According to estimates, approximately 80,550 individuals will be diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma this year only.
Unfortunately, more than 20,000 individuals won’t make it, according to data from the American Cancer Society.
This cancer is one of the most common types. Though the statistics are alarming, not all news is bad. According to the ACS, the rates have reduced by a percent per year for this disease as of 2015.
From 2011 to 2020, the rate of death lowered by 2 percent per year.
Lymphoma may be treated successfully and most cases are treated, according to MD, MS, and hematologist Azra Borogovac who specializes in lymphoma and practices at the City of Hope Orange County Lennar Foundation Cancer Center.
The 5-year rate of survival of patients diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s is 71 percent. This percentage depends on the type of lymphoma. The same rate of survival for patients with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is 86 percent.
Lymphoma is a serious disease and requires work with a specialist who has the knowledge and knows the right methods for a positive outcome.
When you receive a diagnosis of this disease, it’s essential to find the right specialist. They’re experts in the latest and most effective therapies.
Lymphoma Explained
Lymphoma is an umbrella term encompassing dozens of cancers that develop in a part of the immune system of the body or the lymphatic system.
This is a system of organs, vessels, and tissues consisting of organs called nodules the size of a pea. There, the white blood cells cluster and they’re connected via vessels. Due to being widespread, the cancers of this system may start in any other part of the body.
The two major types are Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and 90 percent of those with lymphoma have non-Hodgkin’s.
The problem with this illness is that our immunity plays a role in the fight against cancer, but in this case, it’s the immune system that has cancer.
How to Recognize Lymphoma
Usually, there are no early-on symptoms of lymphoma. The diagnosis happens in the later stages.
They vary and may or may not include loss of appetite, rashes, tiredness, swollen abdomen, and weight loss. Due to being symptoms of so many other health issues, always consult your doctor for additional tests to determine the cause and start treatment as soon as possible.
According to the CDC, the symptoms of Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkin’s are swollen lymph nodes, particularly in the area of the body where the lymphoma begins to grow.
Other possible signs may include tiredness, night sweating, weight loss, and fever. Another common tell-tale sign of this cancer is a lump you can feel in the lymph glands, mostly in the neck, groin, or armpits.
These lumps are mostly painless and rubbery upon touch. Oftentimes, individuals with lymphoma may struggle with excessive tiredness and a feeling of being “run down”.
Hodgkin’s lymphoma is characterized by a lump in the neck, in the groin, or under the arm. This enlarged lymph node isn’t usually painful, but it may become after the consumption of alcohol.
Moreover, the lump may grow larger as time goes by and you may even notice another one growing near the first one or elsewhere in the body.
Hodgkin’s isn’t the most common reason for swollen lymph nodes. Sometimes, especially in kids, the reason is an infection. The nodes that grow due to infection are known as reactive notes which hurt upon touch.
When an infection is to blame, the node will usually shrink after the infection has been treated.
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