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lymphoma is the most common type of blood cancer, primarily affecting the white blood cells called lymphocytes , according to lymphoma.org. lymphomas can start anywhere in the body where lymph tissue is found, including the lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, and digestive tract. sometimes, it can also affect the skin.
the lymph system is part of the body’s immune system, which functions to protect the body against germs. the mutated cells can begin to clump, causing tumours throughout the body, most often in the lymph nodes. if left untreated, these mutated cells can begin to crowd out the healthy white blood cells, impacting the immune system’s ability to function.
there are many different subtypes of lymphoma. however, the leukemia and lymphoma society of canada identifies two main types: hodgkin lymphoma , which is primarily distinguished by the presence of reed-sternberg cells — giant, mutated cells visible via a microscope — and one of the most treatable forms of cancer with a five year survival rate of 90 per cent. the second type is non-hodgkin lymphoma (nhl), which is the most prevalent type of lymphoma. the survival rate depends on the type of nhl and how long it takes to diagnose.
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some of the signs and symptoms of lymphoma, according to the leukemia and lymphoma society of canada , include fever, persistent cough, shortness of breath, lumps under the skin and enlarged or swollen lymph nodes.
treatment
the treatment of lymphoma varies depending of the sub-type of lymphoma, however, they most often include chemotherapy and radiation. in cases where the cancer re-occurs or does not respond to the first wave of treatment, doctors may recommend a stem cell or bone marrow transplant to replace the mutated blood cells.
