Microscopes and Hodgkin's Lymphoma - Understanding the Pathophysiology of a Common Cancer

First off What is Lymphoma?

We have to first define what lymphoma is before discussing Hodgkin's disease. Lymphoma is a cancer that develops from cells in the body known as "lymphocytes." Lympocytes are a subcategory of white blood cells. There are two different types of lymphocytes: B-cells and T-cells. Almost all lymphomas, including Hodgkin's disease, stem from B-cells.

In Hodgkin's lymphoma a B-cell, for unknown reasons, becomes cancerous. The cell then makes many many clones of itself. These cells bundle together to form a solid tumor known as a lymphoma. There are several hypotheses for why these cells become cancerous in Hodgkin's. One belief is that infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV, the same virus that causes infectious mononucleosis) can cause the cells to turn malignant in genetically susceptible people. Other theories are that certain genetic translocations may be the underlying factor. As of yet, no particular theory has significant supporting data to call it the "cause." In fact, there may be multiple unrelated causes.

Types

There are different subcategories of Hodgkin's lymphoma. They are based on several microscopic characteristics, and are important in determining prognosis. The features the pathologist is looking for are the number of Reed-Sternberg cells, as well as the number of lymphocytes present in the biospy specimen. A Reed-Sternberg cell is a funny shaped cell with two nuclei that looks like owl's eyes.

The first subcategory, and most common type, is nodular sclerosing Hodgkin's lymphoma. In this type there are very few Reed-Sternberg cells with a moderate number of lymphocytes. It commonly occurs in younger individuals, and with treatment, the prognosis is excellent.

The second subcategory is mixed cellularity Hodgkin's lymphoma. This type has many Reed-Sternberg cells and a moderate number of lymphocytes when viewed under the microscope. It has an intermediate prognosis.

The third subcategory is lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's. It has very few Reed-Sternberg cells and many lymphocytes. It occurs most commonly in males less than 35 years of age. It is also one of the few types that is not associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection.

Multiple Myeloma, a Blood Plasma Cancer, and the Arkansas Treatment

Within the last 20 years, the Arkansas Treatment has been developed for patients suffering from Multiple Myeloma. An acquaintance of the author's, who was treated with this chemotherapy regimen several years before his own diagnosis, had to travel to Arkansas to receive the treatment. After being diagnosed in June, 2008 with multiple myeloma, the author was able to receive this chemotherapy regimen locally near his home in the Upstate of South Carolina.

This treatment uses several different drugs during chemotherapy, followed by an autologous stem cell transplant. The full treatment actually calls for a tandem stem cell transplant (two in succession.) Whereas years ago, the only treatment for multiple myeloma was the drug that directly targets the cancerous cells (and then also targets lots of good cells as well), the several drugs used in this treatment all target the abilities of the cancerous cells to reproduce and encourage the body's normal disease fighting cells to eliminate them.

This treatment uses thalidomide as the main, cancer-fighting, oral drug, plus a cocktail of chemotherapy drugs which include bortezomib, cyclophosphamide, etoposide, cisplatin, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone. A variety of other drugs such as antibiotics, to help the body's impaired immune system, anti-nausea drugs, and pain killers (steroids) are administered concurrently.

With the older treatments directly targeting the cancerous cells, the life expectancies of multiple myeloma patients were on the order of two to four years following diagnosis. Since those drugs adversely affected many good body cells as well as the cancerous cells, the patients' bodies took a major hit every time the drug was administered. A high dose of that same drug (or similar ones) is part of the stem cell transplant procedure. Following the administration of the high dose drug, the author's white blood cell count was near zero. Fortunately, the stem cell transplant immediately followed the administration of the high dose, so his body was able to recover from the high dose by creating new stem cells and new good blood cells.

Newer treatments such as the Arkansas Treatment use drugs that target the cancerous cells indirectly. They attempt to turn OFF the ON switch that tells the cancerous cells to reproduce ad infinitum. They attempt to block blood supplies which allow the cancerous cells to flourish. They attempt to block signals sent from the cancerous cells to normal body disease-fighting cells that says, in effect, "I am a normal cell -- leave me alone." They attempt to encourage the body's disease-fighting cells to go after those cancerous cells and do their jobs -- that is, to eliminate them as unwanted cells in the body. Obviously, this is a layman's explanation of the tasks requested of the drugs in this treatment regimen, but you get the idea.

Since these drugs are not directly expected to kill the cancerous cells, they are much less harmful to the good cells of the body. This does not mean they are harmless to normal body cells. They still are quite potent chemicals that should not be used lightly. But they appear to each work well to perform the jobs requested of them. Life expectancies of patients receiving the Arkansas treatment are listed as ten plus years, and climbing.

Major side effects occur with this treatment regimen, but they appear to be worth the inconveniences. In the author's case, the two major side effects are deterioration of the heart muscle, and peripheral neuropathy. The author's heart efficiency deteriorated sufficiently over the course of treatment that he was prevented from receiving the second stem cell transplant. Having read lots of information on the internet prior to and during treatments, he somehow missed the possibility that the chemo drugs could adversely affect the heart muscle. The efficiency of his left ventricle went from normal values above 50% all the way down to 26%. At this low level, he was treated for congestive heart failure. The cardiologist said, however, that in many cases, the heart can recover from chemo-induced levels like this. This, in fact, has happened in the author's case. His heart's efficiency has risen once again to near-normal levels.

After the heart's efficiency problems were diagnosed, the author searched for and found several articles that did indeed warn that some of the chemo drugs used in this regimen can adversely affect the heart muscle. One of the drugs, in particular, was listed as prone to causing heart problems. When he asked one of the chemo nurses which of the medications could adversely affect the heart, she answered, "Oh, they probably all do."

The peripheral neuropathy is a major nuisance, but it does not appear to be a life-threatening problem. The author's fingers and toes all tingle and feel somewhat numb most of the time. The cancer drugs, and even the cancer maintenance drugs, appeared to cause these problems. After the main cancer medications were stopped, the tingling and numbness receded a little, but not completely. There were days following the chemo treatments when the author's hands hurt -- especially when holding or touching cold items. Today, they are tingly but that sensation can be ignored most of the time.

The author's body is currently "as clean of the cancerous cells as possible," according to his oncologist. This doctor also commented during that visit that many don't appreciate the gravity of that statement. "Years ago, half of the people who contracted multiple myeloma died within 3 years of diagnosis." Those numbers are greatly extended now due to chemo regimens like the Arkansas Treatment.

Dennis Dinger is a survivor of multiple myeloma. Diagnosed in June, 2008, he received five cycles of the Arkansas Treatment: four of chemotherapy, plus the fifth -- the high dose and the autologous stem cell transplant. His book, My Bout with Multiple Myeloma, chronicles his battle - to include the year prior to diagnosis, the treatments, and the recuperation period following all treatments. Throughout 2010, the cancer was in complete remission. For more details on the book, click on Multiple Myeloma.

In this book, he includes descriptions of most of the procedures to which he was subject, he gives helpful hints and suggestions to others who may have to deal with this or other cancers. The book was written for those who have been similarly diagnosed, as well as for their family members and friends who may be called upon to support their loved ones through similar battles.

Dennis Dinger is a Christian who is a Professor Emeritus of Ceramic and Materials Engineering at Clemson University.

Since his cancer diagnosis and treatments, he has been spending his days studying and writing Christian books. His most recent book attempts to bridge the chasm between technology and Christianity. It is entitled Global Climate Change, the Bible, & Science. His other Christian books are The Coming of the Lord Draweth Nigh, a study of prophecy and the Revelation, The Tribulation to Come, a study of the Revelation of John, and Absolute Truth for a Relative World.

Products We Use That Help Eliminate Side Effects

I would like to start by saying this is in no way meant to solicit you to buy the products we used for our little Emma. I am writing this to give you insight into what we did and what worked for all the side effects we were told would be part of her treatments.

Here is our story. On July 2, 2010, my wife took Emma (who was 4 ½ at the time) to a doctor's appointment because she looked a bit pale and we noticed a few spots on her neck that were not normal. Our doctor called a pediatrician and they advised us to get blood work done as soon as we could. This happened at our local hospital at 4pm and by 6pm we were back at the hospital where we were told that she had high risk B-cell ALL (an extremely high white blood count). Our lives changed in an instant as you are all aware. By 9pm, my wife and daughter were on their way to BC Childrens Hospital to start her treatments immediately.

For work, my wife and I operate a home based business as Independent Herbalife Distributors (an International company in the Health and Wellness industry). I am telling you all this to show a few things. This disease has no prejudice as it will afflict anyone; young, old, healthy or ailing. Emma has never had any major ailments and very few simple colds ever since she was born. We started her on natural children's supplements, and she voluntarily started having a morning shake every day. This turned out to be a good thing because while she was in the hospital, she did not want to eat "real" food but we were able to keep her strength up with the good nutrition in the shakes. Of course we made sure with the doctors that what we were giving her was not conflicting with any of the medication she was getting.

Secondly we were able to keep working as our business is done on the internet, over the phone and other simple methods, which meant we did not have to take time off our "jobs" or leave them altogether to be with Emma during this time. We have heard about so many others that had financial hardships and job issues because of this. After speaking with other parents of children at the hospital and clinic, as well as others from our church that had children with the same affliction, we made the decision to have all Emma's treatments done where the care is the best, at BC Childrens Hospital. This meant that we needed to move off the island which was a tough but necessary move. Again we were able to do this with very little disruption to our business (which means our income as well), while always being available for Emma.

