When does a person with lymphatic cancer have a diagnosis? Most people with lymphoma begin their path to diagnosis by visiting a GP, who may order blood tests and scans to rule out any underlying health problems. Your doctor may refer you to a specialist, such as a hematologist. After your initial diagnosis, your doctor will perform a variety of tests, including a lymph node biopsy, which will be used to confirm the diagnosis. Other tests may include blood work and x-rays. Your doctor will also examine your lymph nodes and organs, such as your liver and kidneys.
Treatment options for lymphoma can include chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is given either by mouth or by injection. When lymphoma spreads to the brain, chemotherapy is injected into the spinal cord. Steroid drugs can also be used, including ibrutinib and lenalidomide. They can help relieve symptoms such as swelling and inflammation. The most effective treatments, however, are tailored to your specific case.
Treatment options depend on the type and location of the lymphoma, and the type of lymphatic cancer. In general, chemotherapy is used for aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma, while involved field radiotherapy (IFRT) targets lymph nodes around the affected organ. Other treatments, known as palliative care, are used to improve the patient’s quality of life and reduce pain and symptoms. Palliative care may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or drug therapies.
Lymphoma is the most common type of lymphoma. It affects around half of all blood cancers and is characterized by two primary types: non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Hodgkin lymphoma. The latter type is more common and less fatal, but if you are immune-compromised, you’re at higher risk for lymphoma. You can ask your doctor to perform additional tests to help you determine the type of lymphoma.
Different types of lymphoma are associated with age and gender. Some are more common in younger people, while others are more prevalent in the elderly. People with weakened immune systems or people on immune suppressing drugs are more likely to develop lymphoma. Other risk factors include infections of the epstein-barr virus and Helicobacter pylorus. Your doctor will recommend the appropriate treatment based on the results of these tests.
Symptoms of lympathic cancer may indicate that you have a service-connection. A service-connection diagnosis must establish a causal link between the disease and the injury during service. However, the Veteran’s VA medical records did not contain an opinion that linked the cancer to the service. Although this diagnosis was found after extensive testing, it did not cause the Veteran to lose his disability benefits. Further, the Veteran is not certain that the disease is caused by the exposure to Agent Orange, which is a common cause of lymphoma.
