Non Hodgkin Lymphoma
No (NHL) Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer that develops in the cells of the immune system. The lymphatic system - which is part of the immune system - consists among other things of lymph vessels, lymph and lymph; It is present in very many places in the body.
The NHL in short
The lymphatic system - which is part of the immune system - consists of the following 1:
Lymphatic vessels: the lymphatic system includes a network of vessels that lead to all tissues of the body.
Lymph: Lymphatic vessels circulates a clear fluid called lymph, which contains white blood cells, particularly lymphocytes such as B cells and T cells.
Lymph: lymphatic vessels are connected to small masses of tissue called lymph nodes that are found at the level of the neck, armpits, chest, abdomen and groin. These lymph nodes store white blood cells and trap bacteria or other harmful substances circulating in lymph in order to eliminate them.
The tonsils, thymus and spleen are also part of the lymphatic system, but there is lymph tissue in other organs, including the skin, stomach and intestine grele1.
A non Hodgkin Lymphoma was born when a lymphocyte called B cell (type of white blood cell made from bone marrow stem cells and producing antibodies) becomes abnormal. The abnormal cell divides to make copies of itself, and new cells resulting divide in turn, so that the number of abnormal cells multiply. The accumulation of excess cells eventually form a tumeur1.
The symptoms
NHL can cause various signs and symptoms, depending on its location in the body. In some cases, it causes no symptoms until it became quite volumineux2.
Symptoms of NHL may be specific or General. General symptoms include 2:
a loss of weight for no reason apparent;
fever;
heavy night sweats.
Other symptoms are explained by the decrease in the number of blood cells. The blood may be heavily affected when Lymphoma spreads to the bone marrow and cells occupy the place of normal healthy cells at the origin of the blood cells. This may then lead to problems comme2:
severe or frequent infections (due to the low number of white blood cells);
a tendency to bruising or bleeding (due to the low number of platelets);
fatigue (due to the low number of red blood cells or anemia).
As a NHL can emerge in many parts of the body, symptoms will depend on its location. Here are some examples:
Lymph nodes swollen (Lymphadenopathy): If the cancer affects glands located near the surface of the body (on each side of the neck, in the groin, at the level of the armpits or above the collarbone), the patient himself, a member of his family or the doctor will most likely notice the presence of a mass under the skin. Swollen lymph nodes are common symptoms of lymphoma, but they show much more often to an infection2.
Abdominal lymphoma: the abdomen may swell and become tender to the touch, due to swollen lymph nodes, either due to a large buildup of fluid. Similarly, the spleen may increase in volume, causing pressure on the stomach, so that even a little hearty meal will cause a feeling of plenitude2.
A few statistics
The NHL are very common cancers. According to the Canadian cancer society, about 7800 Canadians (4300 men and 3500 women) will be diagnosed with NHL in 20123.
When lymphoma is indolent - that is of slow evolution-, the prognosis is good and the median duration of survival is longer, although it is usually incurable. It is to say that the lymphoma is likely to reappear.
About 40 to 50% of the NHL are indolent.
The number of people in which NHL develops is fairly constant for a decade. Some types of NHL hit especially children, but more than 95% of lymphomas not hodgkiniens are the lot of adults. NHL types observed in children are often very different from those found in adults. The risk of NHL increases with the years4.
The diagnosis and management
If the NHL is slowly changing, it is possible that no treatment is necessary, but it is up to the doctor to make the decision. If he decides not to prescribe any treatment, it will monitor the patient for very pres5.
If, on the other hand, the NHL is aggressive, there are several options: chemotherapy, radiation therapy, stem cell transplant and various types of medicaments5.
Learn that you have cancer, it is not obvious, and it takes some time to learn to live with the new. In general, we'd better gather and learn as much about his cancer, to build a strong network self-help formed of friends and family members, stay active, relax and good to alimenter6.
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