Introduction To Lymphoma
Introductionto lymphomaIntroductionto lymphomaWhat is lymphoma?Tests and scansTreatment for lymphomaAfter treatmentFurther support
This book has been researched and written for you byLymphoma Action, the only UK charity dedicated topeople affected by lymphoma.We could not continue to support you, your clinicalteam and the wider lymphoma community, without thegenerous donations of our incredible supporters. As anorganisation we do not receive any government or NHSfunding and so every penny received is truly valued.To make a donation towards our work, please visitlymphoma-action.org.uk/Donate2
You might like to use the space below to note downkey contacts so that you can find them easily.Job title/contactName and contact detailsGeneralpractitioner (GP)Consultanthaematologistor oncologistClinical nurse specialist(CNS) or nurse contactTreatment centre orclinic receptionHospital out-of-hoursnumberHospital wardKey worker3
About this bookYou might be having tests for lymphoma or you might knowsomeone who’s been diagnosed. Whoever you are, howeveryou’re feeling, we’re here to support you.This book tells you what lymphoma is, and about the testsand treatment you might have. We’ve also included somequestions you might like to ask your doctor and space to addyour notes.You might want to read only the sections that are relevant toyou now and return to others if you need to.Important and summary points are written in the chapter colour.Gives practical tips.Gives space for questions and notes.Lists other useful resources.Lists useful videos to watch.This book uses some scientific words. Words that are shownin bold purple are explained in the glossary on pages 65 to 67.The information in this book can be madeavailable in large print.4
ContentsWhat is lymphoma?Tests for lymphoma721Treatment for lymphoma35After treatment53Glossary65Information and support685
I had no idea what lymphoma was when I was firstdiagnosed. I felt panicked and fearful. My brain was inshock and I couldn’t take in the information from mydoctors. My wife found out about lymphoma throughLymphoma Action. What really helped me was getting intouch with others who were affected by lymphoma.Malcolm, diagnosed with low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma6
What is lymphoma?Common symptoms of lymphoma8How cancer develops11What kind of cancer is lymphoma?12What causes lymphoma?14Types of lymphoma157
Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer. It’s the fifth mostcommon cancer in the UK. It can develop at any age.Lymphoma is nearly always treatable and people generallylive well for many years after their diagnosis.There are different types of lymphoma. Depending on whichtype you have and where it is in your body, it can causedifferent symptoms. Some people have no symptoms,however, and their lymphoma is found during tests foranother condition.Common symptoms of lymphomaThe symptoms of lymphoma can have other causes.Having one or more of these doesn’t necessarily mean thatyou have lymphoma.Swollen lymph nodesThe most common sign of lymphomais a lump or lumps, usually in the neck,armpit or groin. These lumps are swollenlymph nodes, sometimes known as‘glands’. Usually, they’re painless.8
FatigueFatigue is different to normal tiredness.It means feeling exhausted for noobvious reason or feeling washed outafter doing very little.Unexplained weight lossLosing a lot of weight quite quicklywithout trying to can be a symptomof lymphoma.InfectionsGetting infections more easily andhaving difficulty getting rid of them canbe a symptom of lymphoma.Tests,Whatscansislymphoma?and staging
SweatsSweats can happen at any time ofthe day with lymphoma, but theyare most common at night. Theyare often described as ‘drenching’and can make your nightclothes orbed sheets soaking wet.ItchingItching (‘pruritus’) without a rashcan be a symptom of lymphoma.It can be very uncomfortable,particularly when you get hot.Some people get fevers (temperatures above 38 C or 100.4 F).Fevers often come together with night sweats and weightloss, but they can happen separately. They can also be a signof infection.Watch a short video about the common symptoms oflymphoma at lymphoma-action.org.uk/Symptoms10
How cancer developsThe human body is made up of many different cells, for exampleskin, bone and blood cells. As part of day-to-day life, cells growand divide to make new cells, replacing old cells that die offnaturally. This balance of cell division and cell loss is carefullycontrolled by chemical signals.Cancer develops when a mistake (mutation) happens duringcell division. This changes the genetic code (DNA) inside a cell.A genetic mutation can cause the cell to stop ‘listening’ to thechemical signals that control cell division. When this happens,cells can: divide and multiply when they shouldn’t keep dividing when they should stop stay alive when they should die.This breakdown in control leads to the build-up of a largenumber of abnormal (unhealthy) cells, which can form a cancer.Figure: How cancer developsTests,Whatscansislymphoma?and staging
