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Lymphoma

Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that affects lymphocytes (white blood cells). Lymphocytes help fight infection and some dome diseases. If you have lymphoma, abnormal lymphocytes collect and multiply in the lymph nodes, impairing your immune system.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of lymphoma, accounts for about 4% of all cancers, making it one of the most common cancers in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). 

At North Kansas City Hospital, we have experience treating lymphoma. We offer sophisticated treatment options and pride ourselves on providing compassionate and personalized care.

Types of Lymphoma

About half of the blood cancers that occur each year are lymphomas. The disease can affect various areas of the lymphatic system ­­— the lymph nodes and vessels, spleen, thymus bone marrow and tonsils – and other organs. 

There are two main types of lymphoma — Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

  • Hodgkin lymphoma (HL): Most common in young adults and people older than 75, Hodgkin Lymphoma also can affect children and adults of all ages.
  • Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL): This type of lymphoma occurs more often in males than females and people older than 60. NHL has two main subtypes: B lymphocytes (B cells) and T lymphocytes (T cells). B cells account for more than 80 percent of NHL diagnoses.

Lymphoma Risk Factors

Lymphoma risk factors increase your risk of developing NHL or HL lymphoma. Having these risk factors doesn’t mean you’ll develop the disease. You don’t have control of many of the lymphoma risk factors. However, knowing your risk factors can help you be more aware as you discuss your health with your doctor.

NHL risk factors include:

  • Certain infections, such as Epstein-Barr virus or human herpes virus
  • Family history of NHL
  • Gender, with risk higher for men
  • Older age, with most cases of the disease occurring in people ages 60 and older
  • Race, with white people more likely to develop NHL
  • Radiation exposure
  • Some autoimmune diseases, including celiac disease and rheumatoid arthritis
  • Weakened immune system

HL risk factors include:

  • Age, with it being more common when people are in their 20s and after age 44
  • Epstein-Barr virus infection
  • Family history of HL
  • Gender, with risk slightly higher for men
  • Weakened immune system

Symptoms of Lymphoma

Some people don’t have any symptoms of lymphoma in the early stages. As the cancer grows, you may notice symptoms. Having these symptoms doesn’t mean you have lymphoma. Many of these symptoms are like symptoms of less serious infections and diseases. If you experience these symptoms, talk to your doctor.

Symptoms of lymphoma may include:

  • Drenching night sweats
  • Fatigue
  • Fever
  • Pain or pressure in the chest
  • Shortness of breath
  • Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, belly, armpits or groin
  • Unintended weight loss

Diagnostic Tests for Lymphoma

Our specialists will likely use several tests to diagnose lymphoma and gather information about how the disease affects you.

Lymphoma diagnostic tests may include:

  • Blood tests: A doctor may order blood tests to help determine whether lymphoma has advanced.
  • Bone marrow biopsy: A doctor will remove a small piece of bone and marrow for testing by a pathologist.
  • Imaging tests: A doctor may request imaging tests, such as an X-ray, CT scan, MRI or PET scan to look at suspicious areas, learn if the cancer has spread, help determine the treatment’s effectiveness and look for signs of cancer returning.
  • Lumbar puncture: A radiologist will withdraw cerebrospinal fluid to check if lymphoma cells have spread into fluid around the brain and spinal cord.
  • Lymph node biopsy: A doctor will remove a small piece or an entire lymph node for testing.
  • Urine tests: This test analyzes urine to detect various health issues.

Lymphoma Treatment Options

If you are diagnosed with lymphoma, we will create a deeply personalized treatment plan. This plan depends on the type of lymphoma you have and your general health. We offer many different treatments for lymphoma, some of which may be done at the same time.

We also offer clinical trials to develop new treatment concepts and help in research to advance medical science. Our dedicated research nurse coordinates treatments and investigative therapies with trial patients and oncologists.

Treatments for lymphoma cancer include:

  • Chemotherapy, which stops cancerous cells from growing or multiplying, is the main treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma and NHL, and may be used alone or in combination with other treatments
  • Immunotherapy, which harnesses the body’s immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells using monoclonal antibodies to treat Hodgkin lymphoma and NHL, and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy to treat some NHL subtypes
  • Radiation therapy, which is dependent on NHL’s location and subtype, and is often given in addition to chemotherapy for combined effectiveness 
  • Stem cell transplant, also known as bone marrow transplant, which may be used for HL patients whose disease has returned or not completely gone away after chemotherapy or radiation and is sometimes used for NHL patients who are in remission or who have relapsed during or after treatment