palpation found a lump in the neck – under the armpit just enlarged lymph nodes or lymphoma signs
Learn, work, and live each day quickly. may not take care of himself or encountering some situations that are not good for the body
Until one day, accidentally palpating and finding a lump on the neck, under the armpits or at various points of the body, try to touch it, try to press it! Why does it hurt so much
Let’s observe the growing lump through the knowledge. “Get to know Lymphoma” by Prof. Pannee Praditsuktavorn, M.D. Head of Internal Medicine Hematology Unit Chulabhorn Hospital
Lymphoma is a tumor of the lymph nodes. in which the lymph nodes contain white blood cells that is the body’s immune system There are certain abnormalities that cause white blood cells to grow rapidly and not stop growing. Lymph nodes are one of the immune organs. which helps protect the body from infection and various foreign things
know regarding lymphoma
Q : Where are the lymph nodes located in the body?
A : Lymph nodes are located throughout the body. Hundreds of glands throughout the body in every organ Lymph nodes are usually small, less than a centimeter in size. Therefore, we will not find it. and will not know where the lymph nodes are But if the lymph nodes are enlarged It is often palpable in a shallow position such as the neck, ears, collarbone, armpits, some people who palpate the breast area And another point found is the groin area.
Q : Which organs are most commonly found in lymphoma?
A : It can happen to every organ. But enlarged lymph nodes do not always mean lymphoma. Lymph nodes are responsible for eliminating germs. For example, in the case of tooth decay There will be enlarged lymph nodes in the neck. This part of the lymph nodes grows according to the body’s mechanisms. Which has added white blood cells to eliminate germs in that area, such as tooth decay, it gets rid of germs on the teeth A sore throat, a cold may come to get rid of germs that enter the throat. The neck area will grow according to the location of the body’s infection. These symptoms may disappear in regarding a week.
What your doctor will say is that your lymph nodes are abnormal if your lymph nodes are enlarged. Without other causes and grow for a long time, it may be a period of 1-2 weeks or as long as a month or more, it may be suspected of what or what disease should go see a doctor to detect lesions. which may be found to be cancer, it can be distinguished from lymphoma or cancer from other organs that has spread to the lymph nodes
Q : How do I know what type of cancer it is?
A : I have to see a doctor. conduct a physical examination General blood tests, possibly with computed tomography. After that, a biopsy from the enlarged lymph node is required. in order to see under the microscope what kind of cell is the tissue that grows up in it are lymph node cells or other cancer cells or have an infection For example, tuberculosis can also cause enlarged lymph nodes.
Q : What are the causes of lymphoma?
A : In medicine, it is still not clear. But it is generally understood to be caused by mutations in blood cells. which causes the blood cells to not stop growing and not die which mutations here, we still can’t tell clearly what caused exactly But there are factors that increase the chance of risk, such as older people. Blood cells are dividing all the time. The risk of developing lymphoma increases with age. And people who have been exposed to chemicals such as pesticides and hair dyes are chemicals that increase the risk. and people who have been irradiated May be sick with cancer receiving chemotherapy. Or receiving other radiation will also increase the risk.
In addition, there will be the body’s immune system. Normally, our immune system can destroy some of the cancer cells if the immunity is low. such as HIV or autoimmune disease or a person who has received an organ transplant must take medicine It will make it more likely to have lymphoma.
In addition, there will be some viruses that stimulate cancer such as hepatitis C virus, H.pyroli in the stomach.
Q : Is lymphoma considered dangerous?
A : There have been deaths from lymphoma. But it is regarded as a type of cancer that is very responsive to treatment. If the patient knows and can receive treatment immediately There is a chance of curing more than 50%, currently it may reach 60% – 70%.
treatment guidelines
After it was diagnosed that the biopsy was actually lymphoma. The stage of the disease will be assessed by performing computed tomography to see where the lymphoma is present. and bone marrow puncture, because the bone marrow produces various blood cells, the mechanism will look like in the factory, how it is produced, whether there are abnormal cells in it or not.
staging of the disease
If there is only one tumor, it is stage 1. If there are more than 1 location, 2 lymph node samples will be excluded from the air shelter. If only at the top Or only the suspension will be considered as the second phase, but if crossing the wind shield that is, there is both the thoracic cavity And the abdominal cavity is considered as the third stage, but if it reaches the bone marrow, liver, lungs, as well as organs outside the lymph nodes. is the 4th stage
At what stage can it be cured?
As we understand, the early stages will have a better effect on treatment. which is fact But even in stage 4 of lymphoma, the chance of being cured is higher than 50%. We have to look at what type of lymphoma it is. Because the lymphoma stage is still divided into many subtypes. It will have a specific type of treatment. The response was more than 80% in the drug section.
In addition, radiation therapy will be irradiated in large areas. In some cases, chemical drugs may not be able to completely destroy it. May need to use radiation to help eliminate the cells at the site. Other treatments may be the treatment by bone marrow transplantation. which has medical indications
“…Cancer, although many people hear that it is a terrible disease. but we can prevent By taking care of the health of the body to be strong, if the body is strong, it can fight the disease…”