berkus lymphoma | Lymphoma

Lymphoma


     
Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system that appears in the connecting lymph glands or lymph nodes throughout the body. The lymphatic system includes an important part of the human immune system.

White blood cells of lymphocyte in the lymphatic system will help the formation of antibodies the body to fight infection. But if the B lymphocyte cells in the lymphatic system was attacked of cancer, the immune system will decrease so susceptible to infection.

alodokter-Lymphoma
Types of Lymphoma
This cancer can be categorized into two types: Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The major difference lies in the type of lymphocyte cells that attacked cancerous and can be known through examination under a microscope.

Lymphoma is classified in types of Hodgkin's when abnormal cells detected Reed-Sternberg in the examination. While Lymphoma without abnormal cells are included in the category of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is more common than Hodgkin's lymphoma. It is estimated only about 20 percent of the cases the lymphoma is a type of Hodgkin's.

Symptoms Of Lymphoma
The main symptoms experienced by sufferers of lymphoma is the growing lump. These bumps are not pain and generally appear on the neck, armpit, and groin.

In addition to the bumps, there are a number of other symptoms that may be felt by sufferers of lymphoma. Some of these are:

Always feel tired.
Sweating at night.
Fever and chills.
More often have infections.
Cough which failed to heal or gasping.
Itching all over the body.
Weight loss without a clear reason.
No appetite.
Severe bleeding, for example menstruation with excessive blood volume or nosebleeds.
Swelling of the abdomen.
Abdominal pain.
Cough or respiratory disorders.
Chest pain.
Consulting a doctor should do if someone finds any of these symptoms. Have the lump indeed does not mean someone is definitely suffering from Lymphoma, but should still undergo an examination as early as possible.

Causes and Risk factors for Lymphoma

Lymphoma occurs due to changes or mutations in the DNA of cells lymphocytes so that its growth is becoming unmanageable. The causes behind these mutations is not yet known for sure.

However, there are some things that can increase the risk of someone suspected to be affected by Hodgkin's lymphoma. These risk factors include:

Age. The majority of Hodgkin's lymphoma occurs in people with 15-30 years old and elderly over 55 years. While the risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma will increase over the ages, particularly elderly aged over 60 years.

Never been exposed to Epstein-Barr virus or EBV. This virus causes glandular fever. Anyone who has ever suffered glandular fever is more at risk of experiencing a Hodgkin's lymphoma.

A weak immune system, for example due to suffering from HIV/AIDS or the immunosuppressant drug.

Hereditary factors. The risk of someone affected by Lymphoma will be increased if you have a member of the nuclear family (father, mother, or sibling) who suffer from the same type of cancer.

Are obese. Overweight factors more influential in women than in men, in increasing the risk of lymphoma.

The Diagnosis Of Lymphoma

The first step in determining the diagnosis, is through anamnesa to ask the symptoms of the disease, a history of previous illness and disease in the family history, as well as through physical examination.

To ensure the diagnosis, can be carried out a series of additional checks which include:

Examination of blood and urine. Through this examination, the doctor will know the condition of the patient's health in General.

X-rays, CT scans, MRIS, and PET scans. This examination is used to see the rate of spread of lymphoma.

Biopsy to take samples of the swollen lymph nodes and bone marrow.

Chest x-rays to check if there is a spread of lymphoma to the lungs or not.

Stadium Lymphoma

Biopsy, x-rays, CT scans, MRIS, and PET scans can also help in determining the stadium as well as the level of development of lymphoma. The following is a brief explanation for stadium-stadium in lymphoma.

Stage 1 – cancer invades the lymph glands are one of the groups.

Stage 2 – cancer of the lymph glands, two groups invade or spread to 1 lymph glands around the organs, but is limited to the top or bottom part of the body, with the diaphragm as a limitation.

Stage 3 – the cancer spread to the lymph glands groups on the upper part of the body and the lower part of the body, with the diaphragm as a limitation.

Stage 4 – the cancer had already spread through the lymphatic system and into the various organs or bone marrow.

The Treatment Of Lymphoma

Treatment of lymphoma is not the same for each sufferer. The best responses are determined based on health conditions, age, type, and stage of lymphoma patients.

Specifically for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, not all cases need medical handling as soon as possible. When cancer suffered a slow growing species, the doctor will probably recommend to wait and see its development in advance. There is even a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma early stage with small size which can be overcome through the adoption procedures at the time of biopsy, so that the patient does not require further handling.

The main steps in the treatment of lymphoma is with chemotherapy can be given through an infusion or in the form of a drug that is taken. This therapy can also be combined with:

Radiotherapy.

Steroid drugs.

Biological therapy, for example the drug rituximab. This drug will attach themselves to the cancer cells and then stimulates the immune system to attack and kill him.

A bone marrow transplant. This step is required for patients with lymphoma who undergo bone marrow damage resulting from high-dose chemotherapy.

As is the case in other cancer treatment, treatment of lymphoma also have side effects. Some side effects that are commonly experienced by sufferers include fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.

In addition, a decline in the immune system, the risk of infertility, and the potential emergence of another cancer can also be a complication from Lymphoma at once side effects of her treatment. The risk of occurrence of other illnesses can also be increased, such as heart disease, diabetes, kidney, or cataracts.

Make sure sufferers do health checks on a regular basis, during and after treatment. This step is done so that the patient's medical condition as well as the possibility of a recurrence of the cancer could be monitored.