Identifying the signs of lymphoma

Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that often develops silently with easily overlooked signs. Early recognition of warning symptoms and understanding of advances in treatment are crucial factors in determining success in the fight for survival.

Identifying the two types of lymphoma

According to Dr. Kieu Thi Van Oanh from the Hematology and Blood Transfusion Center at Bach Mai Hospital, lymphoma is not a single disease, but a general term for a group of cancers of the lymphatic system.

Basically, lymphomas are divided into two main groups with different characteristics and prognoses.

The first group is Hodgkin's lymphoma, characterized by the presence of an abnormal type of cell called Reed-Sternberg cells. The disease usually progresses slowly, responds well to treatment, and has a good prognosis if detected early.

The remaining and more common group is Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL). This is an extremely diverse group of diseases with more than 60 different subtypes.

This complexity leads to significant variations in the manifestation and progression of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, ranging from slow-growing, indolent forms to very rapid, aggressive forms.

Accurately classifying the type of lymphoma is a crucial step in selecting the most appropriate treatment option, determining the success of the entire process.

Don't ignore swollen lymph nodes in your body.

One of the biggest challenges with lymphoma is that the initial symptoms are often vague and nonspecific, making it easy for patients to overlook them. Listening to and recognizing changes in your body early can make a huge difference.

The most common and easily noticeable sign is the appearance of painless swollen lymph nodes. These nodes can appear in the neck, armpits, or groin. They are typically firm, painless to the touch, and tend to enlarge over time.

In addition, medical experts pay particular attention to a trio of important warning symptoms, often referred to as "symptom B," which include: persistent fever of unknown origin, night sweats that soak clothes and bedding, and unexplained weight loss (losing more than 10% of body weight within 6 months).

In addition, patients may also experience other symptoms such as unexplained persistent fatigue, persistent generalized itching, cough or shortness of breath (if lymph nodes compress the airways in the mediastinum), abdominal pain or a feeling of fullness and bloating (if there are enlarged lymph nodes in the abdomen or an enlarged spleen).

Dr. Oanh shared that many patients arrive at the hospital in the late stages: multiple lymph nodes, enlarged lymph nodes, and infiltration of internal organs. This is because the lymph nodes are not swollen or painful, or simply cause discomfort to the patient.

Therefore, Dr. Oanh advises that people should never be complacent about any abnormal lumps or lymph nodes on their bodies, especially when they persist and are accompanied by systemic symptoms.

According to Dr. Oanh, targeted and personalized treatment currently offers excellent treatment outcomes for patients.

Accordingly, combination chemotherapy with monoclonal antibodies remains the cornerstone of many treatment regimens, but newer generation drugs and combination formulations have helped increase the effectiveness of cancer cell killing while minimizing unwanted side effects.

A major breakthrough was the advent of targeted therapy. This therapy attacks only specific molecules on the surface of cancer cells, helping to preserve healthy cells and improve treatment effectiveness.

More recently, new immunotherapy treatments are offering great hope. Instead of directly attacking the tumor, this method "awakens" and "trains" the patient's own immune system to recognize and destroy malignant cells on its own.

Therapies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors or CAR-T cell therapy are opening up opportunities for survival even in complex, refractory cases. In addition, stem cell transplantation remains an important option for high-risk or relapsed patients, helping to restore a healthy hematopoietic system.

According to Dr. Van Oanh, in treatment, doctors choose a personalized treatment plan based on the type of lymphoma, the stage of the disease, its molecular biological characteristics, and the patient's overall health.

THIEN LAM

Source: https://nhandan.vn/nhan-dien-dau-hieu-mac-benh-u-lympho-post888881.html