General Information About Lymphoma
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is the formation of tumors in lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, or other organs by lymphocyte cells, the soldiers of the immune system, becoming cancerous.
They are differentiated based on the cell type under the microscope after a biopsy. In Hodgkin Lymphoma, giant, abnormal cells called 'Reed-Sternberg' cells are found, and it is generally more predictable and much easier to treat. Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL), on the other hand, is more common, has many subtypes, and tends to spread more diffusely throughout the body.
Absolutely not. Lymph nodes in the neck swell even with a tooth decay or a simple throat infection, but these swellings are painful and shrink once the germ passes. Lymphoma swellings, however, are typically painless, rubbery, progressively growing swellings that do not recede for weeks.
Along with painless lymph node swelling, 3 classic signs known as 'B symptoms' are observed in the patient:
1. Unexplained, persistent, high Fever.
2. Severe Night Sweats that can drench the bedsheets.
3. Weight Loss of more than 10% of body weight in the last 6 months without dieting. Constant fatigue and severe skin itching are also common.
Definitive diagnosis is made by a Lymph Node Biopsy (Excisional Biopsy). Instead of taking a piece with a needle, completely removing the swollen lymph node surgically and examining it in pathology is the gold standard. A PET-CT scan and a bone marrow biopsy are performed to see the spread of the disease in the body (staging).
The treatment success rate is very high. The basic treatment is a combination of Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy (Radiation) applied to the diseased area. Today, Immunotherapy (Smart drugs/Monoclonal antibodies), which directly targets cancer cells and provokes the immune system against the tumor, is routinely used. In recurrent resistant cases, Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation (Bone Marrow Transplant) is performed using healthy stem cells taken from the patient's own blood, resetting the disease.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
