lymphoma

Understanding the causes and symptoms of lymphoma, effective treatment, and improve survival rates

Lymphoma is one of the top ten cancers in Hong Kong. It is a blood cancer that affects lymphocytes. Lymphocytes are white blood cells that are distributed throughout the body and form part of the immune system, so lymphoma can occur anywhere in the body.

The causes of lymphoma include: genetic diseases, environmental pollution, viral and bacterial infections, immune system disorders, etc. The early symptoms of lymphoma may be subtle, so it is often ignored or not discovered until later stages, and may have spread to the bone marrow and other organs. Currently, lymphoma is mainly divided into two categories: "Hodgkin's lymphoma" and "Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma". In Hong Kong, the majority of patients are "Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma". Early diagnosis and treatment is very important. If patients can be diagnosed and treated early, the survival rate is generally higher. Currently, there are a variety of clinical diagnosis and treatment methods for lymphoma. The best diagnosis and treatment method needs to be determined according to the condition.

Survival Rate of Lymphoma

According to the latest analysis from the Hong Kong Cancer Registry, the mortality rate for patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in Hong Kong is the 8th highest among the top ten, and the survival rate for most patients is still quite high.

Chronic lymphoma

For relatively slow-growing tumors, most patients can survive for 5-10 years even without treatment.

Malignant lymphoma

The disease progresses very rapidly; without proper treatment, patients can lose their lives within months.

Hodgkin's lymphoma

87%

5-year survival rate

Symptoms of Lymphoma

The most common symptom of lymphoma is swollen lymph nodes.
Swollen lymph nodes usually appear in the neck, armpits, or groin area. These are typically painless lumps that lie close to the skin.

Patients may not be aware that they have lymphoma. Furthermore, lymphoma can cause unexplained fever and sweating, symptoms that are often more pronounced at night. Other symptoms of lymphoma include:

Chest pain, bone pain or allodynia
Cough and shortness of breath
Lymph node enlargement: can occur in one or more lymph nodes, most commonly in the neck, armpits, and groin.
Fever
Loss of appetite
Unexplained weight loss
Excessive sweating, especially at night
Persistent fatigue or tiredness
Skin irritation or itching

It is worth noting that some diseases may also present with the same symptoms, such as tuberculosis and autoimmune diseases. Therefore, if you find that you have the above symptoms, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Causes of Lymphoma

The human body is filled with lymphatic vessels and lymphatic glands, and lymphocytes circulate throughout various organs and tissues to fight off pathogens. When lymphocytes become malignant and divide and proliferate uncontrollably, these abnormal lymphocytes gradually replace normal cells, weakening the immune system's ability to fight off pathogens.
At the same time, the lymph nodes can enlarge and form painless tumors, namely lymphoma.

Genetic Diseases

Such as Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome

Environmental Pollution

Environmental carcinogens, such as radiation

Viral infection

Such as HIV and Epstein-Barr herpesvirus

Bacterial Infection

Such as Helicobacter pylori

Chemical drugs

Long-term exposure to certain chemicals

Immune System Disorders

Disorders of the body's immune system

Lymphoma Screening and Evaluation

Preliminary Inspection

Palpation: The doctor will touch the neck, armpits, chest, or groin to check for swelling.
Needle-assisted biopsy: Insert a needle into the tumor and remove a small piece of tissue.

Individuals at high risk for lymphoma are advised to undergo regular check-ups to identify early cancerous cells, which can lead to earlier detection and treatment, thereby improving survival rates.

Further Evaluation

If the patient is diagnosed with lymphoma, the doctor will conduct further in-depth clinical examination tumor assessment to understand where the cancer cells are present in the body.