What type of cancer is lymphoma?Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer. It develops in cells calledlymphocytes. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell thatfight infection. Healthy lymphocytes travel around your body inthe lymphatic system, which is part of your immune system.Lymphoma develops when lymphocytes grow out of control.They divide in an abnormal way or don’t die when they should,causing a group of lymphocytes to build up.What is the lymphatic system?The lymphatic system runs throughout your body. It includes: L ymph nodes, which are often found in groups. Lymphnodes contain lymphocytes. T he organs of your immune system, such as the thymusand spleen.12
Figure: The lymphatic systemTests,Whatscansislymphoma?and staging
Where does lymphoma develop?Lymphoma can develop anywhere in the body. U sually, lymphoma cells collect in lymph nodes, often in theneck, armpit or groin. T hey can also develop in lymph nodes and tissues (groups ofcells) that are deeper inside the body. I n some people, lymphoma develops in the bone marrow(the spongy tissue in the centre of larger bones where bloodcells are made). Although it’s less common, lymphoma can start in otherareas of your body, such as the breast, stomach, bowel, brainor liver. Rarely, lymphoma develops in the skin. This is known as skin(cutaneous) lymphoma.What causes lymphoma?Most of the time, it’s not possible to know the cause oflymphoma. This is because scientists think the geneticchanges that stop cells from listening to their control signalshappen by chance.There is no evidence that anything you have or haven’t donecaused your lymphoma.14
Some people with conditions that affect their immune systemhave a higher risk of developing lymphoma. This includespeople with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and thosewho have had an organ transplant.Can I pass on lymphoma?You can’t catch lymphoma and you can’t give it toother people. Most of the time, there isn’t a family historyof lymphoma.Types of lymphomaThere are two main types of lymphoma: Hodgkin lymphomaand non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Within these, there are lotsof subtypes.Based on your symptoms, your doctors might suspect that youhave lymphoma. However, you’ll need to have tests to be sure(see page 21). Tests help doctors find out as much as possibleabout your specific type of lymphoma. This helps to plan thebest treatment for you.Tests,Whatscansislymphoma?and staging
LymphomaHodgkin lymphomaNon-Hodgkin HodgkinlymphomaFigure: The main types of lymphomaHodgkin lymphomaOver 2,000 people are diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma eachyear in the UK. It affects slightly more males than females.Hodgkin lymphoma can develop at any age. Most people arediagnosed between the ages of 15 and 34, or over 60.Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)Nearly 14,000 people are diagnosed with NHL each year in theUK. In addition, almost 4,000 people each year are diagnosedwith chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), which is sometimesclassified as a form of NHL.16
In general, NHL affects slightly more men than women. The riskof developing NHL increases with age. Most people who arediagnosed are over 55. The highest rate of diagnosis is in peopleaged 80 to 84.NHL can be classified according to how quickly it’s growing.‘Low-grade’ or ‘indolent’ NHL grows slowly. ‘High-grade’ or‘aggressive’ NHL grows quickly.NHL can also be divided into two main types: B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas develop fromB lymphocytes (B cells). B cells make antibodies tofight infection. T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas develop fromT lymphocytes (T cells). T cells attack virusesand cancers.B-cell lymphomas are much more common thanT-cell lymphomas.Tests,Whatscansislymphoma?and staging
This table summarises differences between low-grade andhigh-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma.18Low-grade NHLHigh-grade NHLMost commonly affectspeople aged over 60.Most commonly affectspeople aged over 50.Most common types areCLL, follicular lymphomaand marginal zonelymphoma.Most common typeis diffuse large B-celllymphoma (DLBCL).Might not need treatmentstraightaway (known as‘active monitoring’ – seepage 37).Treatment often startssoon after a diagnosis.Can come back (relapse)after treatment, sotreatment usually aims tocontrol growth.The aim of treatment isusually to get rid of thelymphoma.
