Lymphoma is one of the rarest forms of cancer, affecting nearly 500 people in the United Kingdom every year.
When diagnosed, it is very often misdiagnosed as being related to a different disease. In order to get the right medical treatment, you must first learn the difference between the two types of cancers so you can be sure that you are in fact receiving the correct diagnosis.
The most common type of lymphoma is Langerhan disease. This disease attacks the lymph nodes and is therefore usually quite rare. If you’ve been diagnosed with Langerhan disease, your doctor will be checking your lymphatic system to make sure that everything is functioning normally. If you develop any symptoms of lymphoma at this stage, then please contact your doctor immediately.
Lymphoedema is a condition where your lymph nodes become enlarged or painful.
If left untreated, it can lead to serious complications. In some cases, the enlarged or painful nodes can block the drain ducts leading into your lungs, making it difficult for your lungs to receive the oxygen they require. This condition can be fatal in some cases, especially if it becomes serious.
Other types of lymphomas can include Hodgkin’s disease and lymphocytic leukemia. Hodgkin’s disease occurs due to the abnormal growth of cancerous cells in the body’s tissues, while lymphocytic leukemia develops because of the attack on white blood cells in the body. These two forms of lymphoma may also develop in organs other than the lymphatic system.
This can lead to serious complications, such as organ failure, or even death.
A common lymphoma symptom is pain, swelling or heaviness in the chest, arm or leg. Painful lymph glands are often described as itchy feeling, and are a common symptom in patients who have had surgery or radiation therapy to treat their cancerous cells. The increased pressure in the chest can also cause discomfort in the back, buttocks and hips.
Sometimes, symptoms include unusual changes in your skin or fluid in the lymph nodes. There are various other symptoms which could also indicate a condition other than cancer, and it is important to visit your doctor if you think that you are experiencing any of them. if you think that you might have been exposed to a substance that has caused it.
Any time your doctor notices changes in the skin or lymph nodes, you should always seek immediate medical attention.
This could be the sign of a life-threatening complication such as multiple myeloma, Hodgkin’s disease or other types of cancer.
If you think you may have Langerhan disease, your doctor may refer you to a specialist, such as a cancer specialist who will carry out a series of tests to determine if you have it. Once you’re diagnosed, they will prescribe medication to fight it.
Sometimes, treatment options for lymphomas involve the removal of the lymph nodes themselves. When they have been removed, the cancer will shrink inside the lymphatic system, making it less likely that it will spread to other parts of the body. Sometimes, surgery is necessary to remove the lymph nodes. But it’s not always the best option, as you’ll never really know whether you’ve actually cured the cancer if it’s left untreated.
For those who have Hodgkin’s disease or Langerhan disease, radiation therapy is another option, which involves radiotherapy treatments that will help you to kill cancer cells within your lymphatic system and reduce any cancer that is still left.
This type of treatment will also destroy cancerous tissue as well.
But even with these types of treatment, there will be times when the treatment doesn’t work, or when your lymph nodes are simply too small to accommodate the radiation. This is why it’s vital to see your doctor regularly for the treatment to work properly.
In more serious cases, surgery may be the only option, and sometimes, radiation therapy may be the only option. Chemotherapy treatment is an effective cure for cancer, but can be quite costly, so this is not always the best choice. Surgery will have side effects and it is also quite risky, especially when dealing with cancer in the heart and lung. It’s always best to visit a doctor regularly to get regular checkups.