Truth About Hodgkins Lymphoma

Hodgkin Lymphoma, also known as Hodgkin’s Disease, is tumor in the lymph glands or tissues and organs with lymphatic tissue, for instance the spleen. The presence of the Reed-Sternberg cell signifies that the immune system is compromised already with cancer. This disease affects two waves of people, one wave is composed of ages 15 to 35 years old and recently a second wave for those over 55 years old.

The symptoms of Hodgkins Lymphoma are as follows, swelling in the neck, usually on one side. This is because of the nodes on the neck and shoulders are often affected. Another is the glands in the armpits and groin are swollen. Constant fever, night sweats, and excessive tiredness. Further more, the symptoms also include loss of appetite, stomach pain, anemia and weight loss. People with this illness may survive without treatment for years however undergoing treatment will help cure the disease.

The causes of Hodgkins Lymphoma remain mysterious; however, researchers formed a list of risk factors to refer the probability of somebody having this ailment. The risk issues include male, concerning ages between 15 to 35 and over 55 years of age. If there is a history of this disease in the family, there’s a huge chance that the offspring or relatives may develop it also. If one has a history of infectious mononucleosis, or infection of the Epstein-Barr virus, then that person is also susceptible. There are a lot of other risk factors that includes a weakened immune system by HIV infection or presence of AIDS, prolonged use of human growth hormones, and exposure to harmful exotoxins like Agent Orange.

If there are any indication of the symptoms of Hodgkins Lymphoma, an individual must consult a doctor right away. The physician may request the patient to get medical examinations or tests in the hospital. The enlarged lymph glands and bone marrow sample will be taken to get examined and check for proper diagnosis. If the diagnosis is confirmed early, the patient may opt to undergo radiotherapy. For advance cases there are other forms of treatment, like drugs, immunotherapy and vaccine therapy.

Due to today’s technology and medical advancements, there is a huge possibility that Hodgkins Lymphoma that where diagnosed progressively can be treated to full recovery. There is hope for the prognosis continues to improve for Hodgkins Lymphoma.

Staying Alive: Lymphoma Survival Rate

There are a lot of factors that affect the lymphoma survival rate which is why its different in case to case. To calculate the survival rate of the patient the main variables are the age, the time of detection or diagnosis, and the health of the individual. Another significant thing to consider it the type of lymphoma the person is identified with.

Lymphoma is a cancer that is present as a solid tumor in the lymph nodes. It deteriorates the body’s immune and lymphatic system. The lymphocytes grow tumors if an individual is badly affected by lymphoma. These tumors can reproduce and build up in great number going to the nearby tissues and not allowing it of essential nutrients and oxygen. The lymphomas can journey to other tissues and other parts of the organ if the cancer is already at an advanced stage.

About 85% of people in stages one and two live for five years after detection of cancer, given that there is proper treatments involved, this is according to the American Cancer Society. The Lymphoma survival rate of a person relies on the factors that include the patient’s overall health, the stages of the illness, and the treatment administered.

There are various ways to treat lymphoma like chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and sometimes bone marrow transplants. These treatments must be done with precaution because even though it is effective it may cause damages or side effects to organs like the liver, kidney, heart, and brain. Treatments may be discontinued or may not be effective if the patient cannot tolerate the side effects of the intense therapy whose purpose is to stop the disease from advancing. The patient’s lymphoma survival rate will not only rely on the treatment but the age factor and type of lymphoma as well. Those who are young have higher lymphoma survival rate, which is about 90%.

Because of the advances of technology, innovation and radical approaches to therapy the chances of higher lymphoma survival rate has become possible over the past decades. For adults, the five-year survival rate after treatment is round 63% but it is higher for children, which is 90%. The addition of immunotherapy to standard treatment may further improve the prevailing lymphoma survival rates.

Lymphoma Treatments—What are your options?

