About Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma:
Lymphoma is a general term for cancers that develop in the lymphatic system (the tissues and organs that produce, store and carry white blood cells). Lymphomas that do not start in white blood cells are called Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
They may start in the bone marrow, spleen, thymus or lymph nodes and spread to other parts of the body.
It is the seventh most common cancer in men and women in the nation.
With early diagnosis and advanced treatment methods,There is a high survival rate. If the cancer is confined to a single region, it has about an 83% survival rate. Even the most advanced stage of has a survival rate greater than 60%.
Understanding Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and other types of Lymphoma:
Lymph: Fluid that carries lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, through the body in a network of lymph vessels, which are like tiny veins. Lymph helps fight against infection and cancer.
Lymph nodes: Tiny, bean-shaped masses in the underarm, pelvis, neck, abdomen and groin. They filter lymph and store white blood cells to help the body fight disease.
Spleen: An organ on the left side of the abdomen that makes lymphocytes, stores blood cells and gets rid of old blood cells.
B-cell lymphoma is the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and makes up 85% cases.
This extremely rare type of lymphoma can either be considered a form of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or lymphoma, depending on the amount of bone marrow involvement. This disease tends to start behind the breastbone, in front of the heart. It can grow into a large tumor in the chest that can cause difficulty breathing. It is typically treated with chemotherapy.
These are lymphomas of the skin, and topical therapy may be used as an initial treatment. There may be simultaneous or progressive involvement of blood or lymph nodes.
This lymphoma is directly related to infection with HTLV-1 virus and is mostly limited to countries where that virus is more common, such as the Caribbean, Japan and parts of Africa.
This type of T-cell lymphoma makes up roughly 4% of all lymphomas. It involves the lymph nodes and liver or spleen. It can cause fever, skin rashes, weight loss and infection. It progresses quickly and often recurs.
This disease is usually found in the nose and upper throat, but can attack the skin and other organs. It’s more heavily concentrated in South America and parts of Asia.
This is a type of lymphoma found in the lining of the digestive tract and can cause abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. It can occur in the colon, but is more common in the small intestine.
Two subtypes exist:
Type 1 EATL – This subtype can occur in people with celiac disease – an auto-immune disease that causes gluten consumption to prompt the body’s immune system to attack the intestinal lining. It’s more common in people with adult-onset celiac disease.
This is a fast-growing T-cell lymphoma. It occurs more often in young people than adults and accounts for about 2% of lymphomas. It is categorized by subtype.
– This can affect the skin, as well as other organs.
It is further categorized based on whether there is a change in the ALK gene. ALK-positive trends younger and carries a more favorable prognosis than ALK-negative.
Implant-associated ALCL – This is a rare lymphoma that develops in the breasts of people who have had implants. Smooth, as opposed to textured, implant surfaces carry a reduced risk.
This is a catch-all term for T-cell lymphomas that don’t fit into the other categories. These lymphomas can involve the digestive tract, spleen, liver, skin and bone marrow, but often involve lymph nodes. They are more likely to be found in patients in their 60s. They are generally widespread, fast-growing and over time become difficult to treat even after initially responding well to treatment.
What ACH provides you:
At ACH, our goal is to treat you with methods that are strong on the disease, but as gentle as possible on your body. Our doctors, nurses, and advanced practice providers are focused and specialize only in lymphoma or myeloma.
For many patients with this type of cancer, the goal of treatment is cure – to completely wipe out the disease so that it never comes back. For other patients, the most effective course is to keep knocking back the disease over a period of many years. In these cases, personalized long-term care plans are especially important. In these situations, in addition to thinking about what to do to treat the cancer now, it is important to also think about what to do next and what other things to consider long-term.
Our multidisciplinary approach brings together teams of specialized physicians, nurses, physician assistants, dietitians, social workers and many others, who work closely together – and with you – to improve your chances for successful treatment.