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Non Hodgkins Lymphoma Symptoms and Diagnosis...
NHL is the fifth most common cancer in the United States, with about 56,000 cases diagnosed each year.
Although NHL can occur
in people of any age, fewer than 5% of people with NHL are children. The
risk of getting NHL increases with age, and the average age at diagnosis
is about 65. It occurs somewhat more often in men than women. For most people,
the cause of NHL is unknow
NHL is a cancer of the lymphocytes. Lymphocytes make antibodies, proteins that
attach to foreign cells and mark them to be attacked. Lymphocytes also direct
the rest of the immune system to attack the foreign cells and help in the attack.
Lymphocytes are stored in lymph nodes and travel through the body in a network
of small lymph vessels. As fluid carrying the lymphocytes passes through the
lymph nodes, the lymph nodes filter out bacteria and viruses that can cause infection.
This is why the lymph nodes sometimes become swollen when the body is fighting
an infection.
Infection is by far the most common cause of a swollen lymph node, but a swollen
lymph node can also be a symptom of NHL. NHL begins when a lymphocyte changes
into a cancer cell that divides and grows into more and more cancer cells. These
cancer cells join, forming tumors (lymphomas) in the lymph nodes and elsewhere
in the body.
Many people with NHL do not notice any symptoms. Their disease may be found during
a routine physical exam or a test for another health problem. When people do
notice symptoms, a swollen lymph node is the most common. Other symptoms may
be caused by the growth of tumors. These symptoms depend on where the tumor is
growing. For example, a person may have stomach pain or indigestion if a tumor
grows in or near the stomach. Other common symptoms include:
Fever
Night sweats
Unexplained weight loss (losing more than 10% of the body's weight in six months)
Fatigue or extreme tiredness
Loss of appetite
Very itchy skin
These symptoms can also be signs of other illnesses. If you have these symptoms,
it is important to see your doctor for a diagnosis.
Diagnosis
To diagnose lymphoma, a doctor will look at a sample of cells from an affected
lymph node or tumor. Taking a sample of cells is called a biopsy. For a biopsy,
a doctor usually removes all of the tumor in surgery, though sometimes only part
of it is removed. The cell sample is checked in a laboratory to find out whether
a person has lymphoma, the type of lymphoma and other information that can help
a doctor plan treatment.
The doctor will also do a physical exam, health history and other tests to find
out more about the lymphoma. These tests may include:
Blood tests to:
Count red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets -- lymphoma can cause
low numbers of one, two or all three types of blood cells.
Look for changes in the blood that can be caused by disease in certain organs
or tissues.
Tests that can show if the lymphoma has spread, such as:
Chest X-ray
Computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan, which uses special X-rays to show cross-sections
of the body's tissues and organs
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which uses magnets and radio waves to show
detailed images of the body's tissues and organs
Positron emission tomography (PET) scan, which shows an image of where lymphoma
is active using a radioactive substance that is injected into a vein
Gallium scan, which shows an image of where lymphoma is located using a radioactive
substance that is injected into a vein
Tests on bone marrow samples to look for signs of disease in the marrow
Lumbar puncture (spinal tap) to see if lymphoma has spread to the central nervous
system
A doctor will diagnose the type of NHL, the stage (whether the tumor has spread
and how far) and how fast the tumor is growing. The doctor will also assess a
risk score. The risk score helps predict the chances that a person's disease
will return after treatment as well as his or her overall chances of survival
(prognosis). All of this information is important to planning the best treatment.
NOTE: This web site is designed for educational purposes only and is not engaged in rendering medical advice. The information provided through this site should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, you should consult your health care provider