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Introduction
Lymphedema is swelling due to failure of the lymphatic
system to function properly, specifically from
blockage of the normal drainage of lymph back into the
blood. These are cells in the body usually found in
lymph nodes, which are small lima-bean sized
structures located principally in the neck, arm pits,
and groin. The function of these lymph nodes is to
protect the body from infections and to help the
immune cells recognize invaders. For reasons we do not
understand, occasionally a lymph cell will turn
malignant or cancerous, and begin to produce more and
more cells. While a signal to grow is part of the
cause of lymphoma, in many lymphomas the cells do not
die off as they normally would.
Causes
The cause of most
lymphoma is unknown. Some occur in individuals taking
drugs to suppress their immune system.
Symptoms
The most common symptom of lymphomas is a
painless swelling in the lymph nodes of the neck,
underarm, or groin. Other symptoms may include fevers,
night sweats, tiredness, weight loss, itching, and
reddened patches on the skin. Sometimes there is
nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain.
As lymphomas progress, the body is less able to fight
infection. These symptoms are not sure signs of
cancer, however. They also may be caused by many
common illnesses, such as the flu or other infections.
Treatment Since there are many forms of lymphoma, it is
difficult to make general statements about treatment.
However, this disease is almost never cured by
surgery. Rather, chemotherapy and radiation are the
main treatments used. Sometimes no therapy is
recommended because the disease progresses very slowly
and does not bother the patient. At times the
treatment can be more damaging to the patient than the
disease. For some patients with some kinds of
lymphomas, high dose chemotherapy with stemcell
transplant is recommended.
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