Questions to ask about your lymphoma W hat type of lymphoma do I have? W here in my body is the lymphoma? I s the lymphoma growing quickly? A re my symptoms caused by the lymphoma? W ill my symptoms go away once I start treatment? I s there anything I can do to help ease my symptoms? C an you prescribe anything to help with my symptoms? W hat is the outlook for my lymphoma? Is it curable?NotesTests,Whatscansislymphoma?and staging
I’d been tired for a long time, but explained it away. ThenI found I couldn’t run 50 metres without becoming out ofbreath. I’d run a marathon only a few months before.My doctor said my right lung wasn’t filling properly and sentme to A&E. After about 10 days of tests, including CT scans,X-rays and a bone marrow biopsy, I was diagnosed with cancer.Roger, diagnosed with high-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma20
Tests for lymphomaBiopsy22Blood tests23Bone marrow biopsy24Scans and X-rays24Waiting for test results26Staging of lymphoma28Your medical team3221
Your GP is often the first person you speak to if you feelunwell. They can examine you and ask you about anysymptoms you have, but they won’t be able to confirm ifyou have lymphoma; if it’s appropriate, you’ll be referred tohospital for tests to find out what’s wrong.Note that you might not have all of the tests described inthis section. The tests you have are suited to your individualsituation and based on the symptoms you are experiencing.BiopsyIn general, lymphoma can’t be confirmed without a smalloperation called a ‘biopsy’.A biopsy takes a sample of tissue from your body. A doctorcalled a ‘pathologist’ looks at it under a microscope to checkfor abnormal cells.You might have a whole lymph node removed during abiopsy, which is sometimes called an ‘excision’ biopsy. Anexcision biopsy is a minor operation, usually done undergeneral anaesthetic as an outpatient. You’re likely to be in thehospital for a few hours.22
Sometimes, a smaller sample of the lymph node is takenunder a local anaesthetic. This is called a ‘core biopsy’.The procedure is done as an outpatient procedure, guidedby an ultrasound.Biopsy results take between a few days to a few weeks tocome back. It might take longer if your sample needs to besent to another laboratory for further tests.If the biopsy shows that you have lymphoma, you’llbe referred to a specialist lymphoma doctor – either ahaematologist (who treats blood conditions including cancersof the blood) or an oncologist (who treats cancer).If lymphoma is confirmed, the next step is to find outwhich parts of your body it affects. This is called ‘staging’(see page 28).Blood testsDuring a blood test, a sample of your blood is taken. It is thensent to be tested in a laboratory. Blood tests help doctors findout more about your general health and how well your organsare working. This information helps to plan your treatment.Tests,Testsscansforandlymphomastaging
Bone marrow biopsyBone marrow is where blood cells are made, in the centre ofsome of your large bones. You might have a bone marrowbiopsy to check if there are lymphoma cells in your bonemarrow. This can affect which treatment you need.Doctors use a small, thin needle to take a sample of bonemarrow from your hip bone. The area is first numbed withlocal anaesthetic so that the procedure isn’t painful.Scans and X-raysScans give detailed pictures of the organs and lymph nodesin your body. Some types of scan are better than others atchecking different parts of the body.Doctors base their recommendation of the type of scan thatis best for you on several factors. These include the type oflymphoma you have, and where in your body it is.Different scans work in different ways: X-rays use high-energy radiation CT or CAT scans use X-rays and a computer PET scans use a radioactive sugar MRI scans use magnetic waves ultrasound scans use sound waves.24
CT scans and PET scans are the most frequently used types ofscan for lymphomas. They can be combined as a PET/CT, or youmight have both types of scan separately.Scans are painless. They can take between 15 to 90 minutes,although you might be asked to arrive early for anypreparation that’s needed beforehand.For around 6 hours after a PET or PET/CT scan, you mighthave very low levels of radioactivity in your body. As aprecaution, avoid close contact with pregnant women, babiesand young children during this time.Photo credit: The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation TrustAfter a CT scan, MRI scan, ultrasound or X-ray, you won’t beradioactive so it’s safe to be around others.Figure: A person having a scanTests,Testsscansforandlymphomastaging
