Overview
Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphocytes, cells in the blood that help fight infection. These cells are found in the lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow and thymus. There are two main types of lymphoma: Hodgkin's and Non-Hodgkin's, which is more common.
Each year about 75,000 people are diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and 8,500 are diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma nationwide. When the disease is diagnosed at an early stage, treatment is often successful in attaining a cure.
The Patricia Lynch Cancer Center at Holy Name has a multi-disciplinary team of experienced and skilled medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, nurses and support staff to treat lymphoma. They provide a compassionate, unified approach in creating a personal strategy for each patient's unique medical, emotional and lifestyle needs.
Symptoms
- Easy bruising
- Fever and night sweats
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Difficulty breathing
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Abdominal pain
- Loss of appetite and weight loss
Risk Factors
In addition to smoking, other conditions may increase the risk of developing lung cancer.
- Family history of lymphoma
- Exposure to certain chemicals - particularly benzenes and Agent Orange
- Smoking
- History of mononucleosis
- Prior chemotherapy or radiation
- Immunodeficiency
Diagnosis
- Physical exam
- Blood tests
- Bone marrow biopsy
- Lymph node biopsy
- CT scan
- MRI
- PET scan
Treatment
Some types of lymphoma are very slow growing and can just be watched, without any treatment. For other cases, chemotherapy, targeted therapies and radiation are often used. Rarely, a bone marrow transplant may be needed.
