Follicular Lymphoma: The Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

The follicular lymphoma is among the cancers that affect older people. This cancer grows slowly and is a type of non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. It usually comes from types of white blood cells called B-cells. It is called an indolent or low-grade lymphoma due to the way it appears under the microscope and its slow behavior.

Like many of the other lymphomas, it usually attacks the lymph nodes. Under the microscope the affected lymph nodes appear as round structures called follicles. It could go unnoticed for a long time because it develops slowly. Since the symptoms are normally subtle it can advance before being diagnosed.

It may be caused by various genetic changes occurring in the cells making them to multiply abnormally and quickly. According to some scientists, it could also be caused by underlying illnesses and medicines that cause suppression of immune system. The other causes are chemical exposure, viral infections and old age among others.

It is usually in 3 stages and many patients are diagnosed in either stage 2 or 3. This is because the disease flares up then regresses many times over the years. It symptoms are in form of minor warning signs that can go unnoticed for long. They include enlargement of the lymph nodes, weight loss, fever, fatigue and sweating among other symptoms.

Diagnosis is usually done by a pathologist through a lymph node biopsy. This involves examining samples of affected nodes under the microscope. The doctor can tell the presence of this cancer from observing the features of affected nodes. The sample undergoes other tests to determine the stage and the organs affected. These additional tests include CT scans, blood tests plus bone marrow tests. These tests help to determine the prognosis and the treatment approach.

If this cancer advances, other bodily organs might be affected such as liver plus bone marrow and this could be fatal. A number of treatments are available based on prognostic scores, general health of the patient, age and stage. During early stages radio therapy could be used and stem cell transplantation and chemotherapy in more advanced stages. There are other treatments that are approved such as using monoclonal antibody therapy.

Follicular lymphoma is a types of cancer which attacks lymph nodes. At times it is diagnosed at a very advanced stage that is life threatening since it spreads slowly. Older people should therefore go for regular tests so that this cancer can be diagnosed and treated early enough. With proper treatment, the survival range could be over 20 years.

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