What kind of lymphoma?

I got my ct scan report back yesterday - said lymphoma and my dr is gone for the weekend. My symptoms are as follows:


swollen lymph nodes,sore throat, ear ache but no ear infection, fever that comes and goes, had a strange rash 3 months ago and the drs didn't know what it was, my voice is changing. 2 weeks ago my throat was nothing but a giant ulcer. Went to er. Tested negative for strep. Er dr mentioned possibility of throat cancer and that's when my pcp sent me to ent. ENT sent me for ct scan. Symptoms have been ongoing for several months now and stranger things are happening. What type of lymphoma do you think this could be. I do sweat at night. I am tired all of the time and I feel like crap. Yes, I know I should see my doctor. I am going to, but until then, I would like some opinions. Thanks!

What kind of lymphoma?
I also have this, but i havent been diagnosed with anything..scary....what is lymphoma?? and dont u get that if u have HIV/AIDS? =O
Reply:Public opinion is not the smart thing to do with such a serious problem. Get an appointment and wait for your doctor's advice. Get a second opinion from another doctor as well.
Reply:Lymphomas are cancerous growths of the lymph cells. These are cells in the body usually found in lymph nodes, which are small lima-bean sized structures located principally in the neck, arm pits, and groin. The function of these lymph nodes is to protect the body from infections and to help the immune cells recognize invaders.





For reasons we do not understand, occasionally a lymph cell will turn malignant or cancerous, and begin to produce more and more cells. While a signal to grow is part of the cause of lymphoma, in many lymphomas the cells do not die off as they normally would. This leads to an accumulation of cells that can then produce symptoms.





Although lymphomas typically arise from lymph nodes, they can begin in any organ or structure of the body. It requires careful analysis by trained pathologists to diagnose lymphomas because there are many different types of lymphomas. It is important to distinguish among them since the treatment can vary widely.Lymphomas are divided into two large groups:





Hodgkin’s Disease (about 5,000 cases in the United States each year)





Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma (about 60,000 new cases in the United States each year)





Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma is one of the few cancers that is increasing at a fairly fast rate in the United States. Each year the number of cases increases by about 7% over the previous year. It is not known what causes Lymphoma in most patients who have this disease. We do know that certain things can increase the likelihood of getting lymphoma. One is exposure to herbicides or pesticides, (weed killers or bug killers). People with certain autoimmune diseases in which the body fights itself also have an increased chance of getting lymphoma. While very rare in the United States, there are some lymphomas that are caused by viruses. Lymphomas are not inherited, nor are they contagious (spread from one person to another).The symptoms of lymphoma vary widely depending on where the disease begins and the type of lymphoma. These diseases may begin as painless swellings of lymph nodes that are usually noticed first by patients, often when they are showering or bathing. In order to determine that a lymphoma is present in an enlarged lymph node, a biopsy must be performed. This is a minor operation to take out a lymph node and examine under the microscope.





Some patients with lymphomas have low-grade fevers, weight loss, or sweat excessively when they are asleep at night. Any lump or swelling that you notice should be brought to your doctor’s attention and should be biopsied if it persists.


Diagnosis is made by taking out a lymph node or a piece of a node to analyze under the microscope. Sometimes it takes more then one biopsy to make the diagnosis. It is very important that an accurate diagnosis be made before treatment is initiated.Since there are many forms of lymphoma, it is difficult to make general statements about treatment. However, this disease is almost never cured by surgery. Rather, chemotherapy and radiation are the main treatments used. Sometimes no therapy is recommended because the disease progresses very slowly and does not bother the patient. At times the treatment can be more damaging to the patient than the disease. For some patients with some kinds of lymphomas, high dose chemotherapy with stemcell transplant is recommended.





It is important to talk with your physician about the immediate side effects of treatment, as well as the long-term side effects. Many patients with Hodgkin’s disease are cured of their lymphoma and go on to lead normal lives. However, there could be some side effects from treatment which may be important later and need to be addressed. A particularly important issue is that chemotherapy may prevent a woman from having children or a man from fathering them. This is an important issue which should be discussed with your physician before therapy is begun.








4 Penn State Specialists Were Found





Bryan Anderson, M.D.


Location: MSHMC Dermatology, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033-0850


Specialties: Dermatology


Clinical Interests: Contact Dermatitis, Psoriasis, Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma





Jennie Clarke, M.D.


Location: MSHMC Dermatology, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033-0850


Specialties: Dermatology


Clinical Interests: Dermatologic Surgery, Autoimmune Skin Disease, Cutaneous Lymphomas, Patch Testing





W. Christopher Ehmann, M.D.


Location: MSHMC Hematology, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033-0850


Specialties: Hematology/Oncology, Hematology, Medical Oncology, Internal Medicine


Clinical Interests: Bone Marrow Transplantation, Lymphoma, Hematologic Malignancies, Clinical Research Trials





Thomas Loughran, M.D.


Location: MSHMC Oncology, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033-0850


Specialties: Medical Oncology, Hematology/Oncology, Internal Medicine


Clinical Interests: LGL Leukemia, Lymphoma, Leukemia
Reply:Don't even bother to speculate. While the primary attack is against the lymphatic system everyone has a slightly different set of symptoms.





As you indicated there are different kinds of lymphomas. You need to get yourself under the care of a competent oncologist as quickly as you can.





Good luck.
Reply:I am including a link or two that should help answer your questions. I would follow up by seeing your physician. Knowledge is the key. Blood tests would also be appropriate. A definitive diagnosis would have to be made and a CT scan by itself is usually not considered a definitive diagnosis without further tests like a biopsy of a suspected area. So see the information on the link provided and see your physician.
Reply:Hodgkin lymphoma is a localized or disseminated malignant proliferation of cells of the lymphoreticular system, primarily involving lymph node tissue, spleen, liver, and bone marrow. Symptoms include painless lymphadenopathy, sometimes with fever, night sweats, unintentional weight loss, pruritus, splenomegaly, and hepatomegaly. Diagnosis is based on lymph node biopsy. Treatment is curative in about 75% of cases and consists of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy.


Non-Hodgkin lymphomas are a heterogeneous group of disorders involving malignant monoclonal proliferation of lymphoid cells in lymphoreticular sites, including lymph nodes, bone marrow, the spleen, the liver, and the GI tract. Presenting symptoms usually include peripheral lymphadenopathy. However, some forms present without adenopathy but with abnormal lymphocytes in circulation. Compared with Hodgkin lymphoma, there is a greater likelihood of disseminated disease at the time of diagnosis. Diagnosis is usually based on lymph node and/or bone marrow biopsy. Treatment includes radiation and/or chemotherapy, with stem cell transplantation usually reserved for salvage therapy after incomplete remission or relapse.


Consult your doctor.


Please see the web pages for more details on Hodgkin's lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Reply:You have classic symptoms of a B-Cell lymphoma. There are several variants and they all make you feel like crap. See an oncologist right away.
Reply:You have B symptoms: fever, night sweats, and probably weight loss also. Probably lymphoma. But the only way to diagnose lymphoma is through a biopsy. We prefer the excision or incision because the sample will always be adequate for interpretation by the pathologist. This way, you can also find out whether it's Hodgkin or Non-Hodgkin. There are several types of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. The treatment and prognosis are different for each type of lymphoma. Sometimes it's difficult to tell them apart. Immunostains will be very useful for cases like these. After the diagnosis is confirmed, you'll be advised on treatment options. Again, there are many options for each type of lymphoma. Yes, lymphoma can be cured. God bless!

java