Do you need information about non hodgkins lymphoma symptoms? Learn about this cancer that’s affecting not only adults but children as well. This article will give you a bird’s eye view about this disease.
According to recent study, there has been a threefold increase in the incidence of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL). Today, it is the 6th most common type of cancer diagnosed in the United States and the 6th most common causes of cancer death. Although there has been no published document directly linking them, the incidence of NHL is more common with patients with immuno-suppressed systems or auto immune disorders related to prior treatment of a different cancer, an organ transplant, viral infections like HIV and Epstein-Bar virus, and exposure to environmental toxins like pesticides, solvents, dyes and other similar agents.
So what are lymphomas?
Lymphomas are cancer cells involving only lymphocytes. These tumors usually begin at the lymph node sites later spread out to the lymph tissues eventually affecting the spleen, gastro intestinal tract, liver or the bone marrow. The prognosis for patients will depend upon the cellular type and stage of disease at diagnosis. Lymphomas are classified according to their cellular characteristics into Hodgkin’s Lymphoma or Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
So what is NHL?
NHL disease occurs more frequently than Hodgkin’s disease. Each year, 7000 to 8000 new cases are diagnosed in the USA. It occurs in all age groups, but the incidence increases with age. Although rare, it usually occurs within 10-15 years of age with children and the median age for adults is 55-70 years. Most NHLs involve malignant B lymphocytes in about 70-90% composition and the absence of Reed-Sternberg cells makes it different from Hodgkin’s. Opposite to Hodgkin’s disease (HD), the lymphoid tissues involved are largely infiltrated by these malignant cells and the spread of these mutated lymphoid cells or the pattern of infiltration occurs unpredictably through out the body affecting multiple sites and regions like the gastrointestinal tract, nasopharnyx, skin, bone, thyroid, breast, lung, testis and brain. NHL usually presents itself with enlarged, non-tender lymph nodes despite the no typical location as compared with HD.
Non hodgkins lymphoma symptoms
- Gastro Intestinal Problems: pain, nausea, vomiting, bleeding, or malabsorption
Renal infections, pain, bleeding
Leukemia-like symptoms
Cough, chest pain, pulmonary infiltrates
Treatment:
The most common treatment used in NHLs is chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However both treatments have massive side effects that weaken the immune system causing fatigue and nausea to patients. Anemia may also present as secondary problem since the chemotherapy treatment also wipes out the production of new blood cells. Home care management is important so as we don’t further compromise the already weakened immune system.
Behaviors to take to prevent infection:
Maintain good hand hygiene technique as well as body and skin hygiene
Avoid fresh flowers, plants and garden activity (soil), bird cages, and litter boxes
Avoid fresh salads and unpeeled fruits and vegetables
Maintain high calorie, high protein diet, with a lot of fluid intake
Avoid people with infections, crowds
Provide adequate lubrication with gentle vaginal manipulation during sexual intercourse; avoid anal intercourse