Lymphoma

A generalized name for a group of cancers originating in the lymphatic tissues.  About 56% of blood cancers are lymphomas.  They are divided into two categories, Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkins lymphoma.  The main difference is in the type of white cells involved.  Symptoms of both can include enlarged lymph nodes, difficulty breathing, fever, night sweats, weight loss, and itchy skin.  Hodgkin’s affects mainly younger people (15-34) and older people (above 55), with men being affected more often than women. People most at risk are those with lowered immunity or those who have had mononucleosis (Epstein Barr virus).  Treatment includes Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and/or surgery. The rate for non-Hodgkins increases with age, and mostly white men are affected.  People most at risk are those with lowered immune systems, HIV, infection with T-cell leukemia, or Lymphoma virus (HTLV-1).  Treatment usually includes radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy to kill the cancerous cells, and biological therapy (immunotherapy) to stimulate the body’s immune system to fight the disease.  Surgery is not usually an option.  In some patients with recurring non-Hodgkins lymphoma, bone marrow transplants may be an option.