We Treat
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system, which is an essential part of the body’s immune defense. It starts in the lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell that helps protect the body from infections. There are two primary types of lymphoma: Hodgkin lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).
Receiving a diagnosis of lymphoma can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to face it alone. Our dedicated team is here to offer compassionate care, ensuring you and your loved ones have the support, knowledge and resources you need during this journey. If you are seeking a hematologist nearby, our team at SCRI Oncology Partners is here to stand by your side, offering the guidance and information you need to navigate your treatment journey with confidence and care.
What is lymphoma?
Lymphoma is a complex type of cancer that can develop in any lymphatic tissue, such as lymph nodes, the spleen, bone marrow, thymus, adenoids, tonsils and even the digestive tract. Knowing the origin of lymphoma helps your care team to provide targeted and compassionate treatment.
There are two main types of lymphoma: Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin. These two main types of lymphoma begin in different lymphocyte cells, which means they behave and respond to treatment differently.
- Hodgkin lymphoma is a rarer form of lymphoma that often first becomes noticeable through a lump or bump that appears unexpectedly and doesn’t go away as you might expect. While it is more prevalent in females, approximately 8,500 to 9,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma each year. It most commonly affects individuals between the ages of 15 and 35, though it can also occur in younger children or older adults.
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, on the other hand, encompasses a broader group of lymphomas that can arise in different parts of the lymphatic system, including lymph nodes, the spleen and other organs. Both types of lymphoma are treatable, especially when diagnosed early, and treatment options today provide many patients the opportunity to live long, fulfilling lives.
What are some of the signs and symptoms of lymphoma?
People with lymphoma may experience a wide range of symptoms but the following are common signs and symptoms to watch for:
- Unexplained weight loss
- Unexplained bruising or bleeding
- Recurrent infections or fevers
- Shortness of breath or persistent fatigue
- Unexplained pain in your bones or joints
- Drenching night sweats
- Swollen lymph nodes, or an enlarged liver or spleen
Other symptoms, such as persistent itching without a rash for more than two weeks, may also be indicative of Hodgkin lymphoma. It’s essential to understand that many symptoms associated with blood cancer can stem from other, often harmless, conditions. Just because you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean you have cancer.
Nonetheless, if you have persistent health concerns, we strongly recommend consulting with a physician. Taking this step can help you gain clarity and ensure you receive the appropriate care and support.
Risk Factors
Staging
Treatment
Clinical Trials
How are lymphoma cases diagnosed?
If there is a possibility that you have lymphoma, we recommend seeing an experienced hematologist in your area for further testing and treatment. One of the initial tests you might undergo is a complete blood count (CBC) test. This test offers valuable insights by measuring the levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in your blood, helping to identify any irregularities. Additionally, your hematologist will also perform a physical examination and ask for additional information about your medical history, symptoms and family history.
After the initial test is completed, your care team may recommend additional tests to gain a deeper understanding of how different elements of your blood are functioning. This may include examining the hemoglobin levels and the shape of your red blood cells, as well as assessing whether your bone marrow is producing enough healthy red blood cells. For white blood cells, your healthcare team might take a closer look at the various types and subtypes to ensure they are functioning properly.
For any disorder, your hematologist may also order a peripheral blood smear (or PBS) to examine your cells under a microscope more closely or may order additional tests to measure enzymes and proteins in the blood. In some cases, a sample of blood marrow may be taken to see how well your bone marrow is producing blood cells. Bone marrow testing requires bone marrow aspiration—a sample removal of the liquid portion of bone marrow. It may also include a bone marrow biopsy, the removal of a small, solid piece of bone marrow to confirm the presence of malignant plasma cells.
In addition to these tests, your doctor may also order various imaging tests- such as CT, MRI or PET scans to look for bone damage or other signs of cancer.
Rest assured, our compassionate team is here to guide you through each step, ensuring that you receive the care and attention you need.
Risk factors for lymphoma
There are certain risk factors that might increase your chances of developing lymphoma. However, it’s crucial to remember that having these risk factors does not mean you will definitely get lymphoma, and not having them doesn’t ensure you’ll never develop the disease. Understanding your risk factors can empower you to take proactive measures in looking after your health.
Some common risk factors for lymphoma include:
- Previous cancer treatment, especially involving chemotherapy or radiation therapy
- Genetic disorders such as Down Syndrome
- Non-cancerous blood disorders such as myelodysplastic syndrome
- Smoking
- Family history of cancer
- Viral or bacterial infections such as the Epstein-Barr virus, human herpes virus or HIV
- Lowered immune systems
- Exposure to radiation, asbestos, petroleum, agricultural or woodworking chemicals, benzene, dioxins, pesticides and herbicides increases risk
In addition to these risk factors, it’s important to know that the risk of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma tends to increase with age, with the most common subtypes often appearing in individuals in their 60s and 70s. While Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is generally more prevalent in men, certain subtypes are more common in women. On the other hand, Hodgkin lymphoma tends to occur slightly more often in women.
