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lymphoma
How to check for lymphoma?
Patients with lymphoma generally present with painless enlargement of superficial lymph nodes as their initial symptom, most commonly in areas such as the neck, above the collarbone, and the groin. For diagnostic purposes, it is best, if possible, to conduct a whole-body PADCT scan as this helps in the staging of lymphoma at the initial visit. A definitive diagnosis requires the complete excisional biopsy of the affected superficial lymph node, followed by a pathological examination. An excisional biopsy is a method for confirming the diagnosis of lymphoma.
Is lymphoma serious?
The severity of lymphoma relates to its specific pathological type and the stage of discovery among other factors. For instance, some highly aggressive lymphomas grow very rapidly, leading to swift disease progression, resulting in a poorer prognosis and more severe conditions. On the other hand, indolent lymphomas progress slowly, with lymph node growth being particularly sluggish, and the disease course can extend to even decades. Thus, conditions of such indolent lymphomas are relatively milder. The stage of lymphoma at the time of discovery also plays a role; early-stage lymphoma, such as stage I or II, is comparatively less severe. In contrast, patients with later stages, such as stage III or IV, experience more severe conditions. Therefore, the type of pathology and the stage at discovery are all significant factors.
What department should lymphoma go to?
Lymphoma can be treated in the departments of hematology or oncology, where chemotherapy for lymphoma can be conducted by both. In our hospital, radiotherapy is performed in the oncology department, not by the hematology department, which only provides chemotherapy. If lymphoma has not been confirmed and there is only superficial lymph node enlargement clinically, then examinations such as ultrasound or PADCT suggest the possibility of lymphoma. In such cases, patients can visit the general surgery department for a lymph node biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. After confirmation, the patient can register in either the hematology or oncology department for further treatment.
Symptoms of Lymphoma
The symptoms of lymphoma mostly present as painless enlarged superficial lymph nodes, which are common clinical manifestations. Additionally, there may be enlargement of the liver and spleen, with multiple organs throughout the body possibly affected. In advanced stages, patients may experience invasion of the bone marrow. There are also special types of extranodal lymphomas which exhibit specific symptoms. For instance, lymphomas originating in the stomach may present with upper abdominal masses, or symptoms like anemia, weight loss, black stools, and even upper abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting related to the gastrointestinal tract. If the lymphoma originates in the nasal cavity, known as NK/T-cell lymphoma, symptoms may include tinnitus, nasal congestion, runny nose, and nosebleeds, among others. Some lymphoma patients may also experience fever, generalized weakness, weight loss, collectively referred to as B symptoms.
The pattern of fever in lymphoma
Fever symptoms are quite common in patients with lymphoma, which we refer to as B symptoms. The pattern of their fevers is primarily low-grade, occurring more frequently in the afternoon or evening. Unlike ordinary bacterial infections, fevers in these patients do not respond well to anti-inflammatory drugs, but they do respond better to steroid treatment for reducing fever. However, if the lymphoma is not under control, their fever will repeatedly recur. Corresponding cooling treatments can reduce the temperature, but the fever will reoccur repeatedly. Only when the lymphoma and tumor are under control will the fever symptoms start to improve.
Is lymphoma a cancer?
Cancer actually refers to malignant tumors. Malignant tumors are named differently based on their site of origin. For example, those originating from epithelial tissue are called carcinomas, such as lung cancer, liver cancer, colon cancer, etc. Lymphoma refers to a malignant tumor originating from lymph nodes or tissues or organs outside the lymph nodes, which we call lymphoma. There are also some malignant tumors originating from mesenchymal tissue, which we call sarcomas. Therefore, lymphoma is also a malignant tumor and is considered a type of cancer.
Can lymphoma be cured?
Whether lymphoma can be cured depends on the specific pathological type of lymphoma, as there are dozens of subtypes, each with different prognoses and sensitivities to treatment. Additionally, the stage of lymphoma in patients also affects the prognosis. For example, patients with early-stage lymphoma can achieve a cure through radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However, for patients with advanced-stage lymphoma, treatment primarily involves chemotherapy, especially in cases of highly aggressive lymphoma, where it is difficult to achieve a complete cure. The goal of treatment in such cases is to alleviate pain and extend the patient's life.
Can people with lymphoma eat lamb?
Patients with lymphoma do not have any specific dietary restrictions, unlike traditional Chinese medicine, which refers to certain "heaty" foods that should be avoided. In Western medicine, as long as the diet is nutritionally balanced, including meat, protein, vegetables, and fruits, it fulfills the requirements of a balanced and comprehensive nutrition. The aim is to enhance the patient's immune system. There are no specific foods that are forbidden, so foods like lamb and beef can be consumed by lymphoma patients.
Does lymphoma infect family members?
Lymphoma and other malignant tumors, such as lung cancer, breast cancer, intestinal cancer, liver cancer, etc., are all non-contagious. Therefore, even if you live with your family every day, you do not have to worry about transmitting malignant tumors to your family members; they are not contagious. When we refer to contagious diseases, we call them infectious diseases, common ones include tuberculosis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, H1N1, etc. These are contagious diseases, but malignant tumors are not contagious and will not be spread to family members.
Typical symptoms of lymphoma
Typical symptoms of lymphoma include night sweats, fever, and weight loss. This fever often occurs in the afternoon, characterized as a cyclical fever that lasts for several days with irregular patterns. There are fever-free intervals ranging from a few days to several weeks, almost a nonspecific symptom but not commonly seen. Fever, night sweats, and unexplained weight loss of more than 10% within six months, or even emaciation, are considered B symptoms and are associated with a poor prognosis. In addition, skin itching is also not uncommon in late-stage patients.