There are many kinds of cancer that affect the body. Lymph cancer is one of them, but if it is diagnosed at an early stage, it can be treated successfully. This article provides information regarding the same.
The cells of the immune system of the human body are known as lymphocytes, and the cancer that afflicts these cells is known as lymphoma or lymph cancer. There are about 35 different types of lymphocytes in the body, and as a result there are many different strains of lymphoma as well. The cancer invades these cells and wreaks havoc in their ability to defend the human body from other illnesses. Lymphoma is arguably the most commonly found type of blood cancer in the United States, and it greatly affects adults as well as children.
Lymphoma in the Neck Region
The body’s immune system is made up of plenty of lymph glands, or nodes. It is these nodes that develop cancerous cells, thus resulting in the spread of the cancer to other parts of the neck. The nodes are present in almost all parts of the body, but they can be physically felt as lumps in the neck, armpits, and the groin region. When a person is affected by lymphoma in the neck, the lump can be spotted as the enlargement of the neck. This will be a painless enlargement at first, so there is a high chance that it may go undetected. If the enlargement of the neck is present for more than 3-4 weeks despite the consumption of antibiotics, a specialist must be consulted immediately.
Symptoms
Neck lymphoma can spread to other parts of the body through blood. The most immediately affected areas will obviously be the areas surrounding the neck. Visit a specialist as soon as possible if you spot any of the following symptoms:
- Swelling or a lump in the mouth or on the neck
- Pain in the upper jaw or in the face
- Constant sore throat or earache on one side
- Numbness in the mouth or on the lips
- Continuously blocked nose or nosebleeds
- Difficulty in hearing or a ringing sensation in the ear
- Noisy breathing, slurred speech, or a hoarse voice
- Difficulty and pain while chewing or swallowing
- An ulcer that has not healed after a few weeks
- Appearance of white patches (leukoplakia) or red patches (erythroplakia) on the lining of the mouth or on the tongue
Treatment
Surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy are the treatments you can avail of in order to treat this problem. The treatment aims at physically removing the cancer from the body in order to prevent it from coming back.
There will be a team of doctors who will decide what kind of treatment will suit you best. They will take into consideration your age, medical history, the type of cancer, and the stage that it has reached. In some cases, a combination of two or more treatment methods can also be recommended in order to battle the condition. If it comes to a situation where you have to make a choice about which treatment you should get, ensure that you gather all the information about the treatments. The side effects are something you should be aware of before you actually get the treatment. Getting a second opinion won’t hurt either.
At the end of the day, remember that you are not the only person suffering from this ailment. There are many other people who are also diagnosed with lymph cancer on a daily basis. Diagnosing it early, and getting the right treatment will be extremely beneficial for you. Be wary of the many symptoms, and do not lose heart if you are diagnosed with it. It is not a rare phenomenon to see a person successfully recovering from it.
Disclaimer: This HealthHearty article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.