So here is what we have been doing for Emma over the past 9 months - I cannot believe it has been that long already - and what has been happening. Every morning she has a Herbalife meal replacement shake made from ½ cup water and 1 cup milk. As lack of appetite is one of the side effects, we needed to make sure she was getting the appropriate nutrition for the day and as these provide it, we were glad that she would still have them. Another good thing is that while she is on steroids, she does not gain as much weight due to cravings caused by them. This shake has also given her a lot of energy which the doctors are very impressed about. Another side effect is nausea and constipation. For this, she is having Herbal Aloe Concentrate - which comes in regular or Mango flavor which she goes between depending on her tastes which changes when she has chemo treatments. This is a liquid that you drink which protects and heals your insides as well as prevent other internal issues. During one hospital visit, she was getting a high dose of Methotrexate and they decided to give her a stool softener and against our better judgment, we agreed. She developed blisters and burns on her bum due to this so bad that they prescribed Morphine for the pain. We increased the doses of Aloe, applied Vaseline and kept her clean, and within three days it was all cleared up. The doctors and nurses continue to be amazed at Emma's lack of side effects and at how well she handles her procedures. She is active and normally has a smile on her face, however she has the odd days where she gets tired and moody due to the drugs.

My suggestion for all that are either going through treatments or have someone they love going through, that they find themselves these products: A healthy meal replacement shake that tastes good and has a good amount of nutrients for the day. You need to keep your strength up and proper nutrition is key to this. A liquid Aloe product that you can take as it will settle your stomach and help prevent nausea and constipation. The aloe will also help with mouth sores that can accompany the chemo tablets you take at home. We are willing to answer any questions concerning what has worked for us as well as any other nutritional questions you might have, just send me a message at mbarts2009@gmail.com and my wife and I will get back to you.

With a degree in Business Marketing, a background in senior level management, I have learned a lot about people and what it takes for a business to succeed in different markets. Through all my experiences, I have done extensive customer service work, performed a lot of individual and group training as well as a large amount of different types of marketing. I would like to share my thoughts, ideas and comments to give you something to think about.

Some Lymphoma Symptoms

Lymphoma is a kind of cancer that affects the patient's lymphatic cells. These are part of the immune system. Naturally, it is a serious medical condition. Someone that has this cancer may show lymphoma symptoms. Do keep in mind, however, that a person could have this malignancy without displaying any of the symptoms mentioned here. Also, what you read on this page isn't a complete list -- nor is it, of course, intended to be used in place of advice from a doctor.

Anemia

The condition known as anemia may develop as one of the lymphoma symptoms. While anemia can refer to multiple situations, in many cases it is an instance of fewer than normal red blood cells in the individual's blood. This can medically occur in multiple ways: whether by a lack of sufficient production of them, by their destruction in high amounts, or by a the loss of a significantly high amount of blood. These, at least, are the three main ways in which it can occur.

Aside from lymphoma, other medical causes of anemia are also possible. For instance, it may be due do a deficiency in vitamin B12. In this case, the condition is labeled as the pernicious form.

Shortness of breath

A person who has lymphoma may also experience breathlessness as a symptom. This is far from the only medical cause, however. Congestive heart failure is another possible reason. It can also occur in instances of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which is where chronic bronchitis and emphysema are present at once. Asthma is also a reason behind shortness of breath. Pneumonia and many other medical reasons can also be behind it. There are various diagnostic methods that can be used to look for or rule out possible causes, with a chest X-ray being one of the possibilities. There may be particular treatment methods that are aimed at this cause, if it is found.

New T-Cell Therapy May Be a Powerful Cancer Fighter

Researchers have been working hard to find a way to use the body's own t-cell's to fight cancer and destroy it. Clinical trials have been conducted and some people who were participants have gone into complete remission using this exciting and novel new approach. This is known as "gene therapy" and researchers have been working furiously for years trying to find ways to utilize the body's own cells to be reprogrammed to fight and destroy cancer cells.

A clinical trial held at The University of Pennsylvania involved providing this treatment to participants who suffered from leukemia. One participant in particular, a man who had suffered from leukemia participated in the trial and it turned his life around for the better. Chemotherapy was no longer effective for his disease. A few weeks after this treatment, he was in complete remission with no trace of cancer to be found. It is now a year later and he is still completely cancer free. There were an additional two patients who participated in this trial. One had another complete remission of the leukemia and the third participant had a partial remission result. These results are extremely promising and plans are being made for further gene therapy trials.

The Procedure: This trial involved the removal of billions of a person's T-cells. T- cells are one of the white cells in the human body whose function is to fight and destroy viruses and tumors. Once these t-cells are removed they are genetically reprogrammed with new genes. These new genes actually teach the t-cells to seek out and destroy cancer in the human body. They are then reinjected back into the patient.

The doctors who are part of the trial are not stating yet that this is a cure. They say the treatment is still experimental and has only involved a few patients. This trial has been written about in The New England Journal of Medicine and Science Translational Medicine. Many researchers are very excited about it and feel it is a significant achievement in the field of gene therapy to fight cancer.

This procedure basically was able to use a person's own immune system to kill cancer cells. Researchers are now trying to determine if other types of cancer might also be responsive to this gene therapy.

The doctors leading this study and trial said they were also stunned by the results of complete remission. Although this is still experimental at this point, researchers hope to replicate this study again and see how it responds to other types of cancer.

Tumor Destruction by T-cells: Scientists are trying to determine how to make these modified t-cells destroy tumors. This particular research study done at The University of Pennsylvania appears to have been able to accomplish this by leaving a population of "memory" t-cells" within the body that will be able to remultiply when needed, as they will recognize the development of cancerous cells.

This gene therapy concept of genetically modifying the body's t-cells really began in the 1980s with research conducted in Israel. Over the years much research has continued to occur in this area and it appears that scientists are making great progress. Researchers are hopeful that one day soon, these "cancer killer" t-cells" will effectively destroy cancer and be available as a therapy option for people suffering from this dreadful disease.

Potential Dangers of T-Cell Therapy: Although this research is incredibly promising there are certain dangers still inherent to it. A person may become vunerable to infection because the treatment will destroy both healthy and cancerous cells simultaneously, in this leukemia case wiping out a patient's entire B-cell population. Doctors are providing these patients with precautions such as periodic infusions of immune building substances to prevent infections from occurring.

Another danger could be the overwhelming number of cancer cells that can die off all at once. This can overwhelm the liver and kidneys and lead to "tumor lyses", a potentially deadly reaction. Doctors are working on this problem by providing drugs which will help protect the kidneys while this process is occurring.

Additionally there may be other reactions which may be life threatening because everybody is unique and the modified t-cells can target cancer cells anywhere in the body. Therefore if there is cancer in the lungs, the lungs may become overwhelmed and the patient can develop breathing problems which can be dangerous. Additionally side effect reactions that occur from this treatment include high fevers and inflammation.

The Future: Researchers are very excited about the future of genetically modified t-cell therapy in treating and even destroying cancer. Although it may be years away, the hope is to perfect the therapy and make it available to anyone who may benefit from it. Many hurdles still exist including how this treatment could be massed produced by the pharmaceutical industry. Until that time, researchers continue to work hard and are grateful for the astonishing results of complete remission they have already achieved in several patients suffering from leukemia.

The Issels Medical Center in Santa Barbara, California is a world renowned alternative cancer treatment center. The Issels Treatment is an Integrative Immunotherapy program with a 50 year history. Founded in 1951 by a pioneer in integrative cancer medicine, Dr. Josef Issels, MD., a German oncologist, The Issels Medical Center in Santa Barbara, California treats patients with all natural non toxic therapies for a variety of health conditions including cancer.

Researchers May Have Found the Leukemia Cause

A new study may shed light into why leukemia, one of the deadliest cancers, develops in the first place.

Although leukemia is one of the best studied cancers, the cause of some types is still poorly understood, but experts in the US say a new method may make it possible for healthcare experts to discover why the disease forms.

Specialists at the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania said that a newly-found mutation in acute myeloid leukemia patients could account for half of the remaining cases of adult acute leukemia which have no known origin.

Senior author Dr Craig Thompson, director of the facility, said the molecular biology of leukemia has been studied for the last 20 years and experts thought they had found most of the common genes for it.

"Now we're able to point to a distinct type of mutation for half of the remaining leukemia's for which we didn't know the cause and between one-quarter and one-third of leukemia's in older patients.

Every year more than 7,000 people are diagnosed with leukemia in the UK, or around 19 people every day, making it the tenth most common cancer, with more than 4,200 new cases diagnosed in 2006 alone.

The new findings, published this week in Cancer Cell, suggest that acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients have increased levels of a molecule called 2HG.

AML is a quick-moving, deadly cancer that starts in the bone marrow and soon moves into the blood, and the specialists found that increased amounts of 2HG stem from a mutation in one of two related metabolic enzymes, IDH1 or IDH2.

People Who Died of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer typically caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos becomes trapped in the mesothelium, which is the lining of such vital internal organs as the lung, stomach, and heart. It can become cancerous over time, when it is known as mesothelioma. Numerous celebrities and other notable people have died from this disease.

Steve McQueen, a famous American actor principally from the 1960s and 1970s was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma in December 1979. The peritoneum is the lining of the stomach. His mesothelioma was at such an advanced stage that U.S. doctors declined to offer McQueen surgery or chemotherapy due to the risk involved. As a result, Mr. McQueen sought treatment in Mexico.

Despite the risks involved in the procedure, McQueen underwent surgery in Juarez, Mexico to remove a large tumor in his abdomen. McQueen died of a heart attack the day following the surgery on November 7, 1980. McQueen attributed his asbestos exposure to the removing of asbestos lagging from pipes aboard a ship while in the Marines.

In 2006, film and television actor Paul Gleason died of pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lungs. Gleason played a supporting role in several blockbuster movies from the 1980s including Trading Places, The Breakfast Club, and Die Hard. Gleason believed he got mesothelioma from asbestos exposure while working on building sites when he was young.

More recently, Merlin Olsen, a Professional Football Hall of Fame defensive lineman, actor, and television football commentator died of pleural mesothelioma on March 11, 2010. Olsen was diagnosed in 2009 in the later stages of the disease. He underwent three courses of chemotherapy before his passing.

