Main symptoms and treatment of lymphoma
Lymphomas are a group of oncological diseases affecting the lymphatic system and internal organs. A characteristic sign of the disease is an increase in lymph nodes. The term "lymphoma" unites two large groups of diseases - Hodgkin's lymphoma (lymphogranulomatosis) and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Treatment of lymphoma depends on the clinical manifestations and type of the disease.
Main reasons:
- viral infections;
- autoimmune diseases;
- genetic anomalies;
- age, gender;
- chemical influence.
Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas are most often diagnosed in people over 60 years old. Hodgkin's lymphoma affects young people under 30 and older people after 65, and men are diagnosed twice as often.
Classification, stages of lymphomas
According to the basic classification, lymphomas are divided into two types: Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The first has five subspecies, and the second has more than 30.
Lymphoma stages:
- local;
- local with damage to two or more lymph nodes;
- common with damage to internal organs;
- stage of irreversible changes.
The first two stages are considered local with damage to several lymph nodes localized on one side of the diaphragm. The third and fourth are characterized by damage to the lymph nodes on both sides of the diaphragm and the spread of the process to the internal organs. The fourth stage is massive damage to lymph nodes and internal organs (lungs, spleen, kidneys and stomach).
Symptoms of lymphoma in adults
The disease, regardless of the type, is characterized by the following manifestations:
- sharp weight loss;
- increased lymph nodes in the armpits and neck;
- intense sweating, especially at night;
- quick fatigue, weakness;
- increased temperature, unpleasant sensations in the area of lymph nodes;
- nausea, vomiting (not always).
The general picture can be supplemented with other symptoms depending on the type and stage of the disease.
The clinic of the disease in children is somewhat different from the symptoms of lymphoma in adults. For example, the main manifestations in childhood are pronounced symptoms of intoxication (lack of appetite, high temperature, drowsiness, fatigue), itchy skin and enlarged lymph nodes.
Diagnostics
After a thorough examination of the patient and taking an anamnesis, the doctor will draw up an examination plan, the mandatory points of which will be:
- general blood analysis and biochemistry;
- magnetic resonance imaging;
- computed tomography;
- tissue biopsy.
If necessary, the doctor can prescribe a cytogenetic study. However, the main analysis for making a diagnosis and choosing a treatment method is a microscopic examination of the lymphoid tissue obtained during a biopsy.
Make an appointment with a specialist and get answers to your questions - what is lymphoma, how is it diagnosed, and others. If necessary, you can undergo a full body examination in the clinic. Registration on our website Dobrobut.com.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the stage of the disease and the general condition of the patient. The main methods are: chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy. Chemotherapy for lymphoma is a priority direction that allows you to stop the process and achieve remission. Recently, doctors pay special attention to targeted therapy, which affects certain molecules that are in the cancer cell itself.
Prognosis for lymphoma depends on the type of disease and timeliness of treatment. After applying modern methods, more than 65% of patients have a favorable prognosis for the next five years.
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