Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL)
Overview: Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), in basic terms, “is a cancer that starts in white blood cells called lymphocytes, which are part of the body’s immune system” (American Cancer Society, 2019). In this case, the lymphocytes affected begin abnormal multiplication and collect in various places of a person’s lymphatic system. When this happens, the lymphocytes affected can no longer be able to fight infections – effectively making the affected individual prone to a wide range of infections. As the American Cancer Society (2019) points out, although most of those affected by NHL happen to be adults, children could also suffer from this condition.
The cause of NHL could be traced to the DNA mutation of lymphocytes (Evens and Bloom, 2015). Why this mutation occurs is yet to be understood.
Symptoms: There are various signs and symptoms which could present as a consequence of NHL. These include, but they are not limited to: swollen lymph nodes (painless) in the neck, groin, or armpits area; weight loss that is largely unexplained; breathing difficulties and coughing; fever and fatigue that is persistent; and night sweats. It should, however, be noted that the presence of two or more symptoms in this case ought not to be directly interpreted as NHL. Indeed, as the American Cancer Society (2019) observes, some (or even several) of the symptoms of NHL could be an indication of an infection, or another condition.
Diagnosis and Treatment: In seeking to diagnose NHL, a biopsy is mostly performed. After biopsy, the tissue sample accessed is studied and examined for cells deemed cancerous. The presence of cancerous cells helps in the identification of the exact kind of NHL an individual has. This is of great relevance for treatment planning because the said treatment is largely dependent on both the NHL kind and the stage at which it is in. However, the more common treatment options in this case include chemotherapy, drug therapy, and radiation therapy.
References
American Cancer Society (2019). What Is Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma? Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/non-hodgkin-lymphoma/about/what-is-non-hodgkin-lymphoma.html
Evens, A.M. & Bloom, K.A. (Eds.). (2015). Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: Pathology, Imaging, and Current Therapy. New York, NY: Springer.
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