Lymphoma: Treating it in time is key to achieving healing
Overcome the initial shock that involves receiving a diagnosis of cancer, get into the hands of qualified specialists and undertake the treatment as soon as possible will be vital to the prognosis. On world Disease Day, Infobae consulted specialists the mere fact of receiving a cancer diagnosis should be paralyzing for anyone. Especially if that happens in the fullness of life, between 15 and 45 years. Is that fear paralyzes. And that is exactly what is not to be done, however hard it may be, after receiving such news.
The World Lymphoma Awareness Day was commemorated yesterday and one of the key features that specialists face in dealing with this disease is early detection and the rapid onset of treatment.
It is one of the lesser known cancers (about 95% of those diagnosed had never heard that word) and yet constitutes the third cause of cancer death in children, the fifth in adults and the first cancer of incidence in young people. In this aspect also affects the great ignorance about this disease that the clinicians have.
punctually in Argentina, the number of cases increased in recent years: the incidence is 20 to 25 new cases every 100,000 inhabitants per year; Those who, knowing their signs and symptoms, could achieve an early diagnosis, adequate treatment and thus improve their prognosis.
Infobae consulted Dr. Guillermo Temperley (MN 42467), director of the oncology Hospital "Maria Curie ", president of the Argentine Cancer Foundation (FUNDAC) and oncologist of the Institute of Diagnosis and Treatment (IADT), to know what is lymphoma, its types, treatment and prognosis.
What is lymphoma? What is the difference with leukemia?
Lymphoma is lymph node cancer, and there are lymphoid tissues in many parts of the human organism.
It is a type of cancer that affects more than one million people in the world and 360,000 new cases are diagnosed per year.
Leukemia, on the other hand, is a tumor of the white blood cells and its cause is unknown, although there are certain predispositions, such as genetics or exposure to radiation. There are four types of leukemia: Acute myeloid leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, acute lymphoid leukemia, and chronic lymphoid leukemia.
How many guys are there?
There are more than 35 different kinds of lymphomas, either Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin (the most common subtype).
Hodgkin's lymphomas are diagnosed by the presence of Reed Stemberg cells, which are seen in the histopathological study of the lymph node extracted to perform the definitive diagnosis. These cells do not occur in non-Hodkin lymphomas.
Approximately 9,060 cases per year are diagnosed in the US, and 1,090 patients die annually. The cause of the disease is unknown, there is an association with Epstein Barr virus and also increases in patients with a history of infectious mononucleosis. In general, non-Hodgkin's lymphomas are usually more aggressive than Hodgkin's lymphomas.
The study of Lymphomas is now better known because of the identification of molecular studies that allow the classification of different types of lymphomas (translocation of oncogenes). The discovery of cell cycle regulation, and apoptosis (cell death) along with the use of monoclonal antibodies improved the prognosis of lymphomas allowing prolonged survival and decrease the relapse of the disease.
Are there people more prone than others to suffer?
There are no more prone people than others to suffer, but it may occur more frequently in patients with a history of HIV and with some genetic burden. The peak of the disease may be between 15 and 45 years.
What are the symptoms? To what signs should a consultation be conducted?
The most important symptoms are the presence of nodules in the cervical, thoracic and inguinal region and can be studied with prolonged febrile syndrome. Also a very strong fatigue.
Does early detection influence the development of the disease?
Early detection is essential for initiating systemic polychemotherapy as soon as possible. The disease may be present above the diaphragm (muscle dividing the thorax of the abdomen) or below the diaphragm, or by engaging both ganglionic territories, where the prognosis is not so favorable.
What is the treatment?
Treatment consists of the application of systemic polychemotherapy using citostáticas drugs and monoclonal antibodies. According to the results, if the response is not complete, a second line of treatment is used with other associated citostáticas drugs or with radiotherapy, and if the disease persists, the patient should undergo a bone marrow transplant.
Do you have a cure? What does it depend on?
In general, the disease has a cure, provided that early detection is performed and the patient's functional status is good in order to withstand the indicated treatments.
Approximately, the cure of Hodgkin's lymphomas may be around 80-90% while that of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas between 10-20%. The stage of the disease should always be taken into account. When the disease is assisted in the early stages, these percentages may change.
Is bone marrow transplantation an option when the disease, after a referral, returns?
Bone marrow transplantation is a favorable option when it falls into the disease and the disease-free period is often very important. A greater disease-free period (months or years) tends to have A better prognosis.
Activities to commemorate the day
Throughout the day, activities will be carried out in various parts of the country.
In the city of Buenos Aires, from 15, volunteers from the Argentinean Lymphomas Association will travel through the forests of Palermo distributing material destined to raise awareness about the disease, accompanied by circus artists and itinerant musicians. With the motto "Embrace Life ", a symbolic hug will also be made to the trees of the park Tres de Febrero (Av. Libertador and Sarmiento). The day culminates with the illumination of the monument of the Spaniards of orange colour; Distinctive color of lymphomas Argentina.
In the province of Buenos Aires there will also be a symbolic hug to the trees of the Longchamps station of the LGR Railway (ex-Roca), between 10 and 17. The event is in Avenida La Aviation and Bolívar (west side of the station, aerobic circuit).
In addition, volunteers from the association will be distributing information material in different cities of the country, such as Tucumán, Córdoba, Mar del Plata, Benito Juárez, Mendoza, La Pampa, Tandil, VIEDMA, among others.
"The 15th of September is the most important day in our ongoing campaign to disseminate this type of cancer, which requires its early detection for effective treatment, and for which the efforts of volunteers from across the country are mobilized, which are the support of NU "Association", noted Haydee Gonzalez, president of Lymphomas Argentina.
World Lymphoma Awareness Day is an international initiative led by Lymphoma Coalition (Lymphoma Coalition), the World Association of patients who nuclea organizations around the world and of which Argentine lymphomas is an active member. In our country, the Buenos Aires legislature sanctioned Law n º 2698, which instituted September 15 of each year as "Day of the Awareness of lymphoma" in the area of the autonomous city of Buenos Ayres.
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