Diagnosing and Treating Lymphoma

What is Lymphoma? Lymphoma is cancer of the lymphatic system which is part of the bodys’ germ fighting system. The lymphatic system is made up of lymph nodes, spleen, thymus gland and bone marrow.

When cancer develops in the cells that make up your lymphatic system, it is known as lymphoma. There are two types of lymphoma: Hodgkin’s and non- Hodgkin’s. These types of lymphoma affect different cells, so they are treated differently.

How Lymphoma Is Diagnosed

Common symptoms of lymphoma include swollen glands, chronic fatigue, and unexplained weight loss. If you’re concerned about any of these symptoms, see your physician. First, your physician will check to see if you have any swollen lymph nodes. In order to determine whether you have lymphoma, your physician may do a biopsy of one of your nodes, check your bone marrow, or perform a blood test. They may also use an X-ray, MRI, or PET scan to look for signs of cancer. These kinds of tests are important for timely and accurate diagnosis.

However, the symptoms of lymphoma can mimic other less serious conditions, so doctors might be inclined to take a “wait and see” approach, leading to a delayed or improper diagnosis. A delay in diagnosis can lead to a worse prognosis in what could be an otherwise treatable condition.

How Lymphoma Is Treated

If you are diagnosed with lymphoma, your physician will recommend a treatment based on the type you have and how far it has progressed. Like other cancers, lymphoma may be treated using chemotherapy. Your physician may also use immunotherapy or radiation therapy to kill the cancer cells. In some cases, your physician may recommend a stem cell transplant.

If you are concerned about a misdiagnosis or possible medical error, contact the Pegalis Law Group, LLC. For 47years, we have advocated for people of all ages, in order to help our clients financially and make healthcare safer for everyone. You can reach us today by calling (516) 684-2900.

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