Like the saying “different strokes for different folks”, lymphoma treatments also apply this. There are several approaches to beat, stop, and get rid of lymphoma. Doctors lay down all the options to the patients and there are others who prefer alternative forms of medicine. Bottom line is to defeat the cancer that is growing inside the body.

The conventional approach of treating lymphoma is through chemotherapy. Oncologist may prescribe medications like cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone that must be supplemented with rituximab, monocional antibodies. For three months of the early stages of cancer, chemotherapy and radiotherapy may be combined. However, if already at the later stage, chemotherapy should be administered within a six-month period.

Radiotherapy is another form of lymphoma treatment. This is a radiation treatment where a high-energy x-ray is used to break into fragments the contaminated cancer cells and reduce the size of the tumors without affecting the healthy cells. The purpose of radiotherapy is to incapacitate the diseases cells to spread or multiply. These cells are naturally flushed from the body after their destruction.

There is also another lymphoma treatment that is combined with both chemotherapy and radiation therapy. A donor will give stem cells from his or her blood or bone marrow to be used for the stem cells transplants. Stems cells can also be extracted prior to the patients chemotherapy and it will be stored until the transplant. To remove the lymphoma cells to the body a natural killer cells will attach to it during the transplant, which is antibody dependent.

Alternative medicines are also available for lymphoma treatment. There is the homeopathic treatment; it is a concept in which it is believed that what will create the symptoms of lymphoma in a healthy person will negate those symptoms in an ill person.

Natural treatment for lymphoma on the other hand is similar to that of the holistic approach. It equally highlight the importance of proper diet with foods high in anti-oxidants, omega 3 fatty acids, and healthy oils. The patient should avoid, preservatives, food additives, and stimulants.

A patient must always detoxify the body by going through natural lymphoma treatments like saunas, drinking juice cleanse, colonic massage therapy, and even acupuncture.

When combined, these treatments are really effective in the smooth progress of healing. But no matter what type of treatment is administered, the cancer must be treated at all cost.

Living with Lymphoma Cancer

The cancer of the blood that comes from the body’s lymph system is diagnosed as lymphoma cancer. The lymph, lymph vessels, lymph nodes, bone marrow, spleen and liver comprised the lymph system. Lymph can circulate and travel through the body via lymph vessels. The bone marrow and the spleen produce lymphocytes that fight pathogens. When lymphoma cancer occurs, there is a breakdown in the system.

Lymphoma occurs when the body’s lymphocytes divide and multiply quickly at an unusual, accelerated rate. As time goes on, just like illegal settlers, the lymphocytes begin to ease and crowd out the legitimate and healthy cell by forming tumors that develop in the lymph nodes.

The process by which lymphoma cancer can spread throughout the body is called Metastasis. The primary origin of metastasis is the primary tumor. The primary tumor in lymphoma cancer can be found in one of the body’s lymph nodes. Metastasis occurs when cancer cells manage to break off from the primary tumor and move to other organs of the body. The process can happen by way of the lymphatic system or bloodstream.

The bloodstream plays an important role in the development of Lymphoma cancer. The cancer cells find connections to the bloodstreams through transports so they can use it as a food source when they divide and multiply. A break away cancer cell can use the transport or blood vessel as a route to enter the bloodstream. Just like early civilization, the cancer cell travels in streams and starts attaching itself to settlement areas and then in that area, they start to multiply.

Lymphoma cancer can also develop within the lymphatic system. Since the cancer originated in the lymphatic system, the cancer cell will break off the primary tumor and set a secondary site through other parts of the lymphatic system. The tumor cell is accessible to other organs because of the lymph system.

When lymphoma cancer establishes in secondary sites, it is then an extremely serious condition. The lymphoma cells begin to multiply at an accelerated rate and become tumors. By eliminating and terminating healthy cells, the organ dies slowly. The time will come that the cells will render the organ useless and it’s just a matter of time the patient passes away.

Early detection is the key to survival.