Waiting for test resultsIt can take a couple of weeks for test results to come back.Although this can feel like a long wait, your doctors are findingout about your lymphoma so that they can plan the besttreatment for you.It felt like a long wait for results. It can be impossibleto stop the mind from wandering into all kinds ofthoughts. And I had them all. From the worst scenario tomore happy outcomes But then I made an importantdecision, to go with the flow and accept all thoughts, toneither deny them nor dismiss them.Paul, diagnosed with high-grade non-Hodgkin lymphomaWe have more information about waiting for test resultsat lymphoma-action.org.uk/Waiting26
Questions to ask about tests and scans W hat tests and scans are you recommending and why? W hat do the procedures involve? W here and when will I have them? A re they safe? A re they painful? If so, will I have an anaestheticor sedative? C an I drive myself home after the tests? D o I need to take time out of work, training or studiesafter the tests and scans? H ow long will the results take to come back? How will Iget them? W ho will explain the results to me?NotesTests,Testsscansforandlymphomastaging
Staging of lymphoma‘Staging’ is the process of working out where in your body thelymphoma is, or how ‘advanced’ it is. Tests and scans help totell the stage of your lymphoma. Staging helps doctors planyour treatment.Stage 1One set of lymph nodesis affected28Stage 2Two sets of lymph nodeson the same side of thediaphragm are affected
Most lymphomas are given a stage: 1, 2, 3 or 4. Sometimes,these are written in Roman numerals (I, II, III or IV). Adifferent staging system is used for skin lymphomas and forNHL in children.Stage 3Lymph nodes on both sidesof the diaphragm affectedStage 4Organs or bone marrow alsoaffected (having startedin nodes)Tests,Testsscansforandlymphomastaging
You might hear stages 1 and 2 called ‘early stage’ lymphoma.Stages 3 and 4 are often said to be at an ‘advanced stage’.The lymphatic system spreads throughout your body so it’snot uncommon for lymphoma to be advanced when it isdiagnosed. A higher stage does not mean it’s not treatable.Letters are sometimes added to the stage of lymphoma: A – you haven’t had any B symptoms B – you have B symptoms: weight loss, night sweats orfevers (temperatures over 38 C) E – ‘extranodal’, meaning the lymphoma started in an organoutside of your lymphatic system, such as in the digestivesystem or salivary glands.You might see the letter ‘X’ after your number. This meansthat the lymphoma measures above a certain size (dependingon its type) and is classed as large or ‘bulky’.30
Questions to ask about staging W hat stage is my lymphoma? I s it at an early or an advanced stage? H ow does the stage affect my treatment? W hat is the likely outlook?NotesTests,Testsscansforandlymphomastaging
Your medical teamYour care and treatment is managed by a team ofprofessionals who have different areas of specialistknowledge. Together, they are known as a ‘multidisciplinaryteam’ (MDT).The person with overall responsibility for your care is either aclinical oncologist or consultant haematologist. Your MDTmeets to discuss and plan your treatment. You’ll meet someof the team members but are unlikely to meet others, such aslaboratory staff.My clinical nurse specialist (CNS)gave me practical advice andemotional support that madea huge difference to me. Herexpertise gave me the strengthto believe I could get through mytreatment and manage my illness,and take back control of my life.Carole, diagnosed withlow-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma32
Your clinical nurse specialist (CNS) or key worker is often agood person to contact if you have questions or concerns.They can help you by: answering your questions or concerns, during andbetween appointments directing you to sources of practical support for helpwith things like work and finances telling you about social and emotional support, such aslocal support groups.Your GP can also help to explain information they get fromthe hospital and tell you about local support services.Tests,Testsscansforandlymphomastaging
I was put on active monitoring (watch and wait). At first,it was difficult for me and my family to understand why Iwasn’t being treated straightaway, but I now call it ‘watchand live’. I have appointments every 3 months and, despitestill finding it hard to live with, talking to people and tellingthem how I feel really helps.Kate, diagnosed with low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Treatmentfor lymphomaActive monitoring (watch and wait)37Chemotherapy40Steroids41Targeted drugs42Radiotherapy43Stem cell transplants44Clinical trials47Side effects of treatment5035
