Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma

FROM THE MAYO CLINIC...

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is cancer that originates in your lymphatic system, the disease-fighting network spread throughout your body. In non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, tumors develop from lymphocytes — a type of white blood cell.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is more common than the other general type of lymphoma — Hodgkin lymphoma. Many different subtypes of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma exist. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma are among the most common subtypes.

Advances in diagnosis and treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma have helped improve the prognosis for people with this disease.

Signs and symptoms of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma may include:

• Painless, swollen lymph nodes in your neck, armpits or groin
• Abdominal pain or swelling
• Chest pain, coughing or trouble breathing
• Persistent fatigue
• Fever
• Night sweats
• Unexplained weight loss

Cancer Survivor

In 2007, I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's "B" cell Lymphoma or SLL...   according to the National Cancer Institute about SLL/CLL:  An indolent (slow-growing) cancer in which immature lymphocytes (white blood cells) are found in the blood and bone marrow and/or in the lymph nodes. CLL (chronic lymphocytic leukemia) and SLL (small lymphocytic lymphoma) are the same disease, but in CLL cancer cells are found mostly in the blood and bone marrow. In SLL cancer cells are found mostly in the lymph nodes. CLL/SLL is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Also called chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma.

In 2008, I began treatment with Rituxan....  and, added later was Fludara and Cytoxin which made me incredibly sick to the point that a couple of days after treatment, I was in he ER in the hopes of stopping my vomiting.  This lasted for 6 months.  Triandra replaced Rituxan.

In 2012/2013, I was diagnosed with Melanoma on the bottom of my left foot.  It was surgically removed but no follow-up treatment took place.  Four years later, the Melanoma spread to my groin and eventually to my neck.  I was treated with a cocktail of Opidvo/Yervoy and a few months later I stopped the Yervoy because it was replaced with RADIATION.

As far as my non-Hodgkin's "B" cell Lymphoma (CLL/SLL) was concerned, I stopped infusions and began taking pills:  IMBRUVICA which had out-of-pocket costs but I was able to get a grant to pay for those expenses.

During these 12/13 years of my cancer treatments, I was also going to a Dermatologist to have squamous carcinomas removed that were also byproducts of my cancer treatments.  To date, there have been 6 of these removed, including a rather large on from the top of my head.

CURRENTLY there has been no metabolic activity detected from either cancer even though my treatments for both cancers continue and will continue indefinitely as I have been told by my Oncologist.

I AM A CANCER SURVIVOR...

What Is Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma?

Why is it called non Hodkin's?
Hodgkin lymphoma was named after the doctor who first recognised it. It used to be called Hodgkin's disease. Hodgkin lymphoma has a particular appearance under the microscope and contains cells called Reed-Sternberg cells.
                                                                        

What are Reed-Sternberg cells?
Reed-Sternberg cells are large, abnormal lymphocytes that may contain more than one nucleus.

Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Cancer starts when cells begin to grow out of control. Cells in nearly any part of the body can become cancer, and can spread to other areas. To learn more about how cancers start and spread, see What Is Cancer?

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (also known as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, NHL, or sometimes just lymphoma) is a cancer that starts in white blood cells called lymphocytes, which are part of the body’s immune system.

NHL is a term that's used for many different types of lymphoma that all share some of the same characteristics. There is another main type of lymphoma, called Hodgkin lymphoma, which is treated differently. See Hodgkin Lymphoma.

NHL most often affects adults, but children can get it too. See Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in Children.
NHL usually starts in lymph nodes or other lymph tissue, but it can sometimes affect the skin. See Lymphoma of the Skin.

Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) DISCRIMINATES

In the United States, whites are more likely than African Americans and Asian Americans to develop NHL. Worldwide, NHL is more common in developed countries, with the United States and Europe having some of the highest rates.

Knowing this is still not a reason to protest and demand a better treatment from our government...  it is simply a fact of life and a fact with which only the white race in America has to contend...

Personally,

I don't care one way or the other because I only must concern myself with what I have and not with what others do not have...

What concerns me now is the simple fact that I have lived with this cancer for over 12 years and have plans to live with it for at least another 12 years maybe more if I can continue to make myself, do the following:

• First and foremost, I suppose, is exercising at least 3 days each week
• Second and equally as important is to eat all sorts of fruits and vegetables
• Third, is to continue to eat lots of fish and chicken and beans
• Fourth, is to maintain a positive attitude

Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma

There are more than 70 different types of lymphoma. They range from indolent (slow growing) to highly aggressive. Lymphomas are categorized into two broad groups: non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Hodgkin lymphoma.

Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common aggressive subtype. It affects about 30 percent of people with NHL in the United States.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is divided into more than 30 types, classified based on the type of lymphocyte involved: B lymphocytes (B cells) or T lymphocytes (T cells).

Here are the main B cells types of Lymphoma:

Follicular lymphoma
About 1 out of 5 lymphomas in the United States is a follicular lymphoma. This is usually a slow-growing (indolent) lymphoma, although some follicular lymphomas can grow quickly.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) /small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL)
CLL and SLL are closely related diseases. In fact, many doctors consider them different versions of the same disease. The same type of cancer cell (known as a small lymphocyte) is seen in both CLL and SLL. The only difference is where the cancer cells are found. In CLL, most of the cancer cells are in the blood and bone marrow. In SLL, the cancer cells are mainly in the lymph nodes and spleen.

Both CLL and SLL are usually slow-growing (indolent) diseases, although CLL, which is much more common, tends to grow more slowly. 

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL)
About 5% of lymphomas are mantle cell lymphomas. MCL is much more common in men than in women, and it most often appears in people older than 60. When MCL is diagnosed, it is usually widespread in the lymph nodes, bone marrow, and often the spleen.

Marginal zone lymphomas
Marginal zone lymphomas account for about 5% to 10% of lymphomas. They tend to be slow-growing (indolent). The cells in these lymphomas look small under the microscope.

Burkitt lymphoma
This fast-growing lymphoma is named after the doctor who first described this disease in African children and young adults. It makes up about 1% to 2% of all adult lymphomas. It is rare in adults, but is more common in children. It’s also much more common in males than in females.

Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia)
This slow-growing lymphoma is not common, accounting for only 1% to 2% of lymphomas. The lymphoma cells are small and found mainly in the bone marrow, lymph nodes, and spleen. This lymphoma is discussed in detail in Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia.

Hairy cell leukemia
Despite the name, hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is sometimes considered to be a type of lymphoma. It is rare – about 700 people in the United States are diagnosed with it each year. Men are much more likely to get HCL than women, and the average age at diagnosis is around 50.

Primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma
This lymphoma involves the brain or spinal cord (the central nervous system, or CNS). The lymphoma is also sometimes found in tissues around the spinal cord. Over time, it tends to become widespread in the central nervous system.

Primary intraocular lymphoma (lymphoma of the eye)
This is a rare type of lymphoma that starts in the eyeball and is often seen along with primary CNS lymphoma. It is the second most common cancer of the eye in adults, with ocular melanoma (eye melanoma) being the first. Most people with primary intraocular lymphoma are elderly or have immune system problems which may be due to AIDS or anti-rejection drugs after an organ or tissue.

What Is Lymphoma?

The lymph system is a series of lymph nodes and vessels that move lymph fluid through the body. Lymph fluids contain infection-fighting white blood cells. Lymph nodes act as filters, capturing and destroying bacteria and viruses to prevent infection from spreading.

While the lymph system typically protects your body, lymph cells called lymphocytes can become cancerous. The names for cancers that occur in the lymph system are lymphomas.

Doctors classify more than 70 cancer types as lymphomas. Lymphomas can affect any portion of the lymphatic system, including:

• bone marrow
• thymus
• spleen
• tonsils
• lymph nodes

Doctors typically divide lymphomas into two categories: Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL).

Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is the most common type of lymphoma. While it can occur at any age, most people who develop the illness are older adults.  There many types of NHL, all of which are divided into two major groups: B cell lymphoma and T cell lymphoma.

Types of B cell lymphoma

B cell lymphoma is much more common. It accounts for about 80 percent of all NHL cases. It includes:

• diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
• primary mediastinal B cell lymphoma
• follicular lymphoma
• small lymphocytic lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia
• marginal zone lymphoma
• mantle cell lymphoma
• Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia
• Burkitt lymphoma

Types of T cell lymphoma
T cell lymphoma accounts for approximately 15 percent of all cases of NHL in the United States. The most common types of T cell lymphoma include:

• peripheral T cell lymphoma not otherwise specified
• anaplastic large cell lymphoma
• angioimmunoblastic lymphoma
• cutaneous T cell lymphoma

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