Olsen filed a lawsuit in December 2009 against NBC Studios, NBC Universal, and 20th Century Fox claiming they exposed him to asbestos, which caused his mesothelioma. Olsen also named Sherwin Williams and Lennox Industries in the suit, as he had worked at a job involving drywall when he was young.

Myeloid Leukemia Definitions, Classifications And Symptoms

Myeloid leukemia is a group of diseases whose characteristic changes are seen in the bone marrow and blood, where tumor cells infiltrate the blood system; sometimes these cells even spill into the circulating blood other tissues. The concept of myeloid leukemia is from the action of immature white blood cells being produced in excess and therefore inhibiting the production of the normal blood cells. These cells are called myeloid cells; they by their action in the blood disturb the function of the blood cells.

This leukemia has both tumors which are kept untreated to those that are diagnosed and treated immediately, ranging from rapid fatality to those which are slow in growing. Therefore on the basis of their treatment course they are divided into acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).

AML is seen more in men than in women and more prevalent in people older than 65 than in people of younger age. CML is also greater in men than in women but its incidence always increase slowing and the people's age increases and gets to the peak of occurrence in mid forties from where there is rapid rise in CML occurrence. Anyway the incidence of CML decreased slightly in the past two decades.

The etiology of myeloid leukemia is depended on the type, AML is related with risk factors such as hereditary (other resident blood disease in the family history; DIC) exposure to occupational chemicals, intense exposure to radiation which may be as a result of therapeutic reasons and even some drugs, but there is nothing relating the cause of ML to viral infection in any way.

While the etiology of chronic myeloid leukemia has no distinct relation with cytotoxic drug effect and there is also no evidence connecting it with any viral infection, but cigarette smoking by studies has shown to increase its progress into severe crisis, therefore living with Chronic myeloid leukemia and smoking becomes dangerous. Only large dosage of radiation has any adverse effect for CML formation.

The symptoms of ML are also depending on the type, whether it is AML or CML. For AML patients are presented with some nonspecific symptoms which begin either slowly or abruptly and the symptoms are leucopenia or leucocytosis, thrombocytopenia. These symptoms are usually due to anemia in such patients. Other symptoms of are fatigue, anorexia and weight loss and easily getting bruised with excessive bleeding.

While in CML the symptoms are at first insidious therefore it is difficult to diagnose a patient based but symptoms, such patients are usually diagnosed during normal medical checkup, or others come to the hospital with complaints fatigue, weight loss, symptoms relating to splenomegaly such as early satisfaction during eating, left upper quadrant pain, infections, thrombosis or sometimes bleeding.

When chronic myeloid leukemia progresses symptoms worsened with bone and joint pain, significant loss of weight which will require increasing the dose of the drugs used for treatment. Chemotherapy is used as treatment of myeloid leukemia but when this fails bone transplant is done.

Dave has been involved in all different areas of the health field for many years now, and prides himself on offering all kinds of different resources for all kinds of different diseases and conditions. For more information on this topic you can checkout either of his websites; the first being myeloid leukemia prognosis and the second being acute myeloid leukemia prognosis.

Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma - Symptoms to Watch For

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma begins when a lymphocyte, usually a B cell, becomes abnormal. The abnormal cell then starts to divide to replicate itself. The new cells divide repeatedly making more abnormal cells. These abnormal cells don't die when they should, and don't protect the body from infections or other diseases. The buildup of extra cells often forms a growth or tumor.

Some symptoms to look out for are night sweats, swollen lymph nodes, loss of appetite, fever, chest pain, coughing, weakness and fatigue that does not disappear, swelling of the abdomen or feeling of fullness. Sometimes these symptoms are not cancer related. If symptoms persist beyond two weeks, you should consult a doctor. Your doctor will do a physical exam to check for swollen lymph nodes in your neck, the doctor also checks for swollen spleen, and liver.

A blood test will show whether there is an increase in white blood cells, a decrease in platelets, and other cells and substances such as lactate dehydrogenase, which lymphoma can cause a higher level of LDH in the underarms and groin.

A chest x-ray will be performed at this time as well, along with a biopsy. The only sure way to confirm lymphoma is by a biopsy. The doctor may order a excisional biopsy ( an entire lymph node) or an incisional biopsy (part of a lymph node). Removing the entire lymph node is best which can then be examined under a microscope.

There are many types of lymphoma, the most common types are diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and follicular lymphoma.

Lymphoma is classified by how fast they grow. Indolent or low-grade lymphomas grow slowly, and cause few symptoms. Aggressive or intermediate-grade and high grade are fast growing and spreading lymphomas. They cause severe symptoms, and indolent lymphomas can quickly turn into aggressive lymphomas. It is always good to get a second opinion and advice about treatment.

My experience about this deadly disease through watching my mother wasting away and finally passing from it was disturbing to say the least. This type of cancer does not spread itself in the brain, but it does affect the brain. Although my mother also had dementia as well as lymphoma her long-term memories stayed quite clear. Her short-term memory was more affected.

Near the end of her aggressively spreading lymphoma she slept most of the time. Although this disease took the life of my mother, her spirits were high, and she never complained about the pain she was in, and it was severe pain. She was a Christian woman who practised her faith up to the end of her life.

Catharine Parks writes from true life experiences. She is a published author and invites you to escape into the world of life experiences seen through the eyes of humor, or life's downfalls, the escapades of pet heroism, or the titillating paranormal experiences that have affected her life and those around her.

Symptoms of Lymphoma in Women

Symptoms of lymphoma in women are generally the same as for men.

Lymphoma often develops quietly and with few symptoms so it may take a while before you may realize that there is something very much the matter.

Following is a list of the typical symptoms of lymphoma in women and symptoms of lymphoma in men alike.

One thing to keep in mind is that these lymphoma symptoms can be symptoms of any of a large number of conditions that are generally harmless.

For this reason, it's wise to consult with your doctor if you experience any of them.

1. Enlargement of the Lymph Nodes

This is the most characteristic lymphoma symptom and can be the only symptom that one experiences.

It's very important to note that a lot of different things can cause an enlargement of the lymph nodes and it does NOT necessarily mean you have lymphoma!

Typically, the lymph nodes of the groin, armpit and neck will swell but cause no pain.

Humans have 500+ lymph nodes in the body which are basically "forts" of immunity.

When they swell, it is often indicative of the body initiating an immune response against some type of microscopic invader.

You may notice these lumps in the course of your daily routine, such as when showering or applying creams, etc.

The symptoms outlined most often only indicate a possible lymphoma if they are discovered in addition to swollen lymph nodes.

2. Losing Weight

Typically, sudden weight loss will occur over a period of several months with no good reason.

Weight loss can range from a few pounds to up to 20 or so.

3. Running a Fever

A random fever that keeps occurring for no good reason (i.e., is not connected with a flu, cold, etc.) is usually an indication to go see your physician.

Symptoms of lymphoma can be confused with symptoms of other illnesses and, in fact, a lymphoma that causes fever accompanied by lymph node swelling is frequently mistaken for a flu or something similar.

Additionally, in those afflicted by a Hodgkins type lymphoma, a quintessential type of fever termed Pel-Ebstein fever can develop.

4. Night Sweats

Excess sweating at night may find you waking up soaked in your own sweat.

5. Pruritis (Itchiness)

Lymphoma cells can secrete certain substance which cause the entire body to be itchy, a condition known as pruritis.

6. Lack of Appetite

Individuals with lymphoma can experience a drop in their usual appetite which can also cause weight loss, one of the other symptoms of lymphoma listed above.

7. Fatigue and Listlessness

Cancer cells hijack the body's energy resource that would otherwise be utilized by healthy cells, causing a drop in energy levels.

8. Swelling

Depending upon where a lymphoma grows (and it can occur in any organ of the body), it may compress and block off veins, effectively limiting blood supply and causing swelling.

Site-specific lymphomas produce rather widely varying symptoms.

A lymphoma of the brain may cause pains in one's legs while a lymphoma in the stomach can cause stomach pains.

General Symptoms of Lymphoma in Women and General Symptoms of Lymphoma in Men

The first and most obvious sign of lymphoma is adenopathy, aka lymphadenopathy, which is a painless swelling of the lymph nodes.

Swollen lymph nodes by themselves, however, are NOT necessarily an indication of lymphoma.

It requires medical testing to confirm or negate the diagnosis.

Symptoms of lymphoma can come in many varieties, dependent upon the location of the lymphoma, the stage of growth, size of tumor, etc.

Symptoms linked with bone marrow issues such as becoming anemic (having a low red blood cell count) are uncommon in the beginning stages of a lymphoma but often are seen later in the game and often as a result of treatment.

MALT (Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue) lymphomas affect any mucosal site, the stomach being the most common one. Alterations in bowel movement and stomach pains can be indications.

As far as the stomach lymphoma goes, if it is a result of infection with the H. Pylori bacterium, antibiotic treatment can cause the lymphoma to regress in 70%+ of cases.

How To Report Your Symptoms To A Doctor Effectively:

Describe the intensity of your symptom on a scale such as "This hurts about a 7 out of 10?.

For visually observable symptoms, show them to the doctor and also explain how they started off and looked like initially.

Explain when you first experienced your symptoms

How long have you been experiencing this symptom?

Is the symptom constant or does it come and go?

Describe any medications or dietary supplements you take/did take starting from the time symptoms manifested.

Do the symptoms change depending upon body positioning, time of day, etc.?

Do certain foods trigger the symptoms?

Be as descriptive as possible. The more accurate and specific the information you give, the more your doctor will be able to pinpoint the nature of your problem (if you have any!) and the better he/she will be able to treat you and advise you.

As you can see the Symptoms of Lymphoma in Women are generally the same as they are for men. It's important to pay attention to your body and note any symptoms you may have so that you can discuss them with your doctor in detail and he will be in a better position to help you.

