Understanding lymphoma and your treatment options

With advances in therapy, there are numerous approaches for cancer of the lymphatic system. Team up with your doctors and you have a good chance of a long victory in your fight against lymphoma.

Your lymphatic system is an elaborate network of vessels and white blood cells designed to defend your body against bacteria, viruses and other disease-causing agents.

• Lymph nodes (or glands) strategically located throughout your body serve as boot camps for these cells, called lymphocytes. They include B-cells (because they develop in bone marrow) and T-cells (which develop in the thymus gland). Once these ace fighters leave the nodes, they patrol the entire body, some circulating in the blood, others gathering in specific organs.
• The trouble is that sometimes the defenders themselves become malignant, leading to cancer of the lymphatic system. It’s called leukemia if it involves the blood or bone marrow, and lymphoma if it centres on lymph nodes or organs.
• There are two main types of lymphoma. Usually the more serious is non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, in which cancerous B-cells or T-cells appear in your lymphatic system and proliferate. About 85 percent of people with lymphoma have non-Hodgkin’s. The other major form, Hodgkin’s lymphoma (or Hodgkin’s disease) features a distinctive type of cancer cell that appears in the lymphatic system.
• The lymphatic system affects many parts of your body, so lots can go wrong if a malignancy develops. Lymph nodes may be tender, organs affected and the spleen (a key site of lymphatic activity) may swell as cancer cells crowd in. Before treatment begins, you'll be referred to an oncologist to determine how ­advanced the disease is — called "staging." This can range from the mildest at stage I (tumours are limited to a single node region) through the most advanced at stage IV (indicating it has spread to other areas).

After being diagnosed with lymphoma, there are two big first steps:

• The first is discussing a treatment plan with an oncologist.
• The second is initiating therapy (radiation, chemo and/or bone marrow transplant), depending on the particulars of your case.

• Read up. Because lymphoma is such a complex disease, and there are so many types, you will need specialized books, articles and online sources to help you understand your doctor’s advice and make informed decisions about your treatment.
• Contact siblings. For environmental or genetic reasons, the risk of some lymphomas is higher among family members. Your brothers and sisters should know the details of your lymphoma so their doctors can be alert for any signs of onset in them.
• Schedule frequent mammograms and other cancer screenings. Cancers caused by lymphoma treatment aren't uncommon, so get screened regularly for colon cancer, leukemia, breast cancer and thyroid function, for example. Researchers at Boston’s Dana Farber Cancer Institute found an increased risk of breast cancer in their eight-year study of 90 women with Hodgkin’s who received radiation treatments.
• Avoid alternative "cancer cures." Some alternative remedies may improve your health in other ways, but there is no proof that any of these therapies is effective in treating any kind of cancer. The product amygdalin, found in apricot and cherry pits, does not have any measurable impact on lymphoma. Another is a drug containing burdock root, turkey rhubarb, slippery elm bark and sheep sorrel. There are no studies to support claims that it has healing power, and even most alternative doctors are skeptical of it.

Lymphoma Foundation Canada is dedicated to providing support to individuals with lymphoma, and offers information on the latest research and clinical trials. Call their patient help line at 1-866-204-0233 or log on to www.lymphoma.ca.

A lymphoma diagnosis can be scary, but there are treatments and therapies available that can have dramatic positive effects on your condition. Surround yourself with a support system and be as knowledgeable as you can about your condition; working with your doctor is the best way to find a treatment option that works for you.