TREATMENT for the non-HODGKIN's

     Treatment for the non-hodgkin's mostly are biopsy's..the way they treat different type of cancer. But of course biopsis focused on the affected part of the body in which case in these disease it will be the lymph nodes.

Lymph node biopsy: The removal of all or part of a lymph node. A pathologist views the tissue under a microscope to look for cancer cells. One of the following types of biopsies may be done:

Excisional biopsy: The removal of an entire lymph node.
Incisional biopsy: The removal of part of a lymph node.

Core biopsy: The removal of part of a lymph node using a wide needle.
Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy: The removal of bone marrow, blood, and a small piece of bone by inserting a needle into the hipbone or breastbone. A pathologist views the bone marrow, blood, and bone under a microscope to look for signs of cancer.
Liver function tests: A procedure in which a blood sample is checked to measure the amounts of certain substances released into the blood by the liver. For non-Hodgkin lymphoma, the blood is checked for an enzyme called lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). LDH levels help determine prognosis (chance of recovery).

Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options.

The prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options depend on the following:

• The stage of the cancer.

• The type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

• The patient’s age and general health.

• Whether the lymphoma has just been diagnosed or has recurred (come back).

• Prognosis also depends on the level of LDH in the blood.

TREATMENT for PREGNANT patients

For non-Hodgkin lymphoma during pregnancy, the treatment options also depend on:

• The wishes of the patient.

• Which trimester of pregnancy the patient is in.

• Some types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma spread more quickly than others do.

Most non-Hodgkin lymphomas that occur during pregnancy are aggressive. Delaying treatment of aggressive lymphoma until after the baby is born may lessen the mother's chance of survival. Immediate treatment is often recommended, even during pregnancy.

symptoms..non-hodgkin's

    Here are some symptoms you should watch out for detecting non-hodgkin's lymphoma. In any case, any of these appears to you, don't jump into conclusion and scare yourself..a visit to your doctor is still the main thing to do to confirm becuase these symptoms may also be a symptoms to other kinds of diseases.

Anything that increases your risk of getting a disease is called a risk factor. Having a risk factor does not mean that you will get cancer; not having risk factors doesn’t mean that you will not get cancer. People who think they may be at risk should discuss this with their doctor. Risk factors for adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma include the following:

1. Being older, male, or white.

2. Having one of the following medical conditions:

• An inherited immune disorder (for example, hypogammaglobulinemia or Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome). (no idea what that is, maybe I should research that too :D)
• An autoimmune disease (for example, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, or Sjögren syndrome). (Nope.)
• HIV /AIDS. (hahaha, now I feel good, know what I mean? I may not have non-hodgkin’s then..^_^)
• Human T-lymphotrophic virus type I or Epstein-Barr virus.

• A history of Helicobacter pylori infection.
• Taking immunosuppressant drugs after an organ transplant.
• Being exposed to certain pesticides.
• A diet high in meats and fat.
• Past treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma.
• Possible signs of adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma include fever, sweating, fatigue, and weight loss. (well, I gained weight now. :)

These and other symptoms may be caused by adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Other conditions may cause the same symptoms. A doctor should be consulted if any of the following problems occur:
 

• Painless swelling in the lymph nodes in the neck, underarm, groin, or stomach.
• Fever for no known reason.
• Drenching night sweats.
• Feeling very tired.
• Weight loss for no known reason.
• Skin rash or itchy skin.
• Pain in the chest, abdomen, or bones for no known reason.
• Tests that examine the body and lymph system are used to help detect (find) and diagnose adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

The Fear of Ilness - NON-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

     Have you ever fear of getting a very serious disease? Well, I am. I am always afraid of being sick, of being futile, of being a burden to my love ones. It scared me to death whenever I feel something peculiar, something strange in me.

     Have you read my entries before, about me being sick? That I was once diagnosed of hypothyroidism and then later on it changed to TB Adenitis? I was so afraid of that time. I fear that having thyroidism I might undergo operation. That my throat might swell. Thank God it didn’t. Then when the test result said I was positive of TB? What the Heck, I didn’t sleep for 2 days until I learned that it was adenitis and the doctor assured me that it was not contagious, that it was different than the common TV.

     I became curious of different disease since then. That whenever I heard of an illness so alien to me I always look it up in Google and try to learn all I can get about the certain disease.

     I was reading a book one day and one of the characters there is said to have this certain disease I am not aware of, or rather, I don’t have much knowledge about. It is called non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. I don’t have any indication of what that is. All it said there is that it is some kind of cancer. And I gather from the word lymphoma that it may concern some lymph nodes. Just like the one I have before…TB Adenitis…that I am glad I am cured…^_^

     So I looked up at Mr Google and here are some facts I gathered about this non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma: Any of a large group of cancers of lymphocytes (white blood cells). Non-Hodgkin lymphomas can occur at any age and are often marked by lymph nodes that are larger than normal, fever, and weight loss.

There are many different types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. These types can be divided into aggressive (fast-growing) and indolent (slow-growing) types, and they can be formed from either B-cells or T-cells. B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas include Burkitt lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, immunoblastic large cell lymphoma, precursor B-lymphoblastic lymphoma, and mantle cell lymphoma. T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas include mycosis fungoides, anaplastic large cell lymphoma, and precursor T-lymphoblastic lymphoma. Lymphomas that occur after bone marrow or stem cell transplantation are usually B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Prognosis and treatment depend on the stage and type of disease. Also called NHL.

There are many different types of lymphoma.

Lymphomas are divided into two general types: Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the lymph system.

Age, gender, and a weakened immune system can affect the risk of developing adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Treatment also differ in different types of lymphomas and the age of the victim.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in pregnant women is the same as the disease in non-pregnant women of childbearing age. However, treatment is different for pregnant women.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma can occur in both adults and children. Treatment for children, however, is different than treatment for adults.

    In my next posts will be more additional information about these disease. Parts or lymps that are mostly affected, diagnosis or signs, and treatments. So hold on and join me in learning this disease..^_^