LYMPHIMA
Cells gone haywire:Rein in cancer cells with early diagnosis and treatment
By Dr Chanchal Goswami

Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that occurs when lymphocytes White blood cells that help protect the body from infection and disease behave abnormally. Abnormal lymphocytes may divide faster than normal cells or they may live longer than they are supposed to. Lymphoma may develop in any part of the body: the lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow or in the blood. There are two main types of lymphomas:

Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL)
Non- Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL)

Though both develop in a same way, what makes them difference is the Read Sternberg cell. This cancerous cell type is found only in Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

Causes and risk factors
Although the cause for non- Hodgkin's Lymphoma is not known, some reasons that may increase its chances are:
Weakened immune system due to acquired or inherited reasons.
Certain infections increase an individual's risk of developing lymphoma like the human immunodeficiency virus, responsible for AIDS.
Epstien-Barr virus (EBV) Helicobacter pylori, which causes stomach ulcers.
The Hepatitis C which causes Hepatitis C.
Researchers are studying other factors like obesity, occupations that involve the use of herbicides and pesticides, Hair dyes and genetic predisposition as risk factors for Lymphoma.
However, having one or more risk factors does not necessarily mean that a person will develop lymphoma.

Signs and Symptoms
Certain symptoms of lymphoma are similar to those in other illness.

Some common symptoms are:
· Swelling of lymph nodes, which may or may not be painful
· Fever
· Unexplained weight loss
· Sweating (often at night)
· Chills
· Lack of energy
· Itching
· Enlargement of spleen
· Feeling of fullness in the abdomen
· Pain during alcohol consumption

Diagnosis
The different techniques used for diagnosing lymphoma are:
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION: This includes checking the lymph nodes in the neck, arnpit, orgroin, and checking for an enlarged liver or spleen.

BLOOD TEST: Blood tests may rule out infections and any other type of disease. The blood will also be checked to see if cancer cells or cancer-related enzymes are present.
These tests may also provide information on how far the cancer has spread. Other factors such as anaemia also may be checked during the blood test.

IMAGING TEST: The doctor may ask for imaging tests like:
X-RAY
CT(compound tomography) scan
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan
LYMPHANGIOGRAM: It is a test using a special dye that makes the lymph nodes and vessels show up on an X-ray film
BIOPSY: A biopsy checks whether a lump or swollen gland is truly a lymphoma. To do a biopsy, the doctor surgically remove a small sample of the tissue.

Grading and staging
After diagnosis, the next step is to know the grade and the stage of the cancer. Lymphomas of different grades and stages grow at different rates, and respond differently to treatment.

The grade of a lymphoma refers to how quickly, or aggressively, it is growing. The stage of lymphoma of any cancer depends on how far it has spread. Diagnosis, including grading and staging, is very important in lymphoma as it determines the course of the disease and course of the treatment. As in many cancers, lymphoma is likely to be cured if it is diagnosed early and treated promptly.

Dr Chandal Goswami,
B.P Poddar Cancer Hospital &Research Centre,
Kolkata.
drcgoswami@gmail.com

Courtesy: The Week