What is lymphoma?
-Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system.
-The lymphatic system is made up of organs all over the body that produce and store cells that fight infection.
-These infection-fighting cells are also called “white blood cells.”
.The lymphatic system is a part of the immune system.
.The immune system fights infections and other diseases.
.The lymphatic system includes the following:
-Lymph vessels
-Lymph
-Lymph nodes
-Other parts of the lymphatic system: Tonsils, Thymus and spleen
-The lymphatic system has a network of lymph vessels.
-Lymph vessels branch into all the tissues of the body.
-The lymph vessels carry clear fluid called lymph.
-Lymph contains white blood cells, especially lymphocytes such as B cells and T cells.
-Lymph vessels are connected to small, round masses of tissue called lymph nodes.
-Groups of lymph nodes are found in the neck, underarms, chest, abdomen and groin.
-Lymph nodes store white blood cells. They trap and remove bacteria or other harmful substances that may be in the lymph.
-Other parts of the lymphatic system include the tonsils, thymus and spleen.
-Lymphatic tissue is also found in other parts of the body including the stomach, skin and small intestine.
-Because lymphatic tissue is in many parts of the body, lymphoma can start almost anywhere.
-Usually, it's first found in a lymph node.
-Lymphoma begins when a lymphocyte (usually a B cell) becomes abnormal.
-The abnormal cell divides to make copies of itself.
-The new cells divide again and again, making more and more abnormal cells.
-The abnormal cells don't die when they should.
-They don't protect the body from infections or other diseases.
-The buildup of extra cells often forms a mass of tissue called a growth or tumor.
.The two main types of lymphoma are
-Hodgkin lymphoma
-Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Hodgkin lymphoma spreads in an orderly manner from one group of lymph nodes to another.
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma spreads through the lymphatic system in a non-orderly manner.
-A person with Hodgkin’s lymphoma usually has large, abnormal cells known as Reed-Sternberg cells.
-They are not found in people with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
.There are two major types of Hodgkin’s lymphoma:
-Classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Most people with Hodgkin’s lymphoma have the classical type.
-Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin’s lymphoma
This is a rare type of Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
-The abnormal cell is called a popcorn cell.
-It may be treated differently from the classical type.
Types of Hodgkin Lymphoma
.There are many types of lymphoma.
-The most common types are diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma.
-Lymphomas may be grouped by how quickly they are likely to grow:
-Indolent (low-grade) lymphomas
-Aggressive (intermediate-grade and high-grade) lymphomas
Types of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
.Indolent lymphomas:
-Grow slowly
-They tend to cause few symptoms
.Aggressive lymphomas
-Grow and spread more quickly
-Tend to cause severe symptoms
.Over time, many indolent lymphomas become aggressive lymphomas.
-Nasal cavity
.The nose opens into the nasal cavity, which is divided into two nasal passages.
.Air moves through these passages during breathing.
.The nasal cavity lies above the bone that forms the roof of the mouth and curves down at the back to join the throat.
.The area just inside the nostrils is called the nasal vestibule. A small area of special cells in the roof of each nasal passage sends signals to the brain to give the sense of smell.
.Together the paranasal sinuses and the nasal cavity filter and warm the air, and make it moist before it goes into the lungs.
.The movement of air through the sinuses and other parts of the respiratory system help make sounds for talking.
-A rare cancer that forms in tissues of a salivary gland. Most salivary gland cancers occur in older people.
-The salivary glands make saliva and release it into the mouth. Saliva has enzymes that help digest food and antibodies that help protect against infections of the mouth and throat.
-More than half of all salivary gland tumors are benign (not cancerous) and do not spread to other tissues
There are 3 pairs of major salivary glands:
-Parotid glands: These are the largest salivary glands and are found in front of and just below each ear. Most major salivary gland tumors begin in this gland.
-Sublingual glands: These glands are found under the tongue in the floor of the mouth.
-Submandibular glands: These glands are found below the jawbone.
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