Blood Test: A blood sample is taken to examine the number of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. A low blood count may indicate the lymphoma has spread to the bone marrow. The analysis of blood count also enables the doctor to diagnose if the liver and kidneys have been affected by the cancer cells.
Chest X-ray: Check if it has spread to the lymph nodes in the chest or lungs.
Throat examination: Examine the tonsils and other parts of the throat, and observe whether the lymph nodes are swollen.
Bone marrow sample: After giving the patient local anaesthesia, the doctor will extract samples of bone and bone marrow to test for the presence of lymphoma cells under a microscope.
Ultrasound scan: The instrument outputs high-frequency sound waves, and the collected echoes are converted into images by a computer to show whether there are any abnormalities in the relevant parts.
CT scan: It is another type of X-ray diagnosis. Multiple pictures of the patient's chest and abdomen are taken and imported into the computer to generate detailed images of the body.
Positron emission tomography (PET) scan: Positron emission tomography (PET) scan: A positron emission tomography scan is a functional medical imaging test that provides detailed information about the function of a body organ or system. It is often used to evaluate cancer, brain neurological disorders, and cardiovascular disease. Before the scan, the radiologist will inject radioactive isotope medicine into the patient's body. During the scanning process, a special camera will detect the amount of radiation released by the drug, and then a computer will construct a multi-dimensional image of the inspected area. Radioisotope drugs often accumulate in diseased tissue rather than healthy tissue.
Lumbar puncture: Doctors use fine needles to extract samples from the patient's spine for laboratory testing to observe whether the central nervous system carries any lymphoma cells.

Doctors will determine the type and stage of lymphoma based on the location of the lymphoma, the number of affected lymph nodes, and whether it has spread to other lymph nodes or tissues, and will then decide on the most suitable treatment method for the patient.

Treatment of Lymphoma

The treatment for lymphoma depends on the type of lymphoma the patient has, and the appropriate treatment method will be determined accordingly.

Chemotherapy refers to the administration of anti-cancer drugs intravenously or orally. The drugs will then circulate through the bloodstream to various body parts, destroying or inhibiting the division and proliferation of cancer cells. If the cancer has slow growth, the patient may take oral drugs at home or stay in the hospital for a short period to receive intravenous injections. If the cancer has rapid growth, multiple drugs have to be injected intravenously for several days, and then stopped for a few weeks to let the body recover from the side effects.

Radiology utilizes high-energy radiation to destroy cancer cells and stop their division. The doctor will mark the treatment area on the patient’s skin. The duration of treatment depends on the type and size of the lymphoma.

Targeted Therapy targets the CD20 receptor and is designed to identify unique growth factor receptors to prevent tumor cell growth. Targeted drugs work like a key fitting a specific lock, thus having less impact on normal cells while effectively stopping cancer cell growth and spread.

If the above treatments are ineffective or if there is a relapse after treatment, this option may be necessary. High-dose chemotherapy can destroy the bone marrow, but transplanting stem cells from the bloodstream or bone marrow can help restore normal blood cell counts.

After receiving treatment, patients need to undergo regular check-ups, initially perhaps once a month, with the frequency gradually decreasing. In addition to maintaining a balanced diet, moderate exercise, and rest, patients should also pay attention to personal hygiene, minimize exposure to crowded places, and avoid further viral infections. If any abnormalities or symptoms arise, they should seek medical attention promptly.

Recovery and Rehabilitation of Lymphoma

Lymphoma Protection

Protecting against lymphoma requires maintaining a regular lifestyle to keep the body functioning normally, leaving no opportunity for tumors to grow.

Exercise moderately: Choose appropriate exercise based on your physical condition. The amount of exercise should be such that you do not feel fatigued.
Maintain a healthy diet: Choose easily digestible foods and avoid picky eating and overeating.
Stay optimistic: Appropriately reduce stress and relieve mental tension

Lymphoma FAQ

What changes occur in your body when you have lymphoma?

Common symptoms of lymphoma include swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, or groin. This is usually, but not always, painless and may be accompanied by fever, unexplained weight loss or night sweats, sometimes chills, and persistent fatigue. Lymphoma symptoms are often difficult to detect, and because lymphatic tissue is distributed throughout various organs of the body, tumors can occur in any organ or tissue. Therefore, individuals at high risk for lymphoma should be especially vigilant and undergo regular checkups to identify early-stage cancerous cells for earlier diagnosis and treatment, thus improving survival rates.

Which type of lymphoma has the highest survival rate?

The 5-year survival rate for patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma is 87%. If the cancer is detected at its earliest stage, the 5-year survival rate will be 91%.

What are the methods for diagnosing and treating lymphoma?

Currently, there are various methods for treating lymphoma. First-line treatments often involve chemotherapy drugs, which may also be combined with radiation therapy. Traditionally, chemotherapy has been the primary treatment, and some patients may undergo autologous stem cell transplantation after high-dose chemotherapy. Additionally, some patients may also use targeted drugs, with anti-CD20 targeted drugs being common.

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