How to know if we have lymphoma

• April 29, 2024

In all kinds of diseases and ailments, knowing what you have exactly can mean life or death. Identifying, categorizing and understanding your current condition allows doctors to determine the most effective way to cure.

Without an adequate diagnosis, the prescribed treatment can be useless and sometimes even fatal. In the case of lymphoma, one finds terms such as biopsy, bone marrow examination, blood tests, lumbar puncture and explorations, which are some of the basic procedures used by physicians to determine or confirm the presence of lymphoma.

Usually, the first thing that helps determine if you have a lymphoma is the diagnosis. Those who see a growth of the lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or groin, should activate the alarms in their head.

Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymph nodes and the immune system. The tumor is usually formed in the lymph nodes that manifests itself with painful lumps. After reviewing the patient, the doctor will order a series of tests to confirm if it is lymphoma and if so, determine the stage in which it is, to apply a treatment.

A biopsy is usually the first test the doctors use to confirm the presence of cancer in the lymph nodes. In it, a small sample of the tissue cells is taken, either through a needle or through surgery.

Post treatment

The cells are examined by a pathologist to confirm if there is lymphoma and determine its type, Hodgkin's or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. However, to determine more details, doctors will resort to the procedure called immunohistochemistry which means looking for the unique properties of the tumor cell surface through application markers such as fluorescent dye, enzymes or with colloidal gold to accurately classify the tumor.

Most likely, your doctor will need to undergo several blood tests, where the samples will be examined to see the status of your red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. These tests also help determine if the cancer has affected the way you make blood. They could also show the state of the kidneys and the liver. And most importantly, the information obtained will serve as a fundamental basis for the type of treatments or medications that will be used for their prompt recovery.

You may also have to undergo a bone marrow test, where a sample of the bone marrow is taken from the hip using a fine needle. The lumbar puncture can be ordered by your doctor in specific circumstances. It is a common procedure used to test various types of cancer and other blood diseases and checks the fluid in the spinal cord and determines if cancer cells have invaded the spine. In it, a fine needle is inserted into the lower back and can be very painful and uncomfortable.

CT scans also help determine exactly where the tumors are, as they take pictures of the body from different angles. An MRI scan, on the other hand, will help determine if cancer cells have spread to your nervous system or other bodily organs.

Video Medicine: What are the signs of lymphoma? (April 2024).