How to check for lymphoma?

Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
Updated on September 26, 2024
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Patients with lymphoma generally present with painless enlargement of superficial lymph nodes as their initial symptom, most commonly in areas such as the neck, above the collarbone, and the groin. For diagnostic purposes, it is best, if possible, to conduct a whole-body PADCT scan as this helps in the staging of lymphoma at the initial visit. A definitive diagnosis requires the complete excisional biopsy of the affected superficial lymph node, followed by a pathological examination. An excisional biopsy is a method for confirming the diagnosis of lymphoma.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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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.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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Is lymphoma the same as lymphatic cancer?

Lymphoma refers to a type of malignant tumor that originates in lymph nodes or extranodal tissues or organs. The cancer we usually talk about refers to malignant tumors originating from epithelial tissues, which we call cancer, such as lung cancer, liver cancer, etc. Therefore, lymphoma is actually what non-medical professionals commonly refer to as lymphatic cancer. It is simply called lymphoma instead of cancer because it originates in lymph nodes or extranodal tissues or organs, and therefore, it is termed malignant lymphoma, which in layman's terms is lymphatic cancer.

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Written by Peng Li Bo
Oncology
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Malignant lymphoma chemotherapy regimen

The chemotherapy for malignant lymphoma, I personally don't think is very painful. Actually, lymphoma treatment nowadays not only includes chemotherapy but also targeted therapy and immunotherapy, so it is not very painful. Moreover, generally speaking, the common side effects of chemotherapy include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, poor spirit, constipation, or diarrhea. In clinical practice, these symptoms can be controlled by using antiemetic, hepatoprotective, gastric protective, and cardioprotective drugs. Of course, another common side effect of lymphoma chemotherapy is bone marrow suppression, which can cause a decrease in white blood cells and platelets. However, if there is only a mild decrease, we can restore these levels with oral medication to increase white blood cells or injections to increase white blood cells and platelets. If the suppression is very severe, it could potentially be life-threatening. But strictly speaking, more than 95% of patients can tolerate chemotherapy.

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Written by Peng Li Bo
Oncology
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What are the symptoms of lymphoma?

The symptoms of lymphoma usually involve painless, progressive enlargement of the lymph nodes, typically located in areas like the neck, under the jaw, and below the chin. However, beyond these localized symptoms, lymphoma can also present with systemic symptoms, which include fever, night sweats, weight loss, as well as rashes and itching skin. Thus, lymphoma encompasses both local and systemic symptoms.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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Lymphoma fever symptoms

Patients with lymphoma commonly exhibit symptoms such as fever, clinically referred to as B symptoms. Some patients may also experience additional B symptoms such as fatigue, sweating, or weight loss. Patients displaying these B symptoms generally have a poorer prognosis. Furthermore, lymphoma patients typically experience fever more frequently in the afternoon or evening, usually presenting with a low-grade fever. If the condition of a lymphoma patient is not controlled, their fever symptoms will recur repeatedly. Only when the condition is under control will there be an alleviation of fever symptoms. Anti-inflammatory drugs are not effective in these cases.