
pictures of areas inside the body. The pictures
are created by a computer linked to an x-ray
machine.
- MRI (magnetic
resonance imaging): Detailed pictures of areas
inside the body produced with a powerful magnet
linked to a computer.
- Lymphangiogram:
Pictures of the lymphatic system taken with x-rays
after a special dye is injected to outline the
lymph nodes and vessels.
A biopsy is
needed to make a diagnosis. A surgeon removes
a sample of tissue so that a pathologist can examine
it under a microscope to check for
cancer cells. A
biopsy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is usually taken
from a lymph node, but other tissues may be sampled
as well. Sometimes, an operation called a laparotomy
may be performed. During this operation, a surgeon
cuts into the abdomen and removes samples of tissue
to be checked under a microscope.
A patient who
needs a biopsy may want to ask the doctor some of
the following questions:
- Why do I need
to have a biopsy?
- How long will
the biopsy take? Will it hurt?
- How soon will I
know the results?
- If I do have
cancer, who will talk with me about treatment?
When?
Types of
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (Lymph Node
Cancer)
Over the years,
doctors have used a variety of terms to classify the
many different types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
(Lymph Node Cancer). Most often,
they are
grouped by how the
cancer cells look under a microscope and how
quickly they are likely to grow and spread. Aggressive lymphomas, also known as intermediate and
high-grade lymphomas, tend to grow and spread
quickly and cause severe symptoms.
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