Symptoms of Leukemia: Spotting Them Before It's Too Late

Leukemia is a type of cancer that is very common nowadays. It does not choose who it attacks: men, women, children, adults, Caucasian, African-American, Asian, Hispanic - we are all at risk. According to the latest survey conducted, almost 44,000 people will be diagnosed with leukemia by 2010. It is now 2011. However, with developments that we have had in the aspect of health and medicine, the outcome of leukemia is looking bright. There is now a significant increase in the survival rate - a little over 50 per cent. That might not be a very big number for you, but compared to the 1970s when they only had a 14 per cent chance of survival, 50 per cent is almost like being disease-free. Won't you agree?

Surviving leukemia would largely depend on the severity of the disease by the time it gets diagnosed. As you could deduce, an earlier diagnosis of leukemia would give a better prognosis as compared to a late detection. Knowing which symptoms to look out for would be a great help in getting the earliest treatment possible. The following would be the most common symptoms of leukemia:

• Fever and recurrent infections. The reason behind this is that in leukemia, you do not have mature white blood cells to combat foreign bodies. You do not have a good defense system to protect you from invading viruses.

• Fatigue. Leukemia is a condition where there is a massive production of abnormal white blood cells. These cells would take up a lot of space, thus impeding the production of other types of cells. Since the production of red blood cells is decreased in the process, oxygen delivery to your various systems would also be decreased. This is what's causing fatigue.

• Bleeding and/or easy bruising. Bleeding, when associated with cancer, is painless. The same goes with bruising. A normal bruise would be tender when touched. Bruising, as related to leukemia, does not have any pain at all. Platelets, the ones responsible for clotting, are decreased in leukemia. This causes the bleeding and the bruising.

• Petechiae. They are tiny, rash-like spots found on the skin. Unlike rashes, though, petechiae are not itchy. This is caused by the rupture of capillaries and a decrease in platelet count.

• Pain. All types of cancer have pain. In the case of leukemia, it is bone or joint pain. This should not be confused with symptoms of bone cancer, though. The pain in bone cancer is caused by the compression of nerves due to tumor growth. In leukemia, the pain is caused by the overcrowding of blood cells in the bone marrow.

There are many other symptoms of leukemia, but the aforementioned would be the most common of the lot. If you experience any of those mentioned above, consult with your doctor immediately. If you get treatment early in the disease, there is a chance that the cancer cells might be eradicated and you would be one of the few survivors who would live to tell your story about battling with death.

Surviving Chemo - The Best Diet to Follow During Chemotherapy

Sugar is one of cancer's favorite foods. By eliminating sugar from your diet, you can boost your body's immune systems.

Many studies show lowering sugar intake is paramount to the health of cancer patients. Glucose has been shown to assist in the growth and metastasis of cancer cells. Initially, elimination of sugar in the diet leaves the patient feeling more deprived by the lack of taste in ordinary foods. Our society is littered with over-processed, high carbohydrate foods. Our taste buds have become so familiar with overly sweetened foods that healthy, quality, natural foods taste bland. Combine the genetic engineering of our food crops that produce bland, even colorless fruits and vegetables. Imagine that you grew up in the 1900's when fruits and vegetables tasted sweet naturally. You can taste the natural sweetness of foods again.

Miracle Fruit is a tropical fruit used in Africa for centuries. The local indigenous people pick the fruit, rub it on their tongue to offset the bitterness in their natural diet. After rubbing the fruit on the tongue a lemons taste shockingly sweet, like sweet lemonade. We experience this effect everyday. Have you ever noticed foods tasting different or off after chewing gum, eating cranberries? Temporarily milk and orange juice taste funny. This same temporary taste alteration we experience all the time, but we simply dismiss it.

Although Miracle Fruit berries are available, they are costly and spoilage is a problem. They generally need to be shipped with dry ice and have a 2 day shelf life. The alternative, Miracle Fruit freeze dried tablets, are a high quality alternative. They are inspected for contaminants that may accompany fresh fruits. Tablets are under a calorie and generally have a 1-2 year shelf life.

Weight-loss is a major concern for cancer patients undergoing chemo treatments. The ability to enhance the appeal of natural food is a plus for the health and survivability of cancer patients.

Consuming more natural fruits and vegetables can improve the health of all individuals and benefit our society as a whole. The obesity epidemic has far reaching concerns in the medical field, from diabetes to high blood pressure. Miracle Fruit can benefit everyone in our quest to maintain a healthy living style by enhancing the taste of natural foods.

The Causes and Treatment of Leukemia

Leukemia is the cancer of the white blood cells. It is also referred to as blood cancer when the white blood cells are abnormally high. It's a kind of cancer that makes the bone marrow produce large number of immature white blood cells that are found in the blood system.

Leukemia came from the Greek words 'leukos' and 'heima' which refers to excess white blood cells in the blood. This disease was officially diagnosed in Edinburg, 1845 by John Hughes but has been on for centuries. It is a fatal cancer disease that affects children and adults with a very bleak survival rate. When old cells in the body die, they are quickly replaced by new ones but in the case of leukemia, the old cells do not die and new ones are subsequently produced thereby increasing more cells in the body and causing blood cancer.

However, when there are excess white blood cells in the body or leukemia, over time the number of blood cells will overcrowd other blood cells and make it difficult for blood to carry out its function. The body's immune systems are also affected and unable to fight infections.

There are 4 major types of leukemia namely chronic myeloid leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia. Most forms of acute leukemia are quite risky with a very slim survival rates but can be treated as soon as it's diagnosed early.
Early symptoms of leukemia are as follows;

There could be signs of reoccurring fever which might fail to recede after medication. In such cases it is very difficult to diagnose, due to absence of any bacteria pathogen.

The immune system could be broken down because of the presence of white blood cells thereby making the body very feeble to contact diseases such as tuberculosis, candidiasis and so on.

Due to the destruction of the red blood cells, another early signs of leukemia is the presence of tiny red spot mostly seen on the skins or in the oral cavity. An early symptom of leukemia in children includes fatigue, weakness and inability to take part in rigorous physical activities, unexplained swellings, paleness, bone and joint pain and shortness of breath can also be attributed to leukemia.

Other symptoms include kidney problem, loss of libido, excessive sweating, skin rashes, and nausea. Such are symptoms characterized with someone suffering from leukemia and as such it is better to go for blood test as soon as you notice any change in the system and if diagnosed earlier it could be treated on time.

The cure for leukemia

In the 18th century, arsenic was the oldest form of treatment for leukemia before Thomas Fowler invented a solution of potassium bicarbonate and arsenic trioxide which was then known as fowler's solution. It became a standard remedy to treat leukemia and anemia diseases before it was replaced in the 20th century by radiation therapy which has been very helpful in curing leukemia. But today, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, 6-mercaptopurin, and aminopterin, has been replaced with genetic analysis and bone marrow transplant which is considered as the most effective means in curbing the menace of leukemia or cancer of the blood.

The Chronic and Acute Myelogenous Leukemia

Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), as well called acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL), is a rapidly progressive neoplasm resulting from hematopoietic precursors, or myeloid stem tissue, that give rise to granulocytes, monocytes, erythrocytes, and platelets. There's growing evidence that genetic events occurring early in stem mobile maturation can lead to leukemia. Very first, there's a lag time of 5-10 years towards the development of leukemia after coverage to known causative agents such as chemotherapy, radiation, and particular solvents.

2nd, many instances of secondary leukemia evolve out of a prolonged "preleukemic phase" manifested like a myelodysplastic syndrome of hypoproduction with abnormal maturation without having precise malignant behavior. Finally, examination of precursor cells at a stage earlier than the malignant expanded clone in a provided kind of leukemia can reveal genetic abnormalities such as monosomy or trisomy of various chromosomes. In maintaining using the general molecular theme of neoplasia, extra genetic modifications are witnessed in the malignant clone compared with the morphologically normal stem cell that developmentally precedes it.

Acute myelocytic leukemias are classified by morphology and cytochemical staining. Auer rods are crystalline cytoplasmic inclusion bodies characteristic of, though not uniformly witnessed in, all myeloid leukemias. In contrast to mature myeloid tissue, leukemic cells have large immature nuclei with open chromatin and prominent nucleoli. The look from the individual kinds of AML mirrors the cell kind from which they derive. M1 leukemias originate from early myeloid precursors with no apparent maturation toward any terminal myeloid mobile type. This really is apparent within the lack of granules or other features that mark more mature myeloid cells. M3 leukemias are a neoplasm of promyelocytes, precursors of granulocytes, and M3 cells exhibit abundant azurophilic granules which are common of normal promyelocytes.

M4 leukemias arise from myeloid precursors that may differentiate into granulocytes or monocytes, whereas M5 leukemias derive from precursors currently committed towards the monocyte lineage. Therefore, M4 and M5 cells both include the feature folded nucleus and gray cytoplasm of monocytes, whereas M4 cells include also granules of the granulocytic cytochemical staining pattern. M6 and M7 leukemias can't be readily identified on morphologic grounds, but immunostaining for erythrocytic proteins is positive in M6 tissue, and staining for platelet glycoproteins is apparent in M7 tissue.

Chromosomal deletions, duplications, and well balanced translocations had been noted about the leukemic tissue of some patients prior to the introduction of molecular genetic techniques. Cloning from the regions exactly where well balanced translocations occur has, in some cases, revealed a preserved translocation website that reproducibly fuses a single gene with an additional, producing in the manufacturing of a brand new blend protein. M3 leukemias show a really higher frequency of the t(15;17) translocation that juxtaposes the PML gene with the RAR- gene. RAR- encodes a retinoic acid steroid hormone receptor, and PML encodes a transcription factor whose target genes are unknown. The blend protein possesses novel biologic action that presumably results in improved proliferation and a obstruct of differentiation.

