What is Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma?
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (also known simply as lymphoma or NHL) is a cancer that begins in white blood cells called lymphocytes that are part of the body’s immune system.
Lymphoma affects the body’s lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is part of the immune system that helps fight infections and some other diseases. It also helps fluids move through the body. Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas (NHL) are more frequent in adults than in children and have a gradual increase with age, especially after 50 years of age. The average age at diagnosis is 45 to 55 years.
Lymphomas can start anywhere in the body where lymphatic tissue is found. The main parts where the lymphatic tissue is found are:
- Lymph nodes: Lymph nodes are bean-sized groups of lymphocytes and other immune system cells found throughout the body, including the inside of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis. The nodes are connected by a system of lymphatic vessels.
- Spleen – The spleen is an organ found below the lower ribs on the left side of the body. The spleen produces lymphocytes and other cells of the immune system. It also stores healthy blood cells and serves as a filter to remove damaged blood cells, bacteria, and cellular debris.
- Bone marrow: Bone marrow is the spongy tissue found inside certain bones. It is where new blood cells (including some lymphocytes) are made.
- Thymus : The thymus is a small organ that lies behind the top of the breastbone and in front of the heart. It has an important role in the development of T lymphocytes.
- Adenoids and tonsils: are collections of lymphatic tissue in the back of the throat. Both help make antibodies against germs that are inhaled or swallowed.
- Digestive tract: the stomach, intestines, as well as many other organs, also contain lymphatic tissue
Types of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
- B-cell lymphoma: About 90% of people in Western countries with lymphoma have B-cell lymphoma.
- T-cell lymphoma : About 10% of people with lymphoma have T-cell lymphoma. These lymphomas are more common in Asian countries.
- NK cell lymphoma: Less than 1% of people with lymphoma have NK cell lymphoma.
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in Mexico.
Being a predominant disease in Caucasian genes, it is not very prevalent in Mexicans, in whom it affects 7%, while in Caucasians it affects approximately 30%. In general, they are more frequent in men than in women and are usually diagnosed between the ages of 60 and 70. It ranks seventh compared to other types of cancer and is the most frequent hematological malignancy and requires strict monitoring to determine the best treatment according to the cases. - Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in Latin America.
In Mexico, lymphoma belongs to the ten leading causes of mortality in both men and women. In Uruguay, the incidence of NHL was 9.99 cases and NHL 3.58 per 100,000 inhabitants.
In Peru, studies carried out in Lima in 2010-2012, NHL represented 4.8% of all cancers, with a mortality of 5.3% of all cases. Likewise, it was the fourth cancer in frequency. In Trujillo, NHL was reported as the seventh most frequent neoplasm of all cases with 4.2% and HL with 0.3%. - Non-Hodgkin lymphoma worldwide.
Based on the World Health Organization (WHO) registry, the global incidence rate of NHL in
men was 5.6/100,000 and the mortality rate 3.2/100,000. In women, the global incidence and
mortality rates were lower than those of men: 4.1/100,000 and 2.4/100,000 respectively
Treatments.
Chemotherapy : Special drugs are used to shrink or kill cancer cells.
These drugs can be pills you take or drugs injected into your veins, or sometimes both.
Targeted therapy: Refers to the use of drugs to block the growth and spread of cancer cells. These medicines can be tablets taken by mouth or medicines given through an IV. You will have tests to see if targeted therapy is right for your type of cancer before this treatment is used.
Radiation therapy : High-energy rays (similar to X-rays) are used to kill cancer cells.
Immunotherapy: Medicines are used to help a person’s immune system recognize and kill cancer cells more effectively.