Living with Hodgkin Lymphoma

If the lymph tissue is cancer, it is called Hodgkin’s lymphoma. There are a lot of ways to treat Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. The National Institutes of Health pegs a 10-year Hodgkin Lymphoma Survival rate and 80 percent chance of survival if the disease is treated early. If the disease is in its advance stages, the usual prognosis is for a 60 percent chance of survival after five years.

The following organs, the lymph nodes, spleen, liver and bone marrow are the usual targets of Hodgkin Lymphoma. Symptoms of Hodgkin Lymphoma includes swelling of the lymph nodes, loss of appetite, sudden loss of weight, night sweats and fever. The people ages between 15 to 35 and recently ages 55 to 70 are the most affected by Hodgkin Lymphoma. The Hodgkin lymphoma survival rate for this age groups is quite higher compared to others.

Once the symptoms start popping up, better consult a physician as soon as possible. It may turn out only as an infection since the symptoms are the same. Doctors use different methods to diagnose this disease, by biopsies of bone marrow, lymph nodes or other tissues where the diseases is hiding. Blood tests, chemistry tests, bone marrow biopsies, CT or PET scans are used to determine if the disease is in its advance stages. It is important to have this diagnose at an early stage, the Hodgkin Lymphoma survival rate is higher if detected early.

To determine how far the disease has advance, one has to look into the different stages. Stage 1 of Hodgkin Lymphoma is when there is only one lymph node that is affected by cancer cells. If there are already two lymph nodes that are affected, and it is on the same side of the diaphragm, then the disease has reached the second stage. Stage 3 is when the lymph nodes in both diaphragm is affected, leading to the last stage when the disease has already spread to other tissues and organs. The Hodgkin lymphoma survival rate is higher if it detects the ailment during stages 1 and 2. It is very bleak and poor when diagnosed during stages 3 and 4. Treatments like radiotherapy and chemotherapy is required.

Know More About Follicular Lymphoma

Follicular lymphoma is the type of cancer in the lymph nodes that can extend to the entire body. It is particularly known as the lymphoma of the white blood cells that are found in the center of the lymph nodes or follicles. This is the idle type of lymphoma, slow growing yet almost impossible to cure and treat. In about 33 percent of the cases, this cancer will transform into an aggressive form of cancer called B-cell lymphoma.
Follicular lymphoma has a tough genetic trait to the point of occurrence and the genetic imperfection as a consequence the white blood cells divide sooner. The tumors are transformation of the excess white blood cells. There are many symptoms of follicular lymphoma to watch out for.

The initial symptoms of follicular lymphoma include swelling of one or more lymph nodes. They turn out to be tender to touch. When the tumors spread to other body parts, it becomes firmer for healthy cells to look for their nourishment while the body organs waste away. If you notice drastic weight loss without any changes in your diet, it is also a sign of follicular lymphoma. Another indication is the feeling of internal discomfort, a person’s body mass decreases as the organs swell, pressure will build up and become really painful. It is important to note that follicular lymphoma is indolent, patients may not experience the symptoms as it manifests in the late stages of the disease.

Follicular lymphoma may be diagnosed by different tests. Physicians may necessitate patients to take different tests like CT scan, urine test, or biopsies of the lymph node to diagnose lymphoma. After the verdict, the stages of the follicular lymphoma will be identified depending on the gravity of the case. There are 4 stages, the early stages has a higher survival rate, and the grade levels are based on the affected cell size. Grade 1 affects the smallest cells while the last grade is the more aggressive; it goes after the large cells

Follicular lymphoma responds well to treatments. Although there are no permanent cures for follicular lymphoma but since there are several radical treatments, the survival rates increased. The disease can be treated with chemotherapy, radiotherapy and stem cell transplants.

Health Today: Non Hodgkin Lymphoma Survival Rate.

Non Hodgkin Lymphoma survival rate are broadly different. It differs because of different factors like the type of lymphoma, its stage, the age of the person, and others. As said by the American Cancer Society, the general 5-year survival rate of people suffering from Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma is 63% while the survival rate is only at 51% in terms of the 10-year span. The relative survival rate estimates the likelihood that a patient will survive a certain period of time after diagnosis. It is calculated not including other incurable diseases other than cancer.

