Blood Disorders » Lymphoma

Lymphoma

Lymphoma is a kind of cancer that encompasses several different types of illnesses. In general, cancer is a disorder of the cells. When a cell or a group of cells becomes cancerous, they can grow at a rapid rate, much faster than the normal growth of a cell. When a group of cancerous cells form, they are known as a tumor. Lymphoma gets its moniker from the lymphatic system, a complex construction of glands and bodily mechanisms designed to buttress the immune system, which wards off invading pathogens.

Lymphoma can be classified as Hodgkin’s lymphoma (also known as Hodgkin’s disease) and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Hodgkin’s lymphoma only makes up about eight percent of all lymphoma cases, but it is not to be underestimated; it is a very serious disease. Several risk factors can make one more susceptible to the illness. For example, adolescent males and middle aged males are more apt to acquire the disease than females. Genes can also play an important role, but the exact interplay between shared genetic information is not known. Generally, a sibling of someone who has been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma stands an above average chance of acquiring the disease as well. Viruses like the mononucleosis virus can also make one more vulnerable to lymphoma.

Treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma largely depends on the specific patient who is to receive the treatment, though chemotherapy and radiation are usually the accepted methods. In chemotherapy treatment, different types of drugs must be administered to a patient because they work differently on different types of cells. Since the tumors may affect different areas of the bodies and different systems, an assortment of chemicals must be used to attack them. Radiation therapy, on the other hand, is usually used when the lymphoma is restricted to one part of the body. High energy beams are directed toward the cancerous masses, breaking down the structure of the tumors and allowing the body to dispose of the remnants.

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is the term used to describe nearly thirty different types of cancer of the lymphatic system, though B-cell lymphoma is the most common, making up nearly 85% of the total cases. It has come to the attention of doctors that the lifestyle one leads can directly influence the chances one has of acquiring non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. For example, smoking, drinking alcohol, a poor diet, and excessive exposure to the sun can raise your odds dramatically. To avoid this type of lymphoma, common sense and good judgment can take you far.

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