Lymphoma is cancer originating in the infection-fighting cells of the human body that make up the immune system. These cells are the lymphocytes that can be found in our spleen, thymus, lymph nodes, bone marrow, etc.
If you know the causes and diagnosis of lymphoma, you will see that this condition is quite treatable depending on the types of lymphoma you have and the stage at which the lymphoma is in.
You have to identify the causes and diagnosis of lymphoma to detect what type of lymphoma you have, whether it is the Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma or Hodgkin’s lymphoma. These two types deal with different kinds of lymphocytes, and each type grows at a distinct speed and responds differently to a treatment.
Causes
While you cannot pinpoint all possible causes of lymphoma, you are more likely to develop this condition if the following facts apply to you:
- If you Happen to be in your 60 and older, you are likely to get the Non-Hodgkin’s variety.
- If you are between 15-40 years or above 55 years for Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
- If you happen to be a man although women too get the subtypes.
- When you suffer from an already weakened immune system or if you have a congenital immune disease.
- This condition may develop when you have a very close relative who had this condition earlier/
- If you have immune system-related conditions like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease, or Sjögren’s syndrome.
- If you were exposed to chemicals like pesticides or benzene
- If you had been treated for the same condition, either Hodgkin’s or Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in the past
- If you have undergone radiation during cancer treatment.
- If you have prone to certain infections that are associated with a heightened risk of this condition, like Helicobacter pylori infection or Epstein-Barr virus.
Diagnosis
For diagnosis, your doctor will ask questions like how you had been feeling, whether there is any pain, loss of appetite, tiredness or general weakness, and what your other existing medical problems are. He will also want to know your medical history and current ongoing treatments, your family’s medical history, and then carry out a physical examination. This is for checking if lymph nodes are swollen.
You may be advised to get a lymph node biopsy for checking whether there are cancerous cells. To do this, the doctor is going to remove either a part or all of a lymph node, or they may use a needle for taking out some tissue from affected nodes.
- A CT scan may be done along with an MRI to detect additional tumors and enlarge lymph nodes.
- A chest X-ray will use radiation for getting images of your chest on the inside.
- An MRI will focus on using powerful radio and magnetic waves for making images of the internal organs and body structures.
- A PET scan uses radioactive substances for detecting the body’s cancer cells.
- Blood tests will check for numbers of specific cells, the levels of some substances, and possible infection in the blood.
- Molecular tests are done to detect changes in proteins, genes, and other substances within cancerous cells to allow the doctor identify the type of lymphoma.