Interestingly, retinoic acid can induce a short-term remission of M3 leukemia, supporting the importance of the RAR--PML blend protein. Monosomy of chromosome seven can be observed in leukemias arising out from the preleukemic syndrome of myelodysplasia or in de novo leukemias, and in both instances this finding is associated with a worse clinical prognosis. This monosomy as well as other serial cytogenetic modifications may also be seen right after relapse of treated leukemia, a scenario characterized by a a lot more aggressive program and resistance to therapy.

As hematopoietic neoplasms, acute leukemias involve the bone marrow and usually manifest abnormal circulating leukemic (blast) cells. Occasionally, extramedullary leukemic infiltrates recognized as chloromas can be observed in other organs and mucosal surfaces. A marked improve within the number of circulating blasts can sometimes trigger vascular obstruction associated with hemorrhage and infarction within the cerebral and pulmonary vascular beds. This leukostasis results in symptoms such as strokes, retinal vein occlusion, and pulmonary infarction.

In most instances of AML along with other leukemias, peripheral blood counts of mature granulocytes, erythrocytes, and platelets are decreased. This is probably because of crowding from the bone marrow by blast tissue as nicely as the elaboration of inhibitory substances by leukemic cells or alteration of the bone marrow stromal microenvironment and cytokine milieu required for normal hematopoiesis. Susceptibility to infections consequently of depressed granulocyte amount and function and abnormal bleeding as a result of reduced platelet counts are common problems in sufferers initially presenting with leukemia.

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is an indolent leukemia manifested by an increased quantity of immature granulocytes in the marrow and peripheral circulation. One of the hallmarks of CML may be the Philadelphia chromosome, a cytogenetic function that is due to balanced translocation of chromosomes 9 and 22, producing in a fusion gene, bcr-abl, that encodes a kinase that phosphorylates a number of key proteins included in cell development and apoptosis. The fusion gene can recreate a CML-like syndrome when released into mice.

CML eventually transforms into acute leukemia (blast crisis), which is associated with further cytogenetic changes and a clinical course similar to that of acute leukemia. New courses of medicines that block the bcr-abl kinase by competing with the ATP-binding site, induce remissions in most patients in chronic phases of CML. Moreover, resistance to these bcr-abl inhibitors can include amplification from the bcr-abl breakpoint as nicely as the development (or clonal expansion) of mutations in the ATP-binding pocket of bcr-abl, which no longer allows binding of inhibitors.

The Cancer You May Have

Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma Economic Impact is very obvious in patients who lose their jobs due to this dreadful disease. Man hour lost to sick leaves and cost of health insurance to employers are also economic wastes. All these impact negatively on both the patient and society.

Lymphoma can appear in different forms with symptoms that appear like those of other ailments. This is why the need to use various types of techniques for lymphoma diagnosis arises. Which is why only the doctor who specializes in medical diagnosis should handle its identification.

A critical look at the lymphoid lesions will be carried out to identify the presence of possible cancerous cells by investigating the structural traits, along with the genetic constitution and what the organ looks like as a consequence of the interaction of its genotype and the environment.

If lymphoma manifests in an aids patient it means that the disease has already gain ground. If this happens treatment could be through oral drugs or by way of injections aimed to attack the disease via your bloodstream. It is called Systemic chemotherapy.

But unfortunately, most lymphoma patients either were not properly diagnosed or under-treated. A recent shocker was the discovery from haphazardly chosen medical establishments nationwide that 50 percent of patients with curable lymphoma are being given under- treatment with chemotherapy leading to poor response and recovery. This happens at a time when even Cell marker tests can reveal the presence of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

This test can be used to identify Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma subtypes. It can also detect whether the lymphoma is caused by abnormal activity of B-cells or T-cells. If you suspect that you have lymphoma or any of your family have once suffered lymphoma, get tested regularly to ensure that you do not have the disease.

 

The Moment of Truth

It is a long story, but it began after Hughie's Summer Day Camp, Chandler Newberger's Sports Camp, was finished July 11th. Hughie had a big day, as the camp always plans a day trip to Six Flags Great America, an amusement park, and the campers leave at 8:45am and do not return until 4:30pm. That is a much longer day than Hughie is used to, but the trip was a great success. I picked Hughie up and took him immediately to Noah's 7th birthday party at Wilmette Bowling Lanes, which didn't finish until 7pm. So, Hughie's week ended on a high note, and the following week was filled with lots of reading, relaxation, and no stress. It was great for everybody not to have to race here and there, dropping off and picking up on the hour! What started merely as a venture to both save some money, and to decompress from over-scheduling, in doing only one term of summer camp, turned out to be a Life Saver...

Hughie is an avid cyclist, and every morning before his sports camp he would ride at least a ½ hour on his own around the block. Suddenly, however, this week, when he had no more physical activity planned through camp, he was not interested in riding his bike. He retreated mostly to his room to read; this is not untypical behavior for him really, as he loves reading, and reads very well. One day, however, later in the week, (around July 16th) I found him reading on his beanbag chair, and when I came by later, he had fallen asleep. I thought it was a little strange, but nothing more at that time.

The next week, Monday, July 21st, I noticed that Hughie's demeanor was becoming quiet, and reserved, which is totally out of character. He is normally a little obnoxious, goofy, charming, and always eager to share his recent revelations at the kitchen table while eating. I also noticed that Hughie's eyelid on his left eye was drooping. I thought maybe he had been bitten by a spider like had happened to Lizzie during her nap. By the end of that week, I noticed that Hughie's appetite had diminished. He was eating very little, and was sleepy. He didn't fight going to bed at all. Saturday, Lizzie had the flu, so when Hughie had a temperature on Sunday, July 27th, I assumed that he had the same virus. He ate nothing at dinner, but only drank his milk, and his soup. I tried to get him to take one bite of some hummus on pita bread, and he gagged. I thought he was throwing up at the time.

His temperature of 102F continued on Monday. Tuesday, we decided to go to the Lincoln Park Zoo because it was a beautiful day, and we had nothing planned. On our way, we made a quick stop to order Liquor for Victoria's Wedding Shower that was planned to be a Croquet/Badminton Garden Party at our house on Sunday, August 3rd. After parking the car at Diversey Harbor to go to the zoo, Hughie could hardly walk, and was having a great deal of trouble breathing. He didn't really complain but I could see on his face that as we walked along the Lagoon, breathing was a lot of work for him. We stopped and took a break and I gave him some benedryl, thinking it might be allergies. But, as we continued, he didn't change, and I knew then Hughie was seriously ill. It really scared me, and I realized that even though Hughie was not complaining per se, that it was serious. Sometimes kids don't complain because they don't want to be sick, and have to go to the doctor. Then, I knew that it was my responsibility to play Doctor, and take charge, which is exactly what I did.

We rushed to our Pediatrician, from Diversey Harbour, that July 29th at 3:00pm, arriving at Howard and Asbury, in Evanston, at the Traisman/Benuck practice by 3:00pm. I had already alerted Edna, the Receptionist, that I was very concerned, and that I was sure that Hughie was seriously ill. Upon arrival, I discovered that neither of the Partners who regularly see our children was available. Instead, we saw the new Pediatrician who had just joined the practice one year earlier. He and I have never gotten along since he joined the practice over a year ago, because I always am made to feel that what I know intuitively about my kids is not valuable in assessing the problem, and ultimately making a diagnosis. I always take my kids to see the doctor when they are sick, and usually I have some idea what is wrong with them. I make it a habit to give the doctor as much information as I can about the history of their illness. This doctor immediately asked, "So why are you here, Hughie? You look great to me!" I suggested that because he was having trouble breathing, that he had a temperature for three consecutive days of 102F, and that he wasn't eating well, and was lethargic, that maybe he had an infection like Pneumonia. I then suggested that we get a Chest X-ray to confirm that there was no respiratory infection. He then listened to Hughie's heart beat, and breathing, and said:" Hughie's lower respiratory is excellent! It is not necessary to get a Chest X-ray." He gave Hughie a breathing treatment for allergies, and a prescription for Zyrtec, a common allergy medication for children and adults, and told us to come back in a week, before we left for Colorado, if Hughie's breathing wasn't improved. I left feeling very dejected and disappointed in his lack of attentiveness. I felt as if he totally disregarded my concerns.

The next morning, I followed my instincts. I called and talked to the Receptionist, Edna, and told her that I was very dissatisfied with the diagnosis of Hughie, and that I wanted to see another Doctor, either Dr. Benuck, our regular Physician, or his Partner, Dr. Traisman. I was told that Dr. "X" was the only Doctor available in the office Wednesday, but Dr. Traisman would be available to see me at 2:15pm Thursday, July 31st. I accepted that invitation, and took Hughie then. I had Alice with me, too. Dr. Traisman immediately noticed Hughie's eyelid with concern, and then examined him. I gave him all the same information that I had given Dr. "X". Immediately, he showed signs of concern. He stated " Hughie has no air passing in hisleft lung"...He attributed this to a mass growing in Hughie's chest above the left lung, which if it compressed the nerves which control your eye movement, could cause the drooping effect. He also noticed that the right eye pupil was dilated...Within 10 minutes, he was calling Children's Memorial Hospital (one of the best Pediatric hospitals in the nation) to schedule a Chest X-rays of many locations, including the neck area where he supposed the mass was located, and then down into the lung area, as well as CT Scans.