The treatment you have depends on the type and stage ofyour lymphoma, as well as on your general health.Lymphoma can be treated with drugs, such as chemotherapy,steroids and targeted therapies. It can also be treated withradiotherapy or a stem cell transplant. For some people, activemonitoring is recommended, which means you don’t havetreatment straightaway (see page 37).In addition to your lymphoma treatment, your medical teammight offer treatments to help with symptoms of lymphoma,or with the side effects of its treatment.Your multidisciplinary team (MDT) use your test results toguide them in planning your treatment. Your consultantshould talk you through: the aim of your treatment and whether it is to get rid ofyour lymphoma or to control its growth the type of treatment you’ll have when and where you’ll be treated.You should also have opportunities to talk about your feelingsand preferences, and to ask any questions.36
Tips for asking questions atyour appointments Think about what you’d like to ask beforehand. It canbe helpful to write questions down and to take themwith you. If you don’t understand the answer to your question,ask it again. As it can be difficult to remember lots of newinformation, note down key points to come back to later. Consider taking someone into your appointments withyou. As well as offering moral support, they could helpwith note-taking.Active monitoring (watch and wait)In some cases, doctors advise actively monitoring yourlymphoma rather than treating it straightaway. This issometimes called ‘watch and wait’ or ‘active surveillance’.‘Watch’ means you’ll have regular check-ups at the clinicto monitor your lymphoma. ‘Wait’ means waiting until thelymphoma begins to grow or affects your general healthbefore starting g
Usually, this approach is only suitable for some types ofslow-growing (low-grade) lymphomas.Although watch and wait can be difficult to understand,research shows that people do just as well in the long-term onwatch and wait as people who have treatment straightaway. Itcan also lower the risk of lymphoma cells becoming resistant(unresponsive) to treatment and avoid side effects.In addition, while you’re not having treatment, you’ll havefewer trips to hospital for treatment.We have more information about watch and wait on ourwebsite, including a video, atlymphoma-action.org.uk/ActiveMonitoringActive monitoring is goodnews for me. I don’t needto have treatment for thetime being as my cancer isn’taffecting other aspects ofmy life. Though I get anxiouswhen I detect a change inmy body, I know my medicalteam will respond quicklyshould I need treatment.Scott, diagnosed with low-gradenon-Hodgkin lymphoma38
Questions to ask aboutactive monitoring Why are you recommending active monitoring? Could my lymphoma worsen if I don’t have treatmentstraightaway? How often do I need check-ups? What happens during a check-up? What symptoms should I look out for between check-ups? Who should I contact if I’m worried about symptoms? If my lymphoma starts to grow, will I need treatmentstraightaway? If so, which treatment? How long do you expect me to be on active monitoring? How can I explain active monitoring to my family and ging
ChemotherapyChemotherapy is a type of treatment using drugs. It stopslymphoma cells from dividing.Usually, more than one drug is given at once. This is knownas a ‘combination regimen’. Each drug kills lymphoma cellsin a slightly different way.Chemotherapy (‘chemo’) is usually given over a few months,often in cycles where you have treatment some weeks butnot others.You can have chemotherapy: into a vein (intravenously), which is the most common way by mouth (orally), usually in tablet form by injection just under the skin (subcutaneously) into the cerebrospinal fluid, which surrounds the brain andspine (intrathecally).Generally, chemotherapy is given as an outpatient, whichmeans you go into hospital just for a few hours.As with all treatments, chemotherapy can cause side effects.These might include fatigue (extreme tiredness), nausea(feeling or being sick) and hair loss.40
