A lymphoma occurs when either the B or T cells grow and multiply rapidly. The cells will continue to multiply, forming a large mass called a tumor. This tumor prevents the areas around it from having enough resources to function normally. Lymphomas are also able to metastasize and spread across the body very rapidly via the channels that make up the lymphatic system. Lymphomas are separated into two different categories: Hodgkin's Lymphoma (referred to as HL) and non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (referred to as NHL). As of 2010, 628,415 people had lymphoma or were in remission. 153535 of these cases were HL and 474880 were NHL.
The first known example of Hodgkins. lymphoma was found in 1666, by Malpighi. In his paper De viscerum structuru exercitatio anatomica, he describes the disease that would later be referred to as "Hodgkin's lymphoma" or "Hodgkin's disease". Almost 200 years later, in 1832, Hodgkin publishes his own paper on the lymphoma, and thus the affliction was named after him. Research into "Hodgkin's disease" continued for many years afterwards, and in 1898 Cal Sternberg, a German researcher, discovers the Reed-Sternberg cells present in Hodgkin's lymphoma. Four years later, in 1902, Dorothy Reed, working at the Johns Hopkins Hopital in the United States, discovered the Reed-Sternberg cell on his own. From that point on scientists devoted time and energy into finding a cure of this disease
The first known example of Hodgkins. lymphoma was found in 1666, by Malpighi. In his paper De viscerum structuru exercitatio anatomica, he describes the disease that would later be referred to as "Hodgkin's lymphoma" or "Hodgkin's disease". Almost 200 years later, in 1832, Hodgkin publishes his own paper on the lymphoma, and thus the affliction was named after him. Research into "Hodgkin's disease" continued for many years afterwards, and in 1898 Cal Sternberg, a German researcher, discovers the Reed-Sternberg cells present in Hodgkin's lymphoma. Four years later, in 1902, Dorothy Reed, working at the Johns Hopkins Hopital in the United States, discovered the Reed-Sternberg cell on his own. From that point on scientists devoted time and energy into finding a cure of this disease
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| An image of a lymphoma |
Non-Hodkgin lymphoma was first differentated from Hodgkin's lymphoma by Henry Rappaport in the years 1956 tp 1966, which led to the Rappaport classification, the first classification of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The classification "Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma" refers to any type of lymphoma without the Reed-Sternberg cells, which can affect both the B cells and the T cells and has a variety of genetic markers. There is a one in fifty chance that a person will develop non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at some point in their life, although the affliction is more common in men. There are thirty different types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which fall into three different classifications. These are classifications are Indolent (slow-growing, low grade), Moderately aggressive (intermediate grade), and aggressive (high grade). These are differentiated by how quickly the cancers are spreading, with low grade as the slowest spreading and high grade as the fastest spreading. As with HL, the cause of NHL is unknown. However, scientists and researchers have linked the disease to "immune suppression". Immune suppression is when a person has had a disease which has impacted their immune system to a point at which it does not function properly. Some examples of these diseases would be HIV, HTLV, Hepatitis B or C, hereditary diseases that affect the immune system (severe combined immunodeficience, and ataxia telaniectasia) and mononucleoisis. Additionally, having contact the bacterium Heliobacter pylori can also increase the likelihood of developing a lymphoma (and has also been linked to stomach cancer). An interesting factor that can increase the chance of a person having a lymphoma is living in a faming community. Doctors believe that the use of pesticides and herbicides may be the reason, because they contain certain chemicals. These chemicals may also be found in black hair dye, the use of which has been linked to NHL. As with HL, a family history of lymphoma is also a factor.
Both HL and NHL have very similar symptoms. The most common of these are: swelling of the lymph nodes, fever, unexplained weight loss, sweating, chills, lack of energy, itching, rashes, lower back pain, and sore lymph nodes after drinking alcohol. Unfortunately, the symptoms vary greatly between cases, and are often misdiagnosed as the common cold or the flu.
There are three different treatments used on both HL and NHL. These are radiation therapy, chemo therapy, and biological therapy (or immunotherapy). Radiation therapy employs high-energy rays (radiation) to kill the cancerous cells. This is used on specific areas of the body, rather than the entire body. Chemotherapy uses powerful drugs to kill cancer cells. These are administered intravenously, then circulate trough the bloodstream impacting the entire body. Biological therapy is a relatively new type of therapy, which essentially trains the body to remove the cancerous cells on its own. There are three different types of biological therapy used to treat cancers. The first us Monoclonal anitbodies. A monoclonal antibody is an anibody that is made in a lab instead of in the body. They are designed to attack a certain pathogen. They are used by the immune system to kill tumor cells and or can bring raditation or chemotherapy directly to an “antigen”. The second is Cytokines. They are naturally in the human body, but can also be created in a lab. They are then brought into the body to assist in the finding of cancers. The third is a cancer vaccine. These vaccines do not prevent a cancer from developing, instead they allow the immune system to recognize cancerous cells and destroy them. After Hodgkin's Lympoma has been treated, patients typically make a strong recovery. Similarly, 30-60% of patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma can be cured. However, there is currently no cure for indolent NHL, although patients typically live up to twenty years after the cancer has been diagnosed. Even after being treated, people who have had HL can have complications such as infertility, liver failure, lung problems, and the development of other cancers. People who have had NHL and are in remission can become Autoimmune hemolytic anemic and develop other infections.
In conclusion, there are a wide variety of lymphomas. They can be fatal if ignored, and are often mistaken for the common cold. However, when they are found they are usually treatable, and if we continue to focus our efforts on innovative treatments, such as immunotherapy, this cancer could be cured.
Sources:
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/lymphoma/article_em.htm
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