Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, or NHL, is a cancer that develops in the lymphatic system of the human body. In this type of lymphoma, the tumors develop from the lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. The lymphocytes are responsible for fighting the disease or foreign pathogens that try to enter the body.
The disease is classified into various types - B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia.
Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma include the following:
- Chest pain
- Swelling or pain in the abdomen
- Difficulty in breathing
- Fever
- Continuous fatigue
- Inexplicable weight loss
- Night sweats
- Coughing
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck armpits or groin area which are painless
The symptoms of the disorder are persistent; hence the patient should consult the doctor immediately.
Causes
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma occurs when the cancerous lymphocytes accumulate in the lymph nodes of the patient; however, it can also spread to other parts of the lymphatic system. NHL is known to spread to tonsils, thymus, bone marrow, lymphatic vessels, spleen, and adenoids. It can even spread to organs not related to the lymphatic system of the patient.
As per various medical resources, medical professionals and researchers are unable to identify the exact cause of the disease. NHL occurs due to the uncontrolled production of abnormal white blood cells or lymphocytes. Another study says that the disease is a result of the weakened immune system of the patient.
Generally, old lymphocytes die and new ones are produced to replace the dying ones. When the old ones don’t die, they continue to divide and grow, so the white blood cells accumulate in the lymph nodes causing them to swell and cause NHL.
B-cell NHL: B cells are responsible for fighting against the infection through the production of foreign body neutralizing antibodies. When NHL affects the B cell, it can cause mantle cell lymphoma, Burkitt lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
T-cell NHL: These are the cells that are responsible for killing foreign intruders directly. NHL in these types of cells is quite uncommon. NHL when occurs in the T-cells are known as peripheral T-cell lymphoma and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.
Treatment
As per medical resources, the treatment of NHL is highly dependent on the age; stage, and type of the NHL patient is suffering from. Sometimes, treatment of the disease is delayed until the disease progresses and causes symptoms.
Chemotherapy: It is one of the treatments employed by the doctors for treating NHL. This treatment which kills cancer cells is carried out either orally or through injection.
Stem cell transplant: In this medical procedure, the physician is seen to increase the doses of chemotherapy for the patient. This is done to kill the stem cells along with the cancer cells of the patient. The fresh unaffected stem cells are transplanted into the body of the patient by the doctor. The transplanted stem cells may belong to the patient, or a donor, which needs to be harvested and frozen.
Medications: Doctors have been seen to recommend medications to improve the status of the immune system. Sometimes doctors may also suggest medicines that deliver radioactive isotopes for binding the cancerous cells present in the body.
Radiation therapy: By using high-powered energy beams, cancerous cells are killed. Doctors may recommend this therapy to get rid of tumors and this can be either performed individually or with other treatments.
Disclaimer: The information in no way constitutes, or should be construed as medical advice. Nor is the above article an endorsement of any research findings discussed in the article an endorsement for any of the source publications.