The side effects you experience depend on the specificchemotherapy drugs you’re given; however different peoplecan be affected differently by the same drugs. Your doctorshould talk to you about the side effects you might expectbefore you start treatment.Find out more about how chemotherapy works in ourshort video at s are a type of drug. They’re often used alongside othertreatments for lymphoma. You might have steroids before,during or after chemotherapy. Steroids can: t reat your lymphoma m ake chemotherapy more effective r educe some of the side effects of chemotherapy,such as feeling sick (nausea) i ncrease your appetite, to boost your energy.As with any treatment, steroids can cause side effects, such asmood swings, weight gain and difficulty sleeping.Some people worry about the possible side effects ofsteroids. Usually, side effects are short-term and go awayonce you stop taking them. Doctors can often suggesteffective ways of coping with them.Tests,Treatmentscansforandlymphomastaging
Targeted drugsTargeted drugs work in different ways to affect cancer cells.You might hear them called ‘targeted therapies’, ‘biologicaltherapies’ or ‘immunotherapies’. They can: s top cancer cells from growing or dividing c ause cancer cells to die h elp your immune system get rid of cancer cells.These drugs target the lymphoma cells more precisely thanchemotherapy. As well as making treatment more effective,this lowers the impact of treatment on healthy cells, whichcan reduce side effects.You might have a type of targeted treatment called ‘antibodytherapy’. Antibodies are proteins that recognise and stick toother proteins that don’t belong in your body, such as virusesand bacteria. This signals to your body to get rid of them. Whenyou have an infection, your body naturally makes antibodies.Antibody therapy uses antibodies made in a laboratory. Theytarget proteins on the surface of lymphoma cells, stick tothem and mark them out to be killed by your immune system.Rituximab is the antibody treatment most oftengiven to treat lymphoma. It can be given on its ownor with chemotherapy.42
RadiotherapyRadiotherapy uses high-energy X-rays (a type of radiation)to destroy cancer cells by stopping them from dividing. Theradiation is similar to that used by an X-ray machine, but inmuch higher doses. The X-rays are targeted directly at the areasof your body where there is lymphoma.Your doctors might recommend radiotherapy afterchemotherapy to: m ake sure the lymphoma cells are completely destroyed l ower the chances of the lymphoma coming back (relapse).For a small number of people with slow-growing lymphoma,radiotherapy is given on its own.A course of radiotherapy usually lasts 2 to 4 weeks and youhave treatment daily, Monday to Friday. Each treatment lastsaround 5 to 20 minutes. Radiotherapy is painless and you can gohome afterwards; however, you might experience side effectssuch as skin soreness and fatigue after treatment.Having radiotherapy does not cause you to be radioactive.It’s therefore safe to be around others, including children,after g
Stem cell transplantsLymphoma is sometimes treated with very high doses ofanti-cancer treatment. This can be very good at killinglymphoma cells, however, it can also damage your bonemarrow. A stem cell transplant replaces the damaged ordestroyed stem cells in your bone marrow with healthystem cells. You’re given the stem cells through a drip intoyour vein. The stem cells might come from your own body(‘autologous’) or a donor (‘allogenic’).It can take a few weeks for your bone marrow to startworking after a transplant. During this time, you’ll need tostay in hospital and you’ll probably be in ‘protective isolation’.This means you have your own room to protect you againstinfections, but you should still be able to have visitors.It’s tough, but one day you wake up and can eatbreakfast more easily and go to the bathroom lessfrequently, and the next day it’s slightly better.Jason, diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphomaVisit lymphoma-action.org.uk/SCT to find out moreabout stem cell transplants. We also produce a book onautologous stem cell transplants, which is available todownload or order at lymphoma-action.org.uk/Books44
Questions to ask about treatment Which treatment are you recommending? Why? How does the treatment work? How is it given? Is it painful? Where will I have treatment? Will I stay in hospitalovernight? How long does each treatment session last? How long doesthe whole course take? Can I drive myself home after treatment? If not and I don’thave someone to collect me, is there any support withtransport available? When and how will you know if the treatment is working? Will I need to make changes to my day-to-day routineduring or after treatment? Are there any foods, supplements or medicines Ishould avoid? Is it safe to travel to another country during and soonafter treatment? Is it OK for me to diet? Can I drink alcohol? Is it safe to have sexual contact during treatment?Should I use contraception? If so, what type? If my periods stop, could I still get pregnant? What happens if I choose not to have g
