What Is Lymphatic Cancer (Lymphoma) and Its Treatment Effects?
Lymphatic cancer is the cancer of lymph nodes. Like all cancers, it is the uncontrolled growth of cells in the vicinity of lymph nodes. Lymph nodes can be viewed as stopping points of lymphatic system. Lymphatic system basically carries fighting soldiers to whatever areas of your body whenever the body area is invaded or requires help to fight foreign intruders. The lymphatic system is a network of ‘highways’ starting from below the chin to the back of the neck, to underneath the armpits and then to the groin area and connects to the spinal cord.
Lymphatic cancer develops as lumps at the node areas, typically behind the neck, armpits and groin areas. Not all lymphomas grow in detectable areas. Once a lump develops careful monitoring is required. Whenever a lump occurs, it can be caused by
1) viral infection, which can be easily cured by a course of antibiotics and usually last only a week or two,
2) Tuberculosis, which detected at early stages can easily be cured, and which will require more specialized medical care and treatment,
3) Cancer, which can only be confirmed by a biopsy. If there are several lumps that have been growing for some time, it is vital to get the lumps checked out by a Hematologist. Hematologists are specialized doctors dealing with blood disorders. Lymphoma is considered as a blood disorder. For other types of cancer, one would go to an oncologist.
Other noticeable signs are cold sweats at night, lost of appetite, drastic weight loss and lethargy. Sometimes these signs do not appear as in my case except for the lumps on base of the neck.
Like many other cancers, lymphomas are quite complicated and have different types and subtypes but generally lymphoma can be divided into two broad categories, namely Hodgkins and Non-Hodgkins. Hodgkins lymphoma is much more curable and the prognosis is very good.
Conventional treatment applies for Lymphatic cancer – surgery and radiation – if the cancer is fairly isolated typically only in stage 1 (more on staging later). Chemotherapy followed by radiation for cancer that is not so widespread in the body. If the cancer is in a fairly advanced stage as in stage 3 and 4, then a full course of Chemotherapy treatment is required, as was in my case.
Staging in lymphoma is different from other types of cancer. Stage 1 is cancer found on one part in one section of the body either above or below the diaphragm. If the cancer has appeared in more than one place on same side of the diaphragm, then it has gone to stage 2. Stage 3 means the cancer has spread to the abdomen and groin areas above and below the diaphragm. Stage 4 means that the cancer has been detected in the bone marrow. Stage 3 is already considered advanced stage.
Once a biopsy has confirmed that a tumour is cancerous, a CT scan is usually performed to stage the cancer. In lymphomas, a bone marrow tap is usually done to check if the bone marrow carries the cancer as well. CT scans are also performed at regular intervals during Chemotherapy to determine the treatment’s efficacy. If the current treatment is not effective, doctors will switch to another Chemotherapy regimen. At the end of the treatment, a final CT scan and PET scan are conducted to confirm absence of cancerous cells. The words “No cancerous cells detected” are the sweetest words one can ask for.
Chemotherapy treatment can last between six to eight months and a month more to recuperate from the onslaught of Chemotherapy. Most people will give up work to focus on the treatment. As in my case, Chemotherapy was once every two weeks. The first week immediately after Chemotherapy is the worst.
Most of the time, I was too weak to keep awake. As time passed, strength returned and by the second week, I could manage a short walk. After that the whole process starts all over again.
Towards the end of the Chemotherapy, the body would have been pretty badly savaged by the Chemo poison. One often lands up feeling very different after Chemotherapy, and it takes months to get back toany normalcy. The speed of recovery from Chemotherapy really depends on one’s physical and mental strength.
Chemotherapy, as it is often called – “It is a marathon”
Th Ong has fought cancer and won. He shares his story and his research to prevent cancer in the first place. He gives his book OnTopOfCancer for Free on the internet at http://ontopofcancer.blogspot.com/
Recommended Reading
- lymphatic cancer
- Lymphatic Cancer Definition
- Lymphoma Awareness Products
- Non-Hodgkin – Free Book
- Apocaps CX Apoptogen Formula for Dogs (90 capsules)
- Hodgkin Lymphoma – Enhanced Edition: Learn What Is Cause, Risk Factors, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment and Health Care (Illustrated)
- 21st Century Adult Cancer Sourcebook: Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) including Burkitt Lymphoma and Others – Clinical Data for Patients, Families, and Physicians
- Johns Hopkins Patients’ Guide to Lymphoma
- Dying to Have Known
- Diagnostic Pathology: Lymph Nodes and Spleen with Extranodal Lymphomas: Published by Amirsys
- Intestinal Lymphoma
- lymph nodes
Lymphatic Cancer Treatment
Lymphatic cancers (also known as lymphomas) are cancers of the body’s immune system. Lymphomas can be divided into two categories: Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which have slightly different characteristics and cancer treatment plans.
Surgery
Radiation
Chemotherapy
Immunotherapy
Stem Cell Transplants
Lymphatic cancer treatment for most patients with early stage Hodgkin’s disease is high-energy radiation of the lymph nodes. Research has shown that radiation therapy to large areas at high doses (3,500 to 4,500 rads) is more effective in preventing relapse than radiation of the diseased nodes alone.
Combination chemotherapy also is effective in the treatment of early stage Hodgkin’s disease. In addition, chemotherapy is the treatment of choice for advanced (stages III and IV) Hodgkin’s disease and for patients who have relapsed after radiotherapy. Drugs and radiation are sometimes given together, mainly in treating patients with tumors in the chest or abdomen.
