lymphoma cancer | Lymphoma

Lymphoma
Lymphomas are divided into two groups: Hodgkin lymphomas and non-Hodgkin (most common) lymphomas

Description of lymphoma
A lymphoma is a cancer that develops from the body's defense cells. This defense is ensured by the immune system, which itself relies on the lymphatic system, consisting of lymph nodes and so-called lymphoid organs (such as spleen, bone marrow, tonsils and thymus). The whole of this network is connected by vessels, in which circulates a liquid: the lymph.

Different cell types circulate in the lymphatic system, including white blood cells or lymphocytes. There are two types:

-B lymphocytes produce antibodies that bind to target cells so that they are detected and destroyed by other defense cells;
-T lymphocytes directly destroy infected or abnormal cells.

Lymphomas are cancers formed from an uncontrolled multiplication of abnormal lymphocytes. They will produce cancerous masses, most often in the lymph nodes. But as lymphocytes circulate throughout the body, lymphoma can potentially affect all organs.

Two types of lymphoma are distinguished:

-Hodgkin lymphomas or Hodgkin's disease: they affect in particular young adults and are not characterized by the presence of Reed Sternberg cells, derived from B lymphocytes;
-Non-Hodgkin lymphomas (85% of lymphomas): they affect in particular the older people (after 60 years) and bring together nearly 80 different diseases. The two main subtypes are B-type lymphomas (developed from B lymphocytes, 85% of non-Hodgkin lymphomas) and T-type lymphomas (developed from T cells).

Lymphoma: Risk Factors and prevention
Some risk factors slightly increase the likelihood of developing lymphoma. This risk increases more significantly when several factors accumulate.

Heredity can play a role in the appearance of lymphoma: an individual with a family member is more likely to develop one, too (this risk is multiplied by 2 to 9 * In the case of Hodgkin lymphomas). The genes involved in this hereditary risk have not yet been identified.

Immunity-related factors also increase the risk of developing lymphoma. This is the case of autoimmune diseases, immunosuppressive therapies, congenital immune deficiency, viruses (such as HIV, the Epstein-Barr virus at the origin of mononucleosis, or the hepatitis C virus).

In the case of non-Hodgkin lymphomas, environmental factors may also increase the risk of developing this type of cancer. This is primarily a matter of occupational exposure to certain toxic products or pesticides.

A type of lymphoma directly related to the wearing of breast prostheses has also been recognized by the health authorities. For the time being, cases of anaplastic lymphomas with large cells associated with a breast implant (ALCL-AIM) remain very rare.

* Source ARC Foundation

Symptoms of lymphoma

Lymphomas cause a lymphadenopathy (increased lymph node volume). Depending on the location of these lymph nodes, other symptoms may appear, such as swelling of the affected area or pains at the level of an assigned organ.

Lymphomas can also be responsible for large night sweats, weight loss and persistent fever.

These signs are not at all specific, hence the frequent diagnostic wanderings before the medical body is oriented towards the hypothesis of lymphoma.

Lymphoma: Screening and diagnosis

The doctor may be alerted by large lymph nodes, but this symptom is also the sign of any viral or bacterial infection. A simple blood test removes this last hypothesis. Once the infection is removed, a biopsy will be performed (at the level of a suspected ganglion or potentially affected organ). The analysis of the cells taken will allow to make a diagnosis of lymphoma and to determine the type.

An extension balance (full scan, cerebrospinal fluid control, etc.) is required to determine which lymph nodes and organs are affected by lymphoma. A blood test will also be prescribed to determine the level of aggressiveness of the lymphoma and to investigate the presence of viruses that may cause the onset of the disease.

Lymphoma Treatments

Since the years 1990, the progress of lymphoma treatment has been considerable.

The treatments are now mainly based on chemotherapy, coupled with immunotherapy (Immunochimiothérapie). Chemo can destroy cancer cells (wherever they are in the body). Immunotherapy helps the immune system to destroy cancer cells.

Radiation therapy is also a therapeutic option, to tackle a specific and localized tumor. It is prescribed alone or in combination with chemotherapy.

When the disease relapses, the doctor may be required to prescribe a very high dose chemotherapy, which will have the side effect of greatly weakening the patient's immune defenses. The bone marrow (place of production of the cells of the immune system) can no longer regenerate. A bone marrow stem cell transplant may be considered (either from patient cells taken prior to treatment or from a compatible donor).

Lymphoma: Statistics

Non-Hodgkin lymphomas account for 85% of lymphomas. Among them, type B lymphomas are the most common (85% of non-Hodgkin lymphomas). In 2011, 11 600 * New cases of non-Hodgkin lymphomas were diagnosed in France. The survival rate 1 year after diagnosis is 81% * * and 59% * * at 5 years.

Also in France, for the year 2005, the number of new cases of Hodgkin lymphomas was estimated at 1 544 * *. The survival rate is 92% * * 1 year after diagnosis and 82% * * 5 years later.