I was suddenly overcome with fear, anxiety, and struggling to stay strong. I called my sister from the car, and started crying. I dropped Alice at home with Anna, and raced downtown to the hospital to start the race to save Hughie's life! Annie met us at the hospital, and I called Milind on his cell phone. He was at the airport in some city and his flight was about to take off. I told him where I was, and what was going on. His flight landed a couple hours later, and he took a cab directly to the hospital. Before we knew it, we were talking to a Pediatric Oncologist in the Emergency room, where they Hughie on a respirator because his breathing was so inhibited. I told the nice lady that she was in the wrong room, and suggested that she leave, because our son did not have cancer. She smiled and said, "unfortunately, we think that he may, and right at this moment we have the radiologists reviewing all of his tests to get a better confirmation as to what kind of tumor he has...Later, after much denial on my part, Milind's part, and my parents part, we heard the bad news. Yes, it is a malignant growth that is quite large and it is compressing on his lymph nodes above his left lung, and the nerve endings. His left lung was collapsed, and the T Cell fluid from the tumor had taken up the area where the lung normally is located. The tumor had moved both his trachea and his heart over to the right side, so they were now obstructing his breathing out of his right lung. The amazing thing was that until Tuesday, the 29th, Hughie never complained. Now, I understood that he had gagged on the food because his trachea had made eating almost impossible, and his oxygenation level was impeded so much that it made him tired, and nauseous.

The truth left a numbing effect on all of us that was filled with pain, concern, and an uncertain future for all of us. My parents are strong, and Dad kept saying, "Don't worry sweetie, everything is going to be all right." I knew he was now seeing how strong Hughie was to endure the pains that he had quietly kept to himself. He sat in the ER bed, surrounded by all the family he has in Chicago, and while breathing into a respirator, he gleefully watched Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets. He had tuned us all out for what was really important! Thank God for the resiliency of children; as we were crumbling, Hughie was somehow enjoying himself...But I was panicing. What about Victoria's party! I had to call her, and let her know we would have to cancel. I called her and cried my eyes out as I told her what we were going through. She willingly took over the task of calling all of the guests and explaining what had happened in the most appropriate manner. I was relieved and disappointed, as she is a very dear friend, and we were looking forward to sharing her joy of getting married to wonderful Matthew. But, I had to focus on Hughie, and what is important: life.

Needless to say, once they had a room on the Oncology/Hematology floor, Hughie was immediately admitted to the hospital that evening (July 31st). By the grace of God, the Chief of Oncology, Dr. Elaine Morgan was "On Call" the night he was admitted, so he became her patient. She is a brilliant doctor, and I am thankful that her experience, aptitude, and sincere interest and caring attitude allowed me to relax and feel that we were in the best hands possible. Hughie was in the hospital for 6 nights, watched closely by doctors, nurses, day and night. They started administering Chemotherapy immediately on August 1st, and in our first meeting with Dr. Morgan, she warned us that each child responds to treatment differently, and that she could not promise us anything. His initial prgnosis, based solely on general probabilities and statistics, suggested that Hughie had a 70-80% chance of cure. When Dr. Morgan said this, my heart dropped into my lap. I immediately knew that what she was really saying was that there was a 30% chance that he would not be cured, and would die She reminded us that Hughie was gravely ill, and that we were lucky that we brought him into the hospital when we did. She did suggest that if Hughie responded to the treatment that they were starting on August 1st, then he should be in Full Remission by August 29th. I was amazed that she was so sure of the treatment plan; but, at the same time, Dr. Morgan wanted to make us understand that she could not promise that Hughie would respond to the Plan. Not all kids do. He was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lymphoblastic T Cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Stage 4 means that it was very advanced, but was essentially limited to the lymph node where the tumor was located. There was some residual T Cell fluid that had dripped from the cavity where the lung usually is into the blood stream, but this was limited, and therefore not Leukemia.hat was important because the treatment of Leukemia is more intense, and can take longer to recover from.

Pediatric cancers differ from adult cancer today because although they grow so rapidly, that helps in the recovery process; they also recede more quickly and effectively because of the rapid cell growth in young children. Now, for some good news: Hughie has been in Remission fully since August 29th. Dr. Morgan suggested that her goal was to have Hughie in remission by that time, with full lung function returned, no tumor, and no t cells in his body; that wish came true!! And I thanked both Dr. Morgan, and her Assistant, Dr. Schneiderman, and with tears in my eyes said, "Thank you for saving my son's life!" Now, I finally saw the sun creeping out from behind the clouds. (Chapter 2: The treatment Plan, will address the specifics of what went on between August 1st, and August 29th).

The Lymphomas

Malignant lymphomas are a diverse group of cancers derived from the immune system, which result from neoplastic proliferation of B or T lymphocytes. These tumors may arise anywhere in the physique, most commonly inside lymph nodes but occasionally in other organs in which lymphoid components reside. 1 subtype of lymphomas that are composed of mixtures of cellular kinds having a unique biology is called Hodgkin's lymphomas, whereas all other kinds of lymphomas are referred to as non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

Several elements are associated with the improvement of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. These consist of congenital or acquired immunodeficiency states for example AIDS or iatrogenic immunosuppression utilized in organ transplantation. Viruses are related to the pathogenesis of some types. For instance, most instances of Burkitt's lymphoma that happen in Africa (endemic kind) are associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), whereas Burkitt's lymphoma manifesting in temperate zones is associated with EBV in only 30% of cases. Human T-cell leukemia-lymphoma virus I (HTLV-I) plays a causative role in the genesis of adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma, in which the malignant cells contain the integrated virus. Human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) have been related to physique cavity-based lymphoma, a uncommon B-cell lymphoma that occurs predominantly in patients with AIDS. Chronic immune stimulation may be a causal system in the development of lymphomas too. For instance, chronic gastritis secondary to Helicobacter pylori infection may give go up to gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas. Resolution of gastric MALT lymphoma might occur in the majority of patients with localized disease who're dealt with with antibiotics efficient against H pylori.

The classification of lymphomas has evolved over several decades. The newest distinction was devised by an international group of lymphoma specialists for that Globe Health Organization. The new scheme characterizes non-Hodgkin's lymphomas according towards the cellular of origin utilizing a combination of criteria: medical and morphologic features, cytogenetics, and immunoreactivity with monoclonal antibodies that recognize B-cell and T-cell antigens, too as genotypic determination of B-cell and T-cell receptor rearrangements. Most non-Hodgkin's lymphomas originate in B tissue and express on their surface CD20, a B-cell marker. Their monoclonal origin could be inferred by characterization from the particular class of light chain that is expressed: Either kappa or lambda B-cell lymphomas are further classified as malignant expansions of tissue from your germinal center, mantle zone, or marginal zone of normal lymph nodes.

Somatic gene rearrangements occur normally during B-cell and T-cell differentiation. The genes for variable and continual regions of the immunoglobulin weighty and light chains are discontinuous in the B-cell germline DNA but are blended by somatic rearrangement to create a functional antibody molecule. The T-cell receptor gene is analogous to the immunoglobulin molecule in that discontinuous sections of this gene also undergo somatic rearrangement early in T-cell development. DNA hybridization by Southern blot analysis permits recognition of a band of electrophoretic mobility that serves being a fingerprint for a monoclonal population of lymphoma tissue.

Most non-Hodgkin's lymphomas exhibit karyotypic abnormalities. The most prevalent translocations consist of t(8;14), t(14;18), and t(11;14). Each translocation requires the immunoglobulin weighty chain gene locus at chromosome 14q32 with an oncogene. Identification and cloning of the breakpoints have identified 8q24 as c-myc, 18q21 as bcl-2, and 11q13 as bcl-1. The proximity of these oncogenes to the immunoglobulin gene results in deregulation and elevated expression from the oncogene product.

Representative subtypes of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma include the indolent lymphomas for example follicular lymphoma, marginal zone lymphomas, and also the intense lymphomas for example mantle cell lymphoma, diffuse large-cell lymphoma, and Burkitt's lymphoma.

Follicular lymphomas are low-grade tumors that may be insidious within their presentation. The translocation t(14;18)(q32;q21) is found in more than 90% of follicular lymphomas. The mutation results in overexpression from the bcl-2 protein by these tissue. The bcl-2 is an oncogene that codes for a protein that blocks apoptosis when overexpressed. The absence of bcl-2 translocation as assessed through the highly sensitive polymerase chain reaction test may be a marker for full remission standing in sufferers whose lymphomas harbor this translocation. Spontaneous regression of lymph node size is typical in sufferers with follicular lymphomas. Nevertheless, this class of lymphoma is not curable with standard chemotherapy; although the affected person with follicular lymphoma tends to possess an indolent clinical course, transformation to some a lot more aggressive grade of lymphoma happens in 40-50% of patients by 10 years.

An important subtype of limited area lymphomas would be the MALT lymphomas, which might originate within the stomach, lungs, epidermis, parotid gland, thyroid, breasts, along with other extranodal websites, where they characteristically align themselves with epithelial cells. A close association has been set up between gastric MALT lymphomas and H pylori infection.

Mantle mobile lymphoma presents histologically being a monotonous populace of small to medium-sized atypical lymphoid cells having a nodular or diffuse pattern that is composed of little lymphoid tissue with irregular nuclear outlines. The diagnosis of mantle mobile lymphoma is depending on morphologic requirements with confirmation by monoclonal antibody staining against cyclin D1 (bcl-1). The t(11;14) translocation seen in the majority of cases of mantle mobile lymphoma results in juxtaposition from the PRAD1 gene on chromosome 11 with the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene on chromosome 14. This outcomes in overexpression from the PRAD1 gene item, cyclin D1. Cyclin D1 binds to and activates cyclin-dependent kinases, which are believed to facilitate cell cycle progression through the G1 phase of the cell cycle. This illness occurs more frequently among older males and presents with adenopathy and hepatosplenomegaly. Mantle mobile lymphomas are significantly a lot more resistant to remedy with mixture chemotherapy than follicular lymphomas and are also incurable.

Diffuse large-cell lymphoma is probably the most prevalent subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. One third of presentations involve extranodal sites, particularly the head and neck, abdomen, epidermis, bone, testis, and nervous program. Diffuse big B-cell lymphomas frequently harbor mutations or rearrangements from the BCL6 gene.

