Lymph cancer
Content:
- What is lymph cancer?
- Lymph cancer causes
- Lymph cancer symptoms
- Diagnosis of lymph cancer
What is lymph cancer?
Lymphogranulomatosis is an enlargement of the lymph nodes as a result of the formation of a malignant tumor in this area. The following types of it are known to medicine: Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
In the first case, the disease develops in the cells of the lymphatic tissue. Therefore, a tumor can occur in the area of the spleen, adenoids, thymus, tonsils. However, in most cases, inflammation begins in the lymph nodes. At the same time, their cells significantly increase in size. Such cells are called Sternberg-Read cells. In a normal state, lymphocytes, having performed their functions, cease to exist. Sternberg-Reed cells, on the other hand, are actively developing and dividing. This form of the disease is typical for people at a young age. If it is diagnosed in time, then the chances of coping with Hodgkin's disease are quite high.
Non-Hodgkin's malignant lymphomas occur mainly in older people. Depending on the rate of reproduction, they are characterized by a low or high grade of malignancy. In the second case, without timely diagnosis and treatment, the patient's death may occur several months after the onset of the disease. This is due to the fact that altered cells of the lymphatic tissue divide too quickly. With a low grade of malignancy, this process proceeds more slowly, and the disease may be asymptomatic for a long time.
There are 4 stages of development of Hodgkin's disease:
- The cells of the lymphatic tissue change over a small area. Most often, only one area of the lymph nodes or part of an organ is affected;
- In this case, the tumor spreads to the lymph nodes located on one side of the diaphragm. Any other organ may also be affected;
- At this stage, the cells of the malignant tumor affect all the lymph nodes. In many cases, the spleen is also affected;
- The tumor at the last stage of the disease spreads both to the lymph nodes and to many internal organs: intestines, liver, kidneys.
Depending on the histological type, there are the following types of Hodgkin's disease:
- Lymphohistiocytic - most common in young men. When determined at an early stage of the disease, in most cases, a favorable prognosis is given;
- The mixed cell type is characterized by detection at stages 2 and 3. In this regard, the prognosis is less favorable than in the first case. Most often, children and people in old age suffer from this disease. People with HIV infection are also at risk;
- Nodular sclerosis is typical for women. The tumor forms in the area of the mediastinal lymph nodes. Modern methods of treatment can stop the division of malignant cells if the disease is detected in the early stages;
- Sometimes there is a type of Hodgkin's disease, which is characterized by suppression of lymphoid tissue.
Lymph cancer causes
There are several causes of lymph cancer:
- The influence of a number of chemicals, such as insecticides;
- Smoking tobacco, using drugs and alcohol;
- Epstein-Barr virus, which causes infectious mononucleosis;
- Radiation and chemotherapy;
- Changes at the genetic level;
- Weakened immunity;
- AIDS and HIV infection.
See also: Other Cancer Causes and Risk Factors
Lymph cancer symptoms
The reason for the visit to the doctor for diagnosis, as a result of which lymph cancer is detected, is most often the enlarged lymph nodes. They can reach the size of the tonsils. Such manifestations of Hodgkin's disease can be similar to symptoms of throat and viral infections. In the later stages, the lymph nodes enlarge so much that they can compress internal organs. This can be determined using radiography.
In addition to external signs, the disease has other symptoms. So, patients experience weakness, they may lose their appetite. A malignant tumor causes significant weight loss. The patient is sweating for no reason at night. Itching of the skin is often felt. A fever, considered one of the most common symptoms of lymph cancer, comes on suddenly and just as suddenly goes away. Patients are prone to frequent colds. In this case, there is a feeling of squeezing the chest, a strong cough appears. All this is accompanied by herpes infection, which cannot be dealt with even with the help of strong medications.
Lymph cancer can be confused with both colds and more serious ailments. Patients do not experience pain, enlarged lymph nodes on palpation do not cause discomfort. Because of this, Hodgkin's disease is detected in most cases at a later stage.
Diagnosis of lymph cancer
If there are symptoms most characteristic of lymph cancer, the doctor conducts an appropriate examination. First of all, it implies a biochemical blood test. Based on its results, the presence of malignant tumor cells in the body, as well as the degree of its spread, is determined. During the biopsy, it is determined whether the detected formation is really lymphoma. This procedure involves examining a small sample of tissue. Cell chromosomes are analyzed to determine their changes.
X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography can help you see the lesions of a malignant tumor of the internal organs. During the examination, the stage and type of the disease is determined. Based on the data obtained, treatment is prescribed.
See also: Lymph Cancer Treatments
In the first two stages of lymph cancer, radiation therapy is considered the most effective treatment. In the later stages of the development of the disease, various anticancer drugs are also used, for example, which include rituxima. If chemotherapy does not work well, in rare cases, a bone marrow transplant may be performed. Treatment of lymph cancer is complicated by rapid metastasis, which is why early diagnosis is so important.
The author of the article: Bykov Evgeny Pavlovich | Oncologist, surgeon
Education: graduated from residency at the Russian Scientific Oncological Center. N. N. Blokhin "and received a diploma in the specialty" Oncologist"
