Lymphoma Facts

1 Lymphoma FactsTo learn more,contact: Lymphoma Research FoundationPatient Education,Services and Support8800 Venice Blvd., Suite 207 Los Angeles,CA 90034 HELPLINE:800-500-9976 (toll is a cancer of the lymphatic lymphatic system includes tissues and organssuch as your spleen and tonsils. It also includeslymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) and smallbean-shaped organs called lymph nodes, which helpyour body fight infection and Lymphatic System This picture showsyour lymphatic system,lymph nodes, nodes are drawnas small are two types oflymphoma: Non-Hodgkin sLymphoma (NHL):There are two types ofNHL, B-celllymphoma and T-celllymphoma. The two types are again divided into: Indolent Lymphoma grows slowly. Aggressive Lymphoma grows doctors describe Lymphoma , they will oftenuse both terms. Hodgkin s Lymphoma (HL):This type of lymphomalooks a lot like NHL, but there are somedifferences.)

2 People with HL have abnormal cellscalled Reed-Sternberg (R-S cells). HL is alsodifferent because it spreads in a more orderlymanner than of LymphomaYour doctor or nurse will talk about Lymphoma interms of is a way of saying where yourcancer is and if it has spread. Do not get overlyalarmed if your doctor tells you that you havewidespread disease, because this is common inNHL and not considered unusual. Here is what thestages mean: Stage I:Cancer cells are in just one lymph node orregion (part of your body).This is called earlydisease. Stage II:Cancer cells are in two or more lymphnodes or regions AND either above or below yourdiaphragm (muscle between your abdomen andchest).This is called locally advanced disease. You can better manage Lymphoma when you know the basic sheet has informationto help with Facts about Lymphoma and its tests, plus questions to ask your doctor or nurseand ways to learn more.

3 (continued on back) Stage III:Cancer cells are on both sides of yourdiaphragm(above and below).This is called advanced disease. Stage IV:Cancer cells have spread to one or moreof your body organs (bone, bone marrow, skin, liver,or lungs).This is called widespread disease. Categories of LymphomaAfter the stage, Lymphoma is again divided into A, B, or E categories depending on the type ofsymptoms you have: A: no symptoms. B: symptoms may include: fever, chills, night sweats,itching, and weight loss. E: your Lymphoma has spread from a lymph nodedirectly to an for LymphomaYou are likely to have many tests throughout yourcourse of help doctors diagnoselymphoma and see if it has spread. Here are someof the tests:BiopsyTissue cells are taken out with a needle or TestsBlood is taken from your arm through a thinneedle. Doctors then look at your red blood cells,white blood cells,and blood platelets under BiopsyA sample of bone marrow (the spongy materialinside your bones) is taken from your hip using athin Tap (lumbar puncture)Fluid is taken from your spine (lower part of yourback) using a thin is done only incertain ScanA large machine (like an x-ray) takes pictures ofyour body from many shows doctorswhere the Lymphoma tumors are in your test uses magnets and radio waves to showwhether Lymphoma has spread to your nervoussystem or other body ScanThis type of scan shows how well your heartmuscle is ScanThis type of scan shows doctors if certain lymphnodes still have the test uses radiation to take pictures of theinside of your April 2005 Lymphoma Facts (continued) Lymphoma TreatmentsTo learn more,contact.

4 Lymphoma Research FoundationPatient Education,Services and Support8800 Venice Blvd., Suite 207 Los Angeles,CA 90034 HELPLINE:800-500-9976 (toll BasicsLymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic lymphatic system is made up of a type of whiteblood cell. This is called a lymphocyte. It is located inyour lymph nodes, spleen, tonsils and bone marrow(where blood cells are manufactured). The lymphaticsystem helps your body fight infection and are two main types of Lymphoma :Non-Hodgkin s Lymphoma (NHL)This type of Lymphoma is most common in middleaged or elderly people. NHL can occur in lymphnodes and/or other organs that contain lymph cancer may be located in one place in your body,but often, it is located in multiple areas throughoutthe is because cancerous ( malignant )lymphocytes often circulate throughout your body,just like normal can be either B-cell Lymphoma or T-cell Lymphoma , depending onwhich type of lymphocyte becomes over 40 different types of NHL.)