Notes46
Clinical trialsClinical trials are medical research studies. M any lymphoma trials investigate the best ways of usingcurrent treatments, for example, to make them moreeffective or to lessen side effects. O ther trials test new treatments to see if they’re moreeffective than current standard treatments. S ome trials focus on improving quality of life.Whether you can take part in a trial depends on a numberof factors (called ‘eligibility criteria’). These often includeyour type of lymphoma, any previous treatment you’ve had,and your general health. Your doctor might suggest a trial ifthere is a suitable one. Clinical trials are voluntary – it’s yourdecision whether you take part. If you start a trial but thenchange your mind, you can withdraw at any time. O ur book Clinical trials for lymphoma tells you moreabout trials, including why and how they’re done. Italso features the personal experiences of people whohave taken part in trials for lymphoma. W e also have an online clinical trials informationservice, Lymphoma TrialsLink, where you can search fora trial that might be suitable for you.Tests,Treatmentscansforandlymphomastaging
Speak to your clinical nurse specialist or consultant to findout more about clinical trials and whether there is one that’ssuitable for you.My consultant asked if I’d beinterested in a clinical trial. InitiallyI was worried about being a guineapig, but he went through the strictprotocol in detail. I wanted tohelp provide data for scientists toanalyse. But I also realised that Iwould still get good treat
Watch a short video about the common symptoms of lymphoma at lymphoma-action.org.uk/Symptoms. How cancer develops The human body is made up of many different cells, for example skin, bone and blood cells. As part of day-to-day life, cells grow and d
In Non-Hodgkin lymphoma - Follicular lymphoma (36.8%) was the most common, followed by Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (27.6%). Among 10 cases of Hodgkin lymphoma with marrow infiltration, there were 3 cases of Mixed cellularity, 3 cases of Lymphocyte - depleted clas-sical Hodgkin lymphoma and 1 case of Nodular sclerosis. Further, 2 Cases of Non .
Lymphoblastic Lymphoma Lymphoblastic lymphoma represents approxi tl 20% f llNimately 20% of all Non-Hdki'Hodgkin's lymphoma -T-cell 15% -B-cell 3% ALL: Clinical Features Hepatosplenomegaly 68% Splenomegaly63%Splenomegaly 63% Fever 60% Malaise and fatigue 50% Lymphadenopathy 50% Pallor 40% Bl di 48%Bleeding 48% Bone pain 23% CNS signs 5%
O'Conor defined the malignancy as a lymphoma (1). Currently, Burkitt's lymphoma is known to be a B-ce-ll malignancy and classified as a highly aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (2-4). Three clinical subtypes of this malignancy are recognized: 1) endemic, associa-ted with the Epstein-Barr virus; 2) sporadic; 3) associa-
also involved in other B-cell malignancies such as atypical Burkitt/Burkitt-like lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma and multiple myeloma. Besides 8q24 (MYC), other translocation partners for IGK, such as chromosomal regions 1p13, 3q27 (BCL6), 7q21, 16q24 and 18q21 (BCL2), are known.
abdomen in infancy. Burkitt's lymphoma is a subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), showing malignant features and rapid growth. It was first described by Denis Burkitt in 1958. Commonly, presents as acute leukemia or malignant lesions in extra nodal sites. Intussusception due to Burkitt's lymphoma is rare presenting, with nonspecific symptoms.
Dr. Michael Williams sees lymphoma research as having a ripple effect. Like ripples expanding across the water when an object is dropped into it, being a lymphoma researcher has a much larger impact on the lives of those touched by this disease. 12 Updates fr
to T-cell or NK-cell variety.7 According to Hicks etal., the most common histotype in the head and neck region of immunocompetent patients is large B-cell lymphoma, whereas, plasmablastic lymphoma is the most common type in immunocompromised patients.8 The
Abstract—Agile Software Development (ASD) has been on mainstream through methodologies such as XP and Scrum enabling them to be applied in the development of complex and reliable software systems. This paper is the end result of the Master’s dissertation of the main author, and proposes a solution to guide the development of complex systems based on components by adding exceptional .
