Lymphoma Treatment in Utah

Lymphoma is a general term for cancers that develop in the lymph system, which is part of the body’s immune system. Hodgkin lymphoma is a type of lymphoma that develops in the white blood cells.

Hodgkin lymphoma is divided into two major types according to how the lymph cells look under a microscope and whether Reed-Sternberg cells are present. Knowing the type of lymphoma helps doctors determine your best treatment.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is the seventh most common cancer in men and women in the nation. According to the National Cancer Institute, more than 77,000 new cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma are diagnosed each year in the United States.

Symptoms of Lymphoma:

Hodgkins lymphoma

Hodgkin lymphoma often develops in people between the ages of 16 and 34. These younger patients are usually otherwise healthy. Because of this, their bodies can withstand the disease without showing any symptoms for a long period of time. Although these symptoms are common for people who have Hodgkin lymphoma, most people who have these symptoms do not have Hodgkin lymphoma. They often have another reason for the symptoms.

Other times, the only symptom will be painless swelling of the lymph nodes usually in the neck or under the arm, as well as in the upper chest, abdomen and groin. Patients often visit a physician because of this swelling, which eventually leads to a diagnosis.

Other symptoms vary from person to person and may include:

  • Pain in the swollen lymph nodes after drinking alcohol.
  • Heavy night sweats, with or without a fever.
  • Fever or chills at night or during the day.
  • Unexplained weight loss.
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Fatigue or lack of energy.
  • Dry, itchy skin.
  • A widespread, red rash.
  • Cough and shortness of breath or chest discomfort caused by a large lymph node mass in the chest.
  • An enlarged liver or spleen.

Non-Hodgkins lymphoma

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma symptoms vary from person to person. They may include:

  • Painless swelling of lymph nodes in the neck, groin or underarm
  • Fevers
  • Heavy night sweats
  • Tiredness
  • Weight loss without a known reason
  • Severe itchiness
  • Reddened patches on the skin
  • Nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain
  • Coughing or shortness of breath
  • Headaches, concentration problems, personality changes

Symptoms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma also often differ by the type of disease. Low-grade (indolent) non-Hodgkin lymphoma develops slowly. Patients may have painless swelling of lymph nodes (usually in the neck or over the collarbone) but appear healthy otherwise. The swelling may go away for a while and then return. If low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma spreads outside the lymph nodes, there may be discomfort in the affected area.

Aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma grows quicker and tends to have more symptoms than low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Symptoms may include:

  • Pain in neck, arms or abdomen
  • Fever and/or night sweats
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Fatigue
  • Shortness of breath
  • Weakness in arms and/or legs
  • Confusion

Lymphoma Treatment Options:

Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatments

If you are diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, your doctor will discuss the best options to treat it. This depends on several factors, including:

  • Type and stage of Hodgkin lymphoma
  • If your disease has not responded to previous treatments
  • If your disease has returned after treatment
  • Your age
  • Other medical problems, such as heart or kidney disease

Your treatment will be customized to your needs. One or more of the following therapies may be recommended to treat the cancer or help relieve symptoms.

  • Chemotherapy either locally (near the tumor) or systemically (throughout the body)
  • Radiation Therapy uses focused beams of energy to kill cancer cells
  • Proton Therapy delivers high radiation doses directly to the tumor site, with minimal damage to nearby healthy tissue
  • Immunotherapy which helps the immune system get rid of cancer cells, may be used for advanced colon cancer
  • Stem Cell Transplantation A stem cell transplant is a procedure that replaces defective or damaged cells in patients whose normal blood cells have been affected by cancer

Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma Treatments

If you are diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, your doctor will discuss the best options to treat it. This depends on several factors, including:

  • Type of lymphoma
  • Stage and category of disease
  • Symptoms
  • Your age and general health

One or more of the following therapies may be recommended to treat the cancer or help relieve symptoms.

  • Chemotherapy either locally (near the tumor) or systemically (throughout the body)
  • Radiation Therapy uses focused beams of energy to kill cancer cells
  • Proton Therapy delivers high radiation doses directly to the tumor site, with minimal damage to nearby healthy tissue
  • Immunotherapy which helps the immune system get rid of cancer cells, may be used for advanced colon cancer
  • Stem Cell Transplantation A stem cell transplant is a procedure that replaces defective or damaged cells in patients whose normal blood cells have been affected by cancer