Can lymphoma be cured?

Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
Updated on September 20, 2024
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Whether lymphoma can be cured depends on the specific pathological type of lymphoma, as there are dozens of subtypes, each with different prognoses and sensitivities to treatment. Additionally, the stage of lymphoma in patients also affects the prognosis. For example, patients with early-stage lymphoma can achieve a cure through radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However, for patients with advanced-stage lymphoma, treatment primarily involves chemotherapy, especially in cases of highly aggressive lymphoma, where it is difficult to achieve a complete cure. The goal of treatment in such cases is to alleviate pain and extend the patient's life.

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Typical symptoms of lymphoma

Typical symptoms of lymphoma include night sweats, fever, and weight loss. This fever often occurs in the afternoon, characterized as a cyclical fever that lasts for several days with irregular patterns. There are fever-free intervals ranging from a few days to several weeks, almost a nonspecific symptom but not commonly seen. Fever, night sweats, and unexplained weight loss of more than 10% within six months, or even emaciation, are considered B symptoms and are associated with a poor prognosis. In addition, skin itching is also not uncommon in late-stage patients.

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Symptoms of Lymphoma

The symptoms of lymphoma mostly present as painless enlarged superficial lymph nodes, which are common clinical manifestations. Additionally, there may be enlargement of the liver and spleen, with multiple organs throughout the body possibly affected. In advanced stages, patients may experience invasion of the bone marrow. There are also special types of extranodal lymphomas which exhibit specific symptoms. For instance, lymphomas originating in the stomach may present with upper abdominal masses, or symptoms like anemia, weight loss, black stools, and even upper abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting related to the gastrointestinal tract. If the lymphoma originates in the nasal cavity, known as NK/T-cell lymphoma, symptoms may include tinnitus, nasal congestion, runny nose, and nosebleeds, among others. Some lymphoma patients may also experience fever, generalized weakness, weight loss, collectively referred to as B symptoms.

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Oncology
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Early symptoms of lymphoma

The early symptoms of lymphoma patients are primarily due to its predilection for lymph nodes, with the majority of cases initially presenting with swollen lymph nodes in the neck or collarbone area. These lymph nodes usually enlarge progressively without pain, which is the most common early clinical symptom. However, some specific types of lymphoma, such as nasal NKT lymphoma, present with localized symptoms like nasal congestion, nosebleeds, or a runny nose. There are also lymphomas originating in the stomach, part of the digestive tract, whose symptoms include upper abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting. Furthermore, some lymphomas originate in the skin, manifesting as skin nodules. Therefore, depending on the site of occurrence, the symptoms can vary, but the enlargement of superficial lymph nodes remains the primary clinical manifestation in most cases.

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Can people with lymphoma eat beef?

The diet for lymphoma patients isn't particularly special; it’s just like the diet of healthy individuals, with no need for specific dietary restrictions. Moreover, there aren't any prohibitions related to "hot-natured" foods as mentioned in traditional Chinese medicine. From a Western medicine perspective, the focus is simply on enhancing the patient's nutrition. This can be achieved by eating smaller, more frequent meals, and ensuring a balanced diet with a good mix of meat and vegetables. There are no special dietary taboos; all foods are permissible, provided one avoids junk food. Therefore, foods like beef and lamb are perfectly acceptable.

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Is lymphoma serious?

The severity of lymphoma relates to its specific pathological type and the stage of discovery among other factors. For instance, some highly aggressive lymphomas grow very rapidly, leading to swift disease progression, resulting in a poorer prognosis and more severe conditions. On the other hand, indolent lymphomas progress slowly, with lymph node growth being particularly sluggish, and the disease course can extend to even decades. Thus, conditions of such indolent lymphomas are relatively milder. The stage of lymphoma at the time of discovery also plays a role; early-stage lymphoma, such as stage I or II, is comparatively less severe. In contrast, patients with later stages, such as stage III or IV, experience more severe conditions. Therefore, the type of pathology and the stage at discovery are all significant factors.