What is lymphoma? What are its symptoms and can it be prevented?
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Know more about Lymphoma, the disease that caused the death of Cesar Apolinario.
The passing of Kapuso TV host, reporter, and director Cesar Apolinario came as a shock to many. Only a select few knew that he had been diagnosed with lymphoma, that's why he had not been seen on TV for quite some time.
Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system, and not many people know about it. Here, we'll discuss its signs, symptoms, treatments, and possible prevention.
What exactly is Lymphoma?
According to Dr. Racheal Rosario, Executive Director of the Philippine Cancer Society, lymphoma is a type of cancer that begins in the lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, and is an important part of our immune system.
Although the main cause of cancer is yet to be determined, Dr. Rosario said that a certain gene mutation in a person's cells triggers the development of lymphoma.
And according to Medical News Today, young adults aged 20 to 30 and male adults aged 55 years old and above have a higher risk for lymphoma.
Signs and Symptoms
Although it would require several tests before a doctor can give a diagnosis of lymphoma, there are symptoms to watch out for:
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, and groin area
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Night sweats
- Abdominal pain or swelling
- Chest pain
- Coughing
- Difficulty breathing
- Unexplained weight loss
- Severe itching
Treatments
There are currently five treatment options for lymphoma:
- Chemotherapy
- Radiotherapy
- Bone Marrow Transplant
- Stem Cell Transplant
- Immunotherapy
Prevention
It is difficult to give specific ways to prevent lymphoma since its cause is yet to be discovered. However, according to Cleveland Clinic, there are risk factors that a person can control to avoid having lymphoma:
- Avoid risky behavior that can increase your chances of acquiring infections that weaken the immune system.
- Avoid unnecessary exposure to radiation.
- Having a healthy diet and maintaining normal weight.
- In rare cases, women develop lymphoma in the scar tissue around breast implants. So, it's best to consider this before deciding to get breast implants.
As with any disease, our strongest armor is still to keep our immune system strong. Let's not also underestimate the long-term benefit of living a healthy lifestyle.
If you already know that you are at risk to develop a certain disease, or you observe any of its symptoms in your body, it's always best to get yourself diagnosed as early as possible, to up your chances of getting cured.