Staging
If you are diagnosed with lymphoma, your physician will carefully assess the stage of your cancer to create the most effective treatment strategy for you. For most solid tumor cancers, staging is based on the size of the tumor and its spread within the body. In the case of blood cancers, which do not form tumors, the stage is described by the number of cancerous cells present and their accumulation in other organs. This detailed understanding helps your care team offer you the best possible support and treatment.
Staging lymphoma involves examining how far lymphoma cells have spread. Your physician may also add a letter to the stage of your diagnosis to further describe the cancer.
Stage I
- Cancer cells occur in one lymph node region or in one part of one organ outside of the lymphatic system.
Stage II
- Cancer cells have spread further, to two or more lymph node regions on the same side of the diaphragm or a group of lymph nodes and one area of a nearby organ.
Stage III
- The cells are found in lymph nodes on both sides of the diaphragm or in lymph nodes above the diaphragm and in the spleen.
Stage IV
- The lymphoma cells have spread to at least one organ outside of the lymphatic system.
Staging helps your care team plan the best treatment for your diagnosis. If you have questions or need additional information, speak with your doctor about what treatment options are available to you.
How can lymphoma be treated?
If you have been recently diagnosed with lymphoma, your cancer care team will help you develop a treatment plan that best fits your cancer and your overall goals for your health. The treatment your physician recommends may depend on the type of lymphoma you have and the stage your cancer is in. If you have any questions about your treatment options, always ask your doctor.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is used to treat lymphoma by using anti-cancer drugs that are either given as an injection or taken by mouth. This is often an effective treatment for blood cancers because chemotherapy drugs enter through the bloodstream and can reach the entire body.
Chemotherapy is the main treatment given for most Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin lymphomas. This treatment may be used alone, or with other treatments like immunotherapy or radiation therapy, depending on the type of cancer you have and its stage.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy leverages your immune system to fight lymphoma. Immunotherapy drugs are used to either boost your immune system to help it target and attack cancer cells or to change the way your immune system works to fight the lymphoma cells.
- Monoclonal antibodies, which are man-made versions of the proteins, are made by your immune system to fight your infection and can be used to treat lymphoma. These drugs work by targeting a substance on the surface of lymphocytes, the cells where lymphoma starts.
- Immune checkpoint inhibitors may also be used to treat lymphoma. Your immune system keeps itself from attacking normal cells in the body with “checkpoint” proteins, which determine whether an immune response is started. Cancer cells can use these checkpoints and avoid being targeted by the immune system. Immunotherapy drugs target these checkpoints to start an immune response.
- Certain types of lymphoma may also be treated with drugs called bispecific antibodies, which attach to both cancer cells and immune system cells. This brings the two cells together, helping the immune system destroy the lymphoma cells.
- Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy may be used for some lymphoma cases. This treatment removes immune cells called T-cells from the patient’s blood and alters them in a lab. The altered cells have receptors that attach to the proteins on the surface of lymphoma cells to destroy them.
Targeted therapies
Targeted therapies with drugs known as tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) can also be used as a form of treatment in some lymphoma cases. These cancer cells contain an abnormal gene that produces a protein which leads to uncontrolled cell growth and division. TKIs target this specific protein to stop growth. If initial treatment with TKIs does not stop the cancer growth, your physician may increase the dose of the drug or switch to another type of TKI. Chemotherapy or a stem cell transplant may be an option for some patients.
Bone marrow/stem cell transplantation
Hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HPSCT), sometimes referred to as bone marrow transplant, can be used to treat lymphoma cases that have not responded to chemotherapy or radiation, or to cases that have come back after treatment. Blood and bone marrow transplants allow doctors to give a patient a higher dose of chemotherapy. Doses of chemotherapy drugs are usually limited to minimize damage to the bone marrow, where new blood cells are made. In this treatment, patients receive a high dose of chemotherapy, and the transplanted cells create healthy bone marrow.
Lymphoma Clinical Trials
Today’s clinical trials are tomorrow’s treatment options. A clinical trial can help determine if a treatment, drug or procedure shows a better way of treating a particular cancer or condition. At SCRI Oncology Partners we are committed to offering the latest clinical trials to improve your outcomes and ensure access to cutting-edge scientific advancements for our patients in the community.
If you are looking for a local oncologist in Nashville, Tennessee and are interested in participating in a clinical trial for lymphoma through our collaboration with Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI), the first step is to talk to our healthcare team.
Contact Us
Whether you are newly diagnosed, previously treated or seeking additional care or research options, we are here to support you every step of the way.
Contact Us
Whether you are newly diagnosed, previously treated or seeking additional care or research options, we are here to support you every step of the way.
Contact Us
Whether you are newly diagnosed, previously treated or seeking additional care or research options, we are here to support you every step of the way.