What is Lymphoma Cancer Hodgkin and NonHodgkins Lymphomas
What is lymphoma? It is actually a group of cancers that develops in the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is part of your immune system which fight off viruses that cause cancer. Lymphomas affect your white blood cells which are also called lymphocytes.
It is one of the 4 cancer classifications that include carcinoma, sarcoma and leukemia. There are 2 main types: Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkins lymphomas.
Both lymphomas grow particularly and usually in the B and T immune cells that are found in the lymph nodes. Both Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkins lymphomas can affect both children and adult.
What are the two main types of lymphomas?
The 2 major lymphomas are . . .
Hodgkin or HL
Hodgkin disease is a less common cancer than Nonhodgkins. It has 2 sub types and affects 2 age groups in particular - ages between 15 to 40 and 50 to 70.
Non-Hodgkin can develop at any age and is more common than Hodgkins. It is divided further into low, intermediate and high grades. It also has sub types - B cell and T cell lymphomas - depending on the progression of the cancer and the types of immune cells that are affected.
How do the Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkins lymphomas differ?
The 2 types differ in the particular lymphocyte that is involved.
What is lymphoma of the Hodgkins type?
In Hodgkin, a particular type of B cell of your lymphatic tissues is involved. This particular B cell is known as the Reed-Sternberg cell. This lymphocyte is not present in the Non Hodgkins type.
As the Reed-Sternberg grows, it attracts other normal B cells causing your lymph nodes to swell.
The distinction is important between Hodgkin and Non Hodgkins because the treatment for both types can be very different.
Can you die from lymphoma cancer?
Some types of lymphomas are indolent. They are inactive lymphomas. If you have the inactive type, you can live long without treatment.
Many lymphomas are high grade or aggressive. They can be fatal. Such types can cause rapid deterioration of your health and worse, death.
Burkitt type is one of the aggressive lymphomas. Prevention against the deadly types is extremely important.
A picture of cancer cells in Burkitt type
Both Hodgkins and Non-Hodgkin types have the same signs and symptoms of lymphoma. What is the prognosis for both Hodgkins and Non Hodgkin lymphomas? Lymphoma prognosis depends on the stage the cancerous cells are discovered.
With correct diagnosis (that includes type, stage and grade) and appropriate treatment for lymphoma, stages 1 and 2 have an 80% survival rate for at least 10 years. What is lymphoma 's survival rate if the disease has spread? You get a 5 year survival rate of 60%.