Virtually all instances of Burkitt's lymphoma are associated with alterations of chromosome 8q24, resulting in overexpression of c-myc, an oncogene that encodes a transcriptional regulator of mobile proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Adults presenting with higher tumor burdens and elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase have a bad prognosis. Disease with a large tumor burden may be connected with a hypermetabolic syndrome that is triggered by remedy as the tumor undergoes sudden lysis. This syndrome may result in life-threatening hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatemia, hyperuricemia, and hypocalcemia.

Anaplastic large-cell lymphoma is characterized through the proliferation of extremely atypical cells that express the CD30 antigen. These tumors usually communicate a T-cell phenotype and are connected using the chromosomal translocation t(a couple of;five)(p23;q35), producing in the nucleophosmin-anaplastic lymphoma kinase (NPM-ALK) fusion protein. Activation of the ALK receptor tyrosine kinase results in an unregulated mitogenic signal.

Another kind of T-cell lymphoma may be the adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma, an intense illness connected with HTLV-I infection that is characterized by generalized adenopathy, polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia, hypercalcemia, and lytic bone lesions.

Lastly, Hodgkin's lymphoma is distinguished by the presence of the Reed-Sternberg giant cell of B-cell lineage, which can be regarded the malignant cell kind in this neoplasm. The Reed-Sternberg cell constitutes only 1-10% of the total number of tissue in pathologic specimens of this illness and is connected with an infiltrate of nonneoplastic inflammatory cells.

Umbilical Cord Blood Miracle - How Stem Cells From Umbilical Cord Blood Help in Curing Diseases

AppId is over the quota
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When a baby is born and the umbilical cord is cut, the blood left in the umbilical cord and placenta is usually discarded as medical waste. Not any more, as such blood has been found to be a very important and rich source of stem cells, and stem cells is mankind's latest hope in its battle against age-old fatal diseases.

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that eventually become the different types of blood cells. And as of today, about 70 medical disorders have been treated with such cells, specifically those taken from the umbilical cord. Such cells are very important in the treatment of, say, leukemia, or cancer of the blood. When patients undergo radiation therapy or chemotherapy, their stock stem cells are destroyed, leaving them in a very vulnerable, almost deadly condition. Traditionally, they receive transplant from a donor via bone marrow transplant or direct normal blood transfusion. These two sources of stem cells are fraught with pain and side-effects, and it is tricky to find a donor match.

On the other hand, stem cells from umbilical cord blood are very easy to collect and transplant, and it is not painful to administer. Moreover, it is not difficult to find a family member that can provide a match. And the greatest thing of all is that umbilical cord blood is almost always free of any contamination or infection.

Stem cell transplants can save lives of people with serious diseases, such as leukemia (cancer of the white blood cells) and other cancers, or those with serious blood disorders (aplastic anemia). Recently, it has been found that such cells taken from cord blood can also be used in the treatment of brain injury, cerebral palsy, type 1 diabetes, and heart disorders.

Because of its obvious importance, umbilical cord blood and its storage in an established cord blood bank upon the birth of a baby is becoming a hot issue. The good thing is that parents nowadays have this risk-free choice.

For more information regarding how storing cord blood can protect you and your child's future, check out umbilical cord blood.

Kayla Leeds is a veteran author who maintains a news website called Hot Daily Buzz ([http://hotdailybuzz.com]).

What Are the Main Hodgkin's Lymphoma Symptoms?

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Hodgkin's lymphoma is a type of lymphoma characterized by the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells. These cells are seen in lymphocytes, particularly the T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes which are types of WBC's. Lymphocytes are part of your body's immune system, so it would be natural to have problems in fighting infections when you have lymphoma.

When a person has Hodgkin's lymphoma, one major sign is having an enlarged, non-tender, rubbery lymph node located at the neck, armpit, chest, or groin. However, some note presence of pain when alcohol is consumed. Hodgkin's lymphoma symptoms can also include difficulty of breathing, chest pain, or persistent cough due to a lymph node that is pressing on the air passages or lungs.

Other Hodgkin's lymphoma symptoms are unexplained weight loss, unexplained fever, and night sweats. Fatigue can result due to anemia brought about by a weakened production and storage of RBC in the bone marrow and spleen respectively. Three Hodgkin's lymphoma symptoms are called "B symptoms" which are weight loss, persistent fever, and night sweats. The presence of these symptoms is used when staging the disease and to determine just how aggressive the treatment would be.

Hodgkin's lymphoma symptoms can happen in any stages of the disease. However, most types of Hodgkin's lymphoma manifest Hodgkin's lymphoma symptoms when the disease is already at Stage III and Stage IV. This is why it is important to undergo biopsy and other tests to confirm the presence of lymphoma so proper treatment can be given to help fight the disease. A swollen lymph node may indicate just a simple infection, but if it lasts for more than two weeks without any sign of decreasing in size, an appointment with a doctor is a must.

Treatment can range from radiotherapy, chemotherapy, to bone marrow transplant. Never miss a treatment regimen and always maintain your regular check up so you and your doctor will know if the treatment is effective or needs modification. High chance of survival is noted in treating Hodgkin's lymphoma no matter what stage it was diagnosed, so never lose hope and join a support group to help you cope with the disease.

Need to learn more about Lymphoma? Be sure to check out Lymphoma Symptoms which contains in-depth information on Hodgkin's Lymphoma Symptoms, treatment, diagnosis, causes and much more.

What is B-Cell Lymphoma?

The B-Cell is part of the lymph system as a type of lymphocyte responsible for fighting infections and produce memory cells along with T-Cells to remember the type of microorganism that has invaded the system. This memorization is essential for faster immune system response the next time the same type of microorganism enters the body.

B-Cell lymphoma is a type of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma where the malignancy is found in the B-Cell type of lymphocytes. This sub-classification of Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is also sub-classified into Follicular lymphoma, Burkitt's lymphoma, and Large Cell Lymphoma. The cause of this disease is still unknown, but some environmental and internal factors are associated with this condition. These risk factors are:

- Immunocompromised conditions - these can be either through taking immunosuppressant drugs after a transplant surgery, a genetic condition, or HIV or AIDS. Patients undergoing radiation therapy are also at risk in developing B-Cell lymphoma due to risk of developing cellular mutations.

- Diseases in which the body's own immune system is attacking itself such as rheumatoid arthritis.

- Exposure to chemical agents such as pesticides, insecticides, solvents and other organic chemicals.

Signs and symptoms of B-Cell lymphoma are the standard manifestations for lymphoma which are:

- Swollen, rubbery, non-painful lymph nodes more than 1cm in size.

- Distended abdomen due to swollen spleen or liver (splenomegaly and hepatomegaly respectively)

- Nausea and/or vomiting

- Fatigue

- High fever

- Night sweats

- Chest pain

- Dyspnea (difficulty of breathing)

To diagnose B-Cell lymphoma, your doctor will first study your medical history and conduct a physical examination. Most people suffering from this disease have swollen lymph nodes that have been there for more than 2 weeks due to accumulation of malignant B-cells. Your spleen and liver will be palpated and percussed. This is to see if the malignancy has reached these organs for they are also part of the lymphatic system. A cell biopsy is the most definitive way of diagnosing B-cell lymphoma. Afterwards, if diagnosis is confirmed, staging has to be performed through series of medical tests to know how far and how severe the malignancy has metastasized and affected the body.

Survival rate depends on early detection of B-cell lymphoma. If you suspect that you have lymphoma, it is advised that you have an appointment with your doctor so you would know what treatment is applicable and suitable for you.

What is Burkitt's Lymphoma?

Burkitt's lymphoma is a type of aggressive B-cell lymphoma. This condition is most commonly observed in young people and divided into three types:

- Endemic - this is commonly seen in children living in Africa. Usually, this type of Burkitt's lymphoma affects the facial bones such as the jaw, the intestines such as the distal ileum and cecum. Other abdominal parts such as the ovaries and kidneys can also be affected.

- Sporadic/Non-African - found outside of Africa and affects the same parts as that of the endemic variety.

- Immunodeficiency associated - this type of Burkitt's lymphoma is usually seen in HIV patients or patients taking immune-suppressive drugs,

Along with the stated associated factors, Burkitt's lymphoma is highly connected with Epstein-Barr virus and malaria. The virus creates a mutation inside the B-cells, a type of lymphocyte found in the immune system. Exposure to malaria weakens the cells' resistance to the effects of the virus, making it one of the predominant forms of Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in African children.

Usually, swollen lymph nodes are seen in the neck area that quickly spread in other lymph nodes via lymphatic circulation. The nodes are more than 10 cm in size, and can cause obstruction and deformity. The nodes are rubbery and non-tender. Being an aggressive type of NHL, Burkitt's lymphoma can easily spread through the nervous system and can cause weakness and paralysis. Other symptoms include fatigue, loss of appetite, night sweats, unexplained fever and weight loss. Malignancies in certain body parts can compromise organ function. For example, if a lymphoma is located at the spleen, anemia can result for the capacity of the spleen to store red blood cells has been affected.

Cure of Burkitt's lymphoma usually includes chemotherapy agents such as cytoxan, oncovin, and methotrexate. Aggressive therapy often shows promising effects on children, but close monitoring of the renal system is required. This system can be damaged both by the chemotherapeutic agents and onset of tumor lysis syndrome. The main goal of treatment is to prevent to prevent the disease from spreading further into the nervous system. When proper treatment is given, survival rate 90% guaranteed. It is important to undergo treatment once Burkitt's lymphoma is confirmed for this condition gets worse rapidly and life threatening.

What is "Leukemia"?

What is Leukemia?

The word Leukemia is derived from the Greek words leukos (white) and aima (blood). In simple terms, it is a cancer of the blood or bone marrow. It affects the forming of blood cells, one of the most important cells groups of the human body.

An abnormal production and accumulation of white blood cells characterizes this disease. This form of cancer starts to grow from the stem cells present in the bone marrow. Bone marrow is where blood cells are made.