It is impossible to get the exact projection for Non Hodgkin Lymphoma survival rate because the position has too many variables. Patients with indolent or slow growing lymphomas can survive for many years but those who were diagnosed during the late stages have lower chances of staying too long because the cancer has already spread. Aggressive lymphomas can devastate the body faster causing hasty death however there is still hope because this illness is curable.

Progress in medical technology and important discoveries in research has increased Non Hodgkin Lymphoma survival rate. The developments in treatments grew in the past 20 years, particularly to those who are under the age of 45.

Follicular lymphoma is the most common indolent Non Hodgkin Lymphoma. They are can possibly be cured at stages 1 and 2 however it is very difficult to detect and by the time it is normally diagnosed, it is already in critical stages. In general, this type of Non Hodgkin Lymphoma survival rate is 7- 10 years, depending on other risk factors. Also, recent drug treatments have significantly developed the survival rates.

High grade aggressive lymphomas may be diagnosed at once because it is symptomatic even if it is still in the early stages. They are possible to be cured by belligerent treatments. Diffuse b-cell lymphoma on the other hand is the most common aggressive Non Hodgkin Lymphoma, it can be cured with combinations of exhaustive chemotherapy but fatal if dealt with nonchalance and not treated. This type of Non Hodgkin Lymphoma survival rate depends on five risk factors. The five factors are the following: a) being older than 60, b) patient’s functional ability, c), disease that spread more than one site beyond the lymph nodes, d) having elevated levels of the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) protein, and lastly e) having a disseminated tumor (stage 3 and 4). If the patient has none of the risk factors, then outlook is positive and good, while having two factors indicate a low-to intermediate poor outlook, three factors predict an intermediate to high likelihood of poor outlook while if one has all the risk factors, the Non Hodgkin Lymphoma survival rate is very poor.

With enough optimism and vigilance, there are many advances in technology that helps improve Non Hodgkin Lymphoma survival rate.

General Lymphoma Symptoms

Lymphoma cancer is the most common form yet the main contributor of cancer-related deaths. Despite the fact that it has a high ratio of deaths to population, lymphoma cancer patients have hope of living a long and productive life. Given the circumstances that it is diagnosed early, and intense treatments are done such as radiotherapy, it is very likely to cure this form of cancer. Early intervention, early detection is the key to success. People should be aware and observant about the lymphoma symptoms indicated by his or her body to detect it at an early stage. In terms of the treatment’s success, those are the factors that will affect it.

Lymphoma is an unusual activity of cells created by the body. When the growth and profusion of cells becomes excessive, lymphoma usually develops. Cells grow and multiply rapidly and ignores the brain’s signal to stop. Once the cells undergoes a process of massive overgrowth it can turn itself into tumors, spread by dividing from the cells, which travels in the lymph system going to other organs of the body.

Lymphoma cancer has two different kinds but both of them have the same initial symptoms. Hodgkin Lymphoma can affect individuals in the younger population who are ages 13 to 35. The early lymphoma symptoms are swollen lymph nodes in the neck, underarms and chest. On the other hand, Non Hodgkin Lymphoma is more dangerous as it attacks the white cells doing great damages to the lymph nodes that weakens the body against infection from viruses.

There are other lymphoma symptoms you need to look out for, aside from the swelling of lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, groin and chest area. The patients may likely suffer from body aches, nigh sweats, flu-like symptoms, loss of appetite, nausea, and unexplained pressure around the facial area.

However, there are other reasons why a lymph nodes swell, it may be a major lymphoma symptoms but there are also other non-cancer related factors that causes the swelling. Lymph nodes can swell due to the presence of infection in the body, or when an autoimmune deficiency flares up, so it is better to see a physician to check to whether one has cancer or it’s a false alarm.

