Lymphomia treatment (Burkitts, Hodgins, non-Hodgekins)
Lymphomia cancer disease affects the tissues or organs involved in the bodys immune defence system. The most common is that lymph nodes and bone marrow is affected but it is not uncommon that lymphoma affects the cells of the liver, splean or other internal organs.
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As with all cancer diseases, there is an uncontrolled growth of cells, in this case in some of all the types of white blood cells participating in the immune defence system. Since lymphomia affects different types of cells with different properties and growth patterns, the cancer has a very varying clinical progression. Lymphoma will typically affect older people although it can develop at any age whether it is Hodgins disease, non-Hodgekins, Hotchkins or Burkitts limphoma.
What is lymph node cancer?
Lymphoma, or lymph node cancer, is the collective name for two disease types where there are cell growth and changes in the lymph nodes or other organs; Hodgins lymphoma and non-Hodgekins lymphomia (after Hodgkins who discovered the disease).
Causes of lymphoma
One risk factor for the possible development of a non-Hodgins disease is having a solid organ transplant. The majority of lymphomas of this type are classified as high grade B-cell tumors. This type of non-Hodgekins lymphoma is also called a post transplant non-hotchkins lymphoma and this type of cancer is increasing due to a growing number of organ transplants. This type of cancer is often caused by the Epstein Barr virus infection and following treatment with drugs for the suppressing of the immune defense system to avoid rejection of the transplanted organ. With this type of lymphoma, there is a greater risk that it will affect lungs and intestines as well as the brain.
The causes of lymphomia are still not known to science, but the disease is not presumed to be hereditary. In most cases, lymphomia's will appear in the age span of 40-70. The Hodgkin's disease will often appear in younger adults, or in elderly patients.
Possible triggers of the disease
- Genetic predisposition
- Infections of certain types
- Environmental factors
- Radiation at high levels (including radiation therapy)
- Herbicides
- Human retrovirus (HTLV-1) or Epstein-Barr virus infections
- AIDS
Hodgins (Hodgkins) lymphoma cancer
Hodgkins disease can develop at any age in life, even in children. The most common pattern though is that the cancer develops between the ages of 20 and 40. It is not known what the cause of this cancer is but some signs point towards a virus infection. This cancer form can be treated and patients can recover completely.
Hodgekins disease is relatively uncommon, it is named after the English doctor Hodgkins who first described this cancer form in 1832, although it has been known much longer than that. It was described already in the 17th century in Italian medical litterature.
Non-Hodgekins lymphoma cancer
This is the most common of the lymphoma's. The more aggressive types of non-Hodgins lymphoma will typically affect younger patients while the older usually develop less aggressive cancers of this form.
Symptoms of Hodgins and non-Hodgekins lymphoma
The cancer almost always starts with a swollowing of the lymph nodes in the throat. These are usually small, round and when pushed slightly, they will slip away under the skin. Normally you will not notice these nodes at all and there are not normally any problems with the slightly swollen lymph nodes.
Sometimes the disease starts in the lymph nodes that are located in the lungs or in the stomach and in these cases, the first noticeable symptoms are usually dry coughing or pain in the stomach or lower back.
Other signs, symptoms of lymphoma are fatigue, weight loss, nocturnal swetting, itching and a general unwell feeling. There can also be fevers, sometimes in attacks with a few weeks in between. The temperature changes usually come together with profuse sweating.
Signs of lymph node cancer - what to do
If you notice a lump on your throat/neck or in the armpit, you should contact a doctor immediately. You will likely be sent to a specialist for proper examination of the lump, including a possible biopsy.
Treatment of Hodgkins disease
There are good treatments of the Hodgins (hodgkins) lymphoma's today, around two thirds of all affected will be totally symptom free after treatment that is usually a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The prognosis is better for patients below 40, almost all in that cagegory is treated successfully, depending on the level of cancer when discovered. For older patients with a cancer that has spread, the prognosis is not as good but still around 50% of the over 60's are cured.
Treatment of Non-Hodgekin lymphomia
The treatment of non-Hodgekin lymphomia will vary depending on the type of cancer and how much it has spread. Some forms have a chronical and benign development and they may not need treatment for several years. Other forms will have a more agressive development and will require immediate chemotherapy and possibly also a bone marrow transplant (stem cells). There are also newer methods where monoclonal antibodies now are used in the treatment. Around 50% of the aggresive lymphomia cancer forms are treated and cured.