The presence of abnormal cells called as leukemia cells?, also called as damaged leukocytes confirms the disease. Abnormal cells often over crowd with the other cells and end up with damaged DNA. The entire process makes it difficult for the other cells to do their functions smoothly.

In a healthy human, the W.B.C will die after a certain period resulting in the growth of fresh. In this case, they do not die easily and take-up space and continue to add-up. This crowding of bad cells, almost like a fission reaction in an uncontrolled manner, does not allow the normal functioning of the good cells and this result in sickness.

To better understand this disease, it is important that we know the related biological terms:

Bone Marrow:
The inner part of the bone is the bone marrow and this is where R.B.C, platelets and W.B.C are created

White blood cells (W.B.C):
They are also called leukocytes, and they primarily help fight infections. They are of three types:
• Lymphocytes - Main cells that help in fighting infections
• Granulocytes - These are W.B.C with granules which destroy microbes
• Monocytes - These are related to granulocytes and also help the body fight against microbes

Red blood cells (R.B.C):
They are the ones that carry oxygen to all the tissues of the body.

Platelets:
They are very important in forming clots which prevents the blood vessels from bleeding.

What is Lymphoma

When you're not feeling well, you take assessment as to what's wrong with you. Your throat is scratchy, you have a headache or a fever or perhaps you're nauseas and throwing up. You can easily say what is wrong with you based on your symptoms. When symptoms persist or become worse, a trip to the doctor is probably necessary. It could easily be just a stubborn infection that requires antibiotics or something a little more serious. Either way, it's good to get a diagnosis so that whatever's wrong can be treated right away. Lymphoma is a disease that may start of as harmless symptoms and easily brushed off as nothing but you wouldn't want to let this go to long because the sooner you're able to have this disease diagnosed, the better able you will be cured.

Lymphoma is cancer of the lymphatic system. You have glands or nodes all over your body and these glands are connected to the vessels that carry your white blood cells or lymphatic fluid throughout your blood stream which help to fight off disease in the body. White blood cells act as a barrier to bacteria and toxins that enter the body through the air, our food and water and even through germs we expose ourselves to every day. The glands of the lymphatic system are all connected on a track and this track is circulated throughout the body at each gland stop, like a train station. When cancer strikes a gland in the system it is easily able to spread to all the other glands by hitching a ride on the white blood cells. Now you think that the white blood cells could fight it off, right? Well, if you are someone that may have a weak immune system, your white blood cells may not be able to fight them off faster than they can multiply.

Lymphoma can come in two ways, one is called Hodgkin's lymphoma and the other is non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Hodgkin's lymphoma is the cancer that can spread from one lymph node to another. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a whole different category of cancer with over 30 distinguishable characteristics to diagnose. Non-lymphoma is more difficult to diagnose and finding the right treatment is a long process but once diagnosed and treated effectively, a person could live a long time. There is no cure for Hodgkin's Lymphoma or non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma but there are treatment out there that are very promising depending on the rate at timeline the cancer is growing. Early detection is so important for these types of cancers as symptoms are outward in nature by way of noticing swollen glands in the neck, underarm and groin and weight loss as well as fatigue and a general feeling of unrest.

Someone who may have a low-grade form of lymphoma will experience having slow growing cancer and thus will not have as obvious of symptoms as the more relevant faster growing lymphomas. Slow growing lymphomas are more difficult to treat because they have a higher probability of growing back. The only treatment at this time is chemotherapy and radiation and doing this type of treatment long-term can cause a lot of other issues not related to the cancer itself.

If you feel your glands are larger than normal or sore to the touch, please have it checked out to be on the safe side. Lymphoma is not something to mess around with.

What is Large Cell Lymphoma?

Lymphoma is a malignancy found in the lymph system, specifically in the lymphocytes. The common cells that show malignancy in lymphoma are the B-cell or B-lymphocytes and the T-cells or T-lymphocytes. These lymphocytes are responsible for destroying any pathogens that enter the body and memorize them for faster destruction the next time they invade the system. Lymphoma is sub-divided into Hodgkin's Lymphoma (formerly known as Hodgkin's Disease) and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. The main difference between the two is the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells, commonly found in Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Large cell lymphoma is a type of lymphoma categorized under Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This aggressive type of lymphoma usually affects the B-lymphocytes more than T-lymphocytes. Large cell lymphoma is named as such because the malignant cells in this category are bigger compared to malignant cells of other types of lymphoma. Because of its similarity with Burkitt's lymphoma, careful morphological and clinical studies must be conducted to prevent giving the wrong type of treatment.

The cause of this disease is unknown. However, viral infections such as HIV/AIDS and Epstein-Barr virus have been known as risk factors in developing this condition. Exposure to radiation during cancer treatment can pose as a risk in developing secondary lymphoma.

Signs and symptoms of large cell lymphoma are:

- Swollen, painless lymph nodes

- Fatigue due to anemia

- Anorexia

- Night sweats

- Unexplained weight loss

- Unexplained fever

After taking through medical history and physical examination, biopsy of a lymph node is done to confirm the diagnosis of large cell lymphoma. This is done by taking a sample tissue through a minor surgery and studying it under a microscope. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, several lab tests such as imaging studies (X-Rays, PET Scan, CT-Scan, Ultrasound) and blood tests are done to stage the disease.

Treatment of large cell lymphoma is based on the staging. A combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy is the usual management utilized for lymphoma. The drugs usually have Rituxan, cytoxan, oncovin, and prednisone, a combination of immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and steroids. This is done during the aggressive stage of large cell lymphoma. Once the disease has entered its relapse stage, ICE or DHAP are used. Stage I and Stage II is treated with local radiation therapy, although radiation therapy is also applied along with chemotherapy once large cell lymphoma is at the later stage. Bone marrow transplant is done as a form of aggressive treatment as a last attempt to combat the disease. Research is still being done to fully understand the cause of large cell lymphoma so proper treatment can be done without causing too much stress on the body brought about by the aggressive effects of the medication.

What is Lymphoma Cancer?

The lymphatic system is comprised of the lymph, lymph vessels, lymph nodes, bone marrow, spleen, and liver. The lymph is the fluid that circulates in the lymphatic system and travels through the body via lymph vessels. The fluid contains lymphocytes - produced by the bone marrow and spleen -that fight pathogens. These cells filter the blood and collect the microorganisms inside lymph nodes. You'll notice that during infections, you will have a palpable node in your neck, under your arms, breasts, and groin. When the pathogens are overwhelmed, toxins and byproducts produced by these cells are then filtered in the liver to be eliminated.

In lymphoma cancer, the problem lies in the lymphocytes, specifically the B-lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes. Hodgkin's lymphoma is a type of lymphoma cancer where the B-lymphocytes have the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells under morphological studies. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, on the other hand, is a type of lymphoma that occurs without the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells. The malignant cells increase in number and size, resulting to a pooling of cells inside a lymph node. The lymph node formed will be rubbery, painless, and does not show any signs of disappearing. Lymphoma cancer is also noted with night sweats, unexplained weight loss, and unexplained fever. There are patients diagnosed with lymphoma but still live for more than 5 to 10 years, making this one of the most curable forms of cancer known to man. Biopsy of the tumor is the definitive way in diagnosing lymphoma. Imaging tests such as X-Ray, CT-Scan, and MRI along with blood tests are done in order to stage the severity of lymphoma cancer.

Treatment of lymphoma cancer can be a form or mix of radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Radiation therapy is done during the early stage, and applied only on a local area where the malignancy is noted. When the malignancy has spread in adjacent and distal parts of the body, chemotherapy is used along with immune-stimulants and corticosteroids such as prednisone. Surviving lymphoma is highly dependent on the stage when the lymphoma was diagnosed and the application of appropriate treatment. Always maintain your regular check up to see if your treatment is appropriate for you, and to monitor how the lymphoma cancer is progressing.

What is Mantle Cell Lymphoma?

Mantle cell lymphoma is a subtype of B-cell or B-Lymphocyte lymphoma categorized under Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This type of lymphoma is due to a malignant transformation of the B-cells. These B-cells are part of the immune system and responsible for destroying microorganisms that invade the body. The disease got its name for the malignant B-cells are often found in the mantle zone of the lymph node. Under morphological studies, this would present as a non-aggressive type of lymphoma. However, mantle cell lymphoma is an aggressive type of B-cell lymphoma and the malignancy can spread quickly in the body.

Mantle cell lymphoma is a rare-type of Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Comprising about 7% of the patients belonging in this category, it is commonly found in age groups above 60 years old. This type of lymphoma is manifested by swollen, non-tender lymph nodes located in the throat, and can involve other nodes such as the ones located near the collar bone, the armpits, chests, and groin. The malignant cells can also metastasize in the spleen and liver, giving the sensation of a full, distended abdomen. Fatigue in this condition is due to anemia because of spleen and bone marrow involvement may also be observed, as well as unexplained fever and weight loss. Gastric symptoms such as nausea and vomiting can also be observed.

Treatment for mantle cell lymphoma is given depending on the current stage of malignancy and metastasis. Rituximab is used to help the immune system look for the malignant cells and destroy them, with the help of Interferon given as an immune system booster. R-CHOP in combination with Rituximab and a steroid is commonly given as a form of chemotherapy that aims in destroying the cancer cells. In Stage I and Stage II phase it is treated with a local radiation therapy with or without the aid of chemotherapeutic agents. To help the body recover, stem cell therapy such as bone marrow transplant is done as an aggressive form of treatment when the disease is at the later stage.

Research is still being conducted on ways to treat mantle cell lymphoma without suffering from too much side effects. The MCL Consortium is a group of physicians dedicated to battling this disease. Their website has mantle cell lymphoma resources for researchers and patients designed to help people understand this malignancy as well as group together patients and survivors to form a support group.