Everyone knows swollen, painful lymph nodes in phases of illness. However, if the lymph nodes swell painlessly, this can be an indication of lymph gland cancer. A malignant disease that causes non-specific symptoms.
The lymphatic system is part of the body’s defense system and is responsible for fighting infections. It is made up of a series of lymph nodes and vessels that carry lymphatic fluid, which contains infection-fighting white blood cells, throughout the body. Foreign bodies and other harmful substances are filtered and destroyed by the lymphatic system. Lymph node cancer is a general term for cancer of the lymphatic system. FITBOOK knows the symptoms of lymph node cancer.
What are the symptoms of lymph node cancer?
In the early stages, lymph gland cancer causes almost no symptoms. Only swollen lymph nodes can be an indication of a disease. They can appear in the lymph nodes in the neck, armpit, abdomen, groin, upper chest, and even behind the breastbone. In addition, signs of early lymphoma are very non-specific:1
- fatigue and exhaustion
- strong feeling of cold
- chills
- Fever
- shortness of breath
- itching
- loss of appetite
- stomach pain
- painless, persistent swelling of the lymph nodes
So-called B symptoms can also occur:
- Fever
- night sweats
- weight loss
In the later, advanced course, in which the bone marrow is also affected, other symptoms can also appear, such as anemia, a tendency to infection and bleeding. Depending on the organ and tissue infestation, symptoms such as coughing, breathing difficulties, abdominal, bone and joint pain and digestive problems can also occur.
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Types of lymph gland cancer
There are different types of lymphoma, which differ in the types of cells affected and the course of the disease. There are two main types Hodgkin lymphoma (Hodgkin’s disease, Hodgkin’s disease) and that Non-Hodghin Lymphoma (NHL).
Hodgkin lymphoma (Hodgkin’s disease)
Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a malignant (malignant) lymphoma that originates from degenerated lymph cells, to be precise from B lymphocytes. The B lymphocytes belong to the white blood cells and, together with the T cells, are an important part of the human immune system. The defense cells produce antibodies against pathogens, bacteria and viruses. The difference between Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma can only be seen under a microscope. In the former, so-called “Reed-Sternberg cells” can be detected, multinucleated giant tumor cells that do not occur in non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
If no “Reed-Sternberg cells” are found, a large number of different types of malignant tumor diseases of the lymphatic system are summarized under “Non-Hodgkin lymphoma” (NHL). Here, too, lymphomas are caused by degenerated B lymphocytes and, in fewer cases, T lymphocytes, which are responsible for fighting off the virus. Non-Hodgkin lymphomas are divided into low-grade and high-grade, i.e. high-grade NHL. In the latter, rapidly growing, degenerated cells spread from their point of origin – often one of the lymph nodes – throughout the body and infect other organs and tissues.2,3,4
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What are the causes behind the disease?
Cancer develops when lymph cells, for example in the spleen or in stem cells in the bone marrow, grow uncontrollably. However, the exact trigger behind this is not yet known. Science has only been able to identify a combination of factors that may increase the risk of developing lymph node cancer. In Hodgkin lymphoma these are:
In the case of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, these risk factors can also be the cause:
- certain autoimmune diseases, such as B. Rheumatism
- an infection with hepatitis B and C
- the “stomach germ” Helicobacter pylori
- chemical substances, such as certain pesticides
- radioactive radiation
- older age
- severe overweight
How do you diagnose?
If a doctor finds an abnormal swelling or other symptom, they will order a biopsy of the suspected lymphoma if they suspect lymph node cancer. Cells are removed from the enlarged lymph nodes and sent to a specialist called a haematopathologist, who examines the cells, ie determines whether it is a lymphoma and, if so, what type of cell it is.
In the event that it is actually lymphoma cells, further tests must be carried out to find out how far the cancer has progressed, i.e. at what stage it is. This is done through x-rays, white and red blood cell counts through blood tests, examination of the cells and tissues of the lymph nodes, bone marrow, and ultrasound scans.5,6,7
Classification of lymphoma
The disease stages of lymph gland cancer were divided into four stages:
- Stage 1: Involvement of a single lymph node region or a localized area outside the lymphatic system
- Stage 2: Involvement of two or more lymph node regions on the same side of the diaphragm
- Stage 3: Involvement of two or more lymph node regions on either side of the diaphragm or organs outside the lymphatic system
- 4th stage: Non-localized involvement of one or more non-lympathic organs, such as the lungs, liver or bone marrow, with or without involvement of the lymph nodes
Doctors also rank NHL tumors based on how fast they grow. Low-grade lymphomas are slow growing and less malignant. Highly malignant lymphomas are malignant, aggressive and grow very quickly.8th
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What treatment options are there?
When treating lymph gland cancer, several specialists are usually consulted for treatment or treated in a haematological-oncological ward in a university clinic. Depending on the type and how far advanced the lymphoma is, an individual treatment plan is drawn up, which also takes age and general health into account.
Therapeutic approaches are varied and in many cases promising. Treatments that can be used for Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma include:
- Radiation therapy, to shrink and kill the cancer cells
- chemotherapy
- immunotherapy
- antibody therapy
- in certain cases, a stem cell transplant
Often one therapeutic approach is or has to be combined with another so that a treatment can take effect. A stem cell transplant can only work with chemotherapy.
Frequency and prognosis of the disease
Cancer is relatively rare in Germany. Hodgkin lymphoma accounts for only about 0.5 percent of all new cancer cases in Germany in men and women. The men fell ill on average at about 46 years and the women at 43 years. Non-Hodgkin lymphomas are also relatively rare. In 2018, 8,280 women and 10,190 men in Germany developed lymph node cancer. In comparison, around 70,000 women developed breast cancer and around 34,000 men developed colorectal cancer in the same year.9.10
The extent to which lymph gland cancer can be cured basically depends on the type and stage of the disease. The age and the state of health of a patient also play a role in the treatment. Many people with Hodgkin’s lymphoma can be cured. The five-year survival rate is about 91 percent for women and 81 percent for men. Unfortunately, the chances of recovery from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma are a bit worse because some of the NHL types are very aggressive and grow quickly. About 71 percent of women and 70 percent of men survive the following five years after a diagnosis.11,12,13,14
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Can Lymphoma Be Prevented?
Since it is not entirely clear what exactly causes lymph node cancer, it is not possible to state with certainty how best to minimize the risk of developing the disease. In principle, one should take advantage of every form of preventive medical check-up and consult a doctor in the event of abnormalities in the lymph glands and symptoms that could indicate lymph gland cancer. In addition, one should lead a generally healthy lifestyle to minimize any form of disease risk. That means maintaining a healthy diet, drinking little or no alcohol, getting enough exercise and not smoking.