Lymphatic Cancer Natural Treatment
Lymphatic cancer or lymphoma is cancer of the lymph nodes or lymph glands. The most common treatments for lymph node cancer are chemotherapy and radiation. However, some people have opted for natural treatments in hopes to cure the disease.
Fruit Juices
To help in the lymphatic cancer treatment, fruit juices and water will help by detoxifying the body according to practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine. While detoxifying your body it is advised not to consume any coffee or alcohol.
Vegetables
Traditional Chinese medical professionals believe there are many vegetables that can assist in detoxifying the body such as carrots, beets and mushrooms. By eating a combination of vegetables you are not only detoxifying your body, you are also healing your body of other possible ailments.
Echinacea
Echinacea may help in boosting the immune system and has been prescribed by professionals for several decades. Whether deciding to use all natural treatments or using medical treatments, echinacea will help in keeping the immune system working to prevent contracting other diseases and viruses.
Pau d’Arco
Pau d’arco will aide in preventing and coping with any pain that you may feel with lymphatic cancer. Pau d’arco is taken orally three to five times a day.
Red Clover
Red clover is taken orally. Red clover works as a detoxifier by ridding the body of unnecessary toxins in the body. Many physicians prescribe red clover when a patient is undergoing chemotherapy treatments, per “Herbal Remedies.”
Baths
Steam baths and cold baths help release tense muscles. The use of baths both steam and cold also help in detoxifying the body. Some choose to use salts in their baths to promote invigorating skin.
Immunologic Approaches to the Classification and Management of Lymphomas and Leukemias (Cancer Treatment and Research)
publisher: Springer, published: 1988-05-31
ASIN: 0898383552
EAN: 9780898383553
sales rank: 5902498
price: $175.00 (new), $0.01 (used)
Selective Sentinel Lymphadenectomy for Human Solid Cancer (Cancer Treatment and Research)
publisher: Springer, published: 2005-03-21
ASIN: 0387236031
EAN: 9780387236032
sales rank: 4019283
price: $0.94 (new), $0.95 (used)
In human solid cancer, the lymph node (LN) status is the most important prognostic indicator for the clinical outcome of patients. Recent developments in the sentinel lymph node (SLN) concept and technology have resulted in the application of this revolutionary approach to define the first draining or SLN to which the cancer may have metastasized.
The underlying thesis in solid cancer biology is that metastasis generally starts in an orderly progression, spreading through the lymphatic channels to the SLN in the nearest LN basin. Thus, the logical approach is to harvest that specific SLN for thorough analysis. Because a tumorfree SLN is usually associated with a negative residual LN basin, a negative SLN is an excellent indication that micrometastasis has not occurred in the regional LNs.
When the SLN is involved, it is unknown whether or not metastasis is limited only to the SLN or if the disease has spread to the remainder of the nodal basin. For this reason, if a SLN is positive, a complete lymph node dissection is recommended. Therefore, selective sentinel lymphadenectomy (SSL) should be considered as a staging procedure so that patients with negative SLNs (about 80%) may be spared an extensive LN dissection. Malignant melanoma has been proven to be the most ideal tumor model to study the role of SLN.
Subsequently, SSL has been applied to breast cancer, colon cancer and other types of solid cancer. The multidisciplinary approach encompassing the surgeon, nuclear medicine physician, and pathologist is the key to such a successful procedure. Such a team can be formed readily with appropriate training. Beyond the technical aspects of harvesting the SLN, the implication of micrometastasis remains to be defined. Because the follow-up of melanoma and breast cancer patients after SSL is crucial, ongoing clinical trials are in progress to determine the biological and clinical significance of SLNs.
Although the concept of SLN is viable in other types of cancer, such as gynecological and gastrointestinal, the technical aspects of the procedure need to be perfected and verified. The most exciting possibility of SSL is that it will lead to early diagnosis of micrometastasis in regional LNs. Early diagnosis makes it useful as a clinical staging procedure, and opens up new opportunities to study micrometastasis and its evolution within the SLNs.
Examining the multifaceted aspects of micrometastasis, such as differentiation of different clones with respect to the primary tumor, acquisition of adhesion molecules, and host interaction with the microscopic tumor, will shed new light on the biology of early metastasis. New molecular and genetic tools may be used to dissect the mechanisms of lymphatic and hemo togenous routes of metastasis.
If such mechanisms can be understood, new therapeutic advances may be developed to prevent the process of micrometastasis. Rather than targeting larger tumor burdens such as Stage IV disease, targeted adjuvant clinical trials can be developed for high risk patients following definit ive surgical resection. SSL is a standard staging procedure for patients with melanoma and is rapidly evolving into a standard procedure for breast cancer as well.
Recommended Reading
- lymphatic cancer
- Non-Hodgkin – Free Book
- Apocaps CX Apoptogen Formula for Dogs (90 capsules)
- Hodgkin Lymphoma – Enhanced Edition: Learn What Is Cause, Risk Factors, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment and Health Care (Illustrated)
- 21st Century Adult Cancer Sourcebook: Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) including Burkitt Lymphoma and Others – Clinical Data for Patients, Families, and Physicians
- Johns Hopkins Patients’ Guide to Lymphoma
- Dying to Have Known
- Diagnostic Pathology: Lymph Nodes and Spleen with Extranodal Lymphomas: Published by Amirsys
- Lymphoma Survivor: Boxing Cat Women’s Cap Sleeve T Health Women’s Cap Sleeve T-Shirt by CafePress
- Extranodal Lymphomas: Expert Consult – Online and Print, 1e
- Lime Green Ribbon Bear w/ Ribbon (12 Teddy Bears)
- lymph nodes
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