Do We Understand What is Lymphoma Cancer?

Even though a lot of people have heard about it but not everybody actually knows what is lymphoma cancer. Lymphoma is a cancer that affects the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is made up of the lymph vessels, lymph, lymph nodes, bone marrow and even the spleen and liver. The fluid that circulates the lymphatic system is called the lymph. You can find lymphocytes in this fluid, it fights pathogens. While the lymph nodes may be located in various parts of the body. This is the reason why there are several areas of the lymphatic system, which is cancerous.

Additionally, breast cancer may also develop within the lymph nodes. Though its symptoms are very different from lymphoma cancer symptoms. Even if lymphoma is the most ordinary blood cancers and many people have heard of it, they still do not know the repercussions of what is lymphoma cancer?

A lot of people mix up lymphoma with leukemia, but on contrary it is two different types of blood cancer. There are 56% of patients who are suffering from blood cancer who have lymphoma. Lymphoma starts when the lymphocytes or white blood cells are gradually multiplying that results to malignant changes in the lymph nodes and other areas in the body. It begins to bread in big amounts then kills the healthy cells that results to transformation of tumors.

Lymphoma starts in any of the bone marrow, lymph nodes or blood and it can spread faster than expected to other parts of the body. The B-lymphocytes and the T-lymphocytes are the carriers of the lymphoma cancer. This is where the classification Hodgkins and Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma is derived. This will give you an idea on what is lymphoma cancer all about.

Hodgkin lymphoma is a type of lymphoma cancer where the Reed-Sterndberg cells are present in the B-cells under morphological studies while the Non Hodgkin Lymphoma is a type of lymphoma that occurs even without the presence of the Reed-Sternberg cells. Inside the lymph nodes, when the cells become excessive it transforms into tumor cells. This makes things worst because it can affect the body organs to waste or die.

Generally, what is lymphoma cancer is about it is a type of cancer in the blood but extremely different from leukemia and it can only be detected with the use of imaging tests like MRI, x-ray, and CT-scan. This disease can be treated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Canine Health Guide: Lymphoma in Dogs

A cancer that is ordinary to dogs is called canine lymphoma or lymphoma in dogs, it affects the lymph nodes.

It is crucial to bring your dog to the vet as soon as you see the symptoms of lymphoma because it also occur with other acute illness, having a dog with lymphoma can be distressing. For owners who choose to their dogs with lymphoma, there’s a good chance of survival for 2 years, but for those who don’t dogs can only survive another 2 to 6 months after learning about the disease.

The symptoms of lymphoma in dogs are similar to that of human beings.
If you see signs like hard, round lumps on the stomach, armpits, back, or neck of the dog, these are indications that you must consult the vet at once. Loss of appetite is another sign that your dog is suffering from a serious illness, especially if it suddenly lost interest in eating. Enlarged lymph nodes can get in the way of the dog’s food intake. Pain and problems rooting from the swelling could deject the dog from eating. It can also hinder the normal breathing of a canine. This may cause the dog to “hack” or cough because of airway obstruction. Generally, these signs result to sluggishness and depression in dogs. Lymphoma in dogs may have an effect in their bone marrow and may cause frailty and incapacity to create sufficient blood cells.

There are a lot of causes that link lymphoma in dogs. One of the leading causes of lymphoma that are often mentioned is genetics. Normally, if the dog has a family history of cancer, then it has been shown that it is hereditary from one generation to another. Age is another thing that influences lymphoma in dogs. Older dogs are probable to acquire cancer.

There are also man-made structures or products that cause lymphoma in dogs. Strong magnetic fields from high-energy power lines have been linked to lymphoma in dogs. Lymphoma in dogs are also linked with lawn chemicals. According to research, dogs who have been exposed to second hand smoke are susceptible to cancer.

Lymphoma in dogs typically manifest in the advance stages of the cancer and there is very low survival rate at this period.

While it is important to ease their pain, might as well give them a better quality of life because they are men’s best friends.