5 Some types ofNHL grow very quickly. Other types grow s Lymphoma (HL)This type of Lymphoma is most common in cancerous ( malignant ) lymph nodescontain a particular type of malignant lymphocyte,which is known as a Reed-Sternberg to Choose a TreatmentThere are many types of treatment for treatment choices depend on three main things:1) What type of Lymphoma you ) The stage of the Lymphoma (this mean how manyareas are affected by the Lymphoma ).3) Your general should ask the following questions when you aremaking a decision about your treatment: What type of treatmentis best for me (chemotherapy,radiation therapy, biologic therapy, transplant)? When should I begintreatment? Benefits (how can treatment help me)? Side effectsof treatment (what other minor problemsare caused by treatment)?Together, you and your health care team will make achoice about which treatment (or treatments) is bestfor should talk with your doctor, nurse, andother members of your health care may aska lot of questions about your treatment choicesbefore making a Lymphoma treatments include:Biologic TherapyThis treatment increases your body s natural ability tofight cancer.

6 It does this by giving a boost to yourimmune are several kinds of biologictherapy:(continued on back)Your doctor or nurse may ask you to help make a choice about your Lymphoma this sheet to help you learn the basic Facts . How to Choose a Treatment(continued) Monoclonal Antibodies:These are drugs like Rituxan ,which directly target Lymphoma cells and do not harmnormal drugs are sometimes called smartdrugs or guided missiles because they know exactlywhere to go in your body. Radioimmunotherapy:These are therapies like Rituxan ,which have a radioisotope attached to guided missiles are able to destroy cancer cellsbecause they attach to the Lymphoma and deliversmall doses of medicine to the cells. Interleukin 2:This is a medicine that activates theimmune system so that it can kill cancer cells. Vaccines:These are treatments that help the bodyprotect itself against the ( Chemo )This treatment uses drugs to kill cancer cells andreduce the size of cancer tumors.

7 Chemotherapydrugs may also affect healthy cells and cause sideeffects like hair loss or mouth are manytypes of chemotherapy drugs. Many drugs are oftenused together for TherapyThis treatment uses radiation (high energy x-rays) tokill cancer treatment often only takes placein the part of your body where the Lymphoma high doses of chemotherapy destroy thelymphoma cells and your bone marrow, which is the factory for blood help your bone marrowmake new healthy blood cells, some stem cells(immature cells that will grow up into red blood cells,white blood cells,and platelets) may be taken with aspecial machine before chemotherapy is are then transplanted (put back) into the transplanted cells will then find their way to thebone marrow and restore it, so that it can buildhealthy new blood are two types of transplants:1) Autologous transplants this uses your own bonemarrow or stem ) Allogeneic transplants this uses bone marrow orstem cells from a donor (someone else, often abrother or sister).

8 Watchful WaitingThis means that you do not have to get any activetreatment now. But, you may need to get treatmentslater,if tests show that your cancer is waiting is usually recommended only forpeople with slow-growing TrialsThese are research studies that help doctors learnmore about Lymphoma can also helppeople with cancer, because it allows them to receivethe treatment. Often, clinical trials are the only waypatients can receive new treatments, which are nototherwise available. Clinical trials can help doctorslearn about: New types of treatments. Ways to prevent clinical trials can provide many benefits, theycan also be harmful for some shouldspeak with your doctor, nurse, or health care teamabout clinical Treatments (continued)Revised April 2005To learn more,contact: Lymphoma Research FoundationPatient Education,Services and Support8800 Venice Blvd.

9 , Suite 207 Los Angeles,CA 90034 HELPLINE:800-500-9976 (toll Side Effects and ToxicityChemotherapy Side EffectsChemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells or keepthem from growing. But these drugs also kill healthycells,which can cause side effects vary bythe type of chemotherapy drugs include: Decreased Blood Cell Production:This means that yourbody has less than normal red blood cells (anemia),white blood cells (leukopenia),and platelets(thrombocytopenia). Diarrhea:This is when you have runny bowelmovements more than several times a day. Fatigue:This is when you feel like you have no strengthor energy, and you feel tired all of the time. Hair Loss:Chemotherapy may or may not cause hairloss ( alopecia ) anywhere on your body. Mouth Sores(mucositis):The inside of your mouth canbecome red or sore because of chemotherapy. Mostmouth sores can be treated with medication.)

10 Nausea or Vomiting:You may have nausea (feel like youwant to throw up) or vomiting (when you throw up).There are medicines that can stop nausea should tell your doctor if you the doctor gives you nausea medicine, youshould tell him/her whether it is working. Sterility:Chemotherapy can sometimes produce eithertemporary or permanent sterility (the inability to havechildren).This is because some chemotherapy canharm sperm and egg should talk to yourdoctor about whether you can store your sperm oreggs before you undergo chemotherapy. Libido:Chemotherapy can often cause a lower libido(sex drive). Usually a normal libido will return afteryou finish your chemotherapy Side EffectsRadiation uses high energy x-rays to kill cancer can cause side side effects willappear in the part of your body that is being treatedwith may include: Fatigue:This is when you feel like you have no strengthor energy,and you feel tired all of the time.