Probably a naive question about lymphoma (cancer of the lymph nodes)?

Question

Please bear with me, but I have a genuinely curious question about lymphoma. Say you get a suspicious lymph node biopsied (and they completely removed it) and it comes back with a lymphoma diagnosis. Say it was caught very early on and hasn't had a chance to spread yet. Well... Didn't removing the cancerous node get rid of the cancer? My grandma had uterine cancer and they "cured" her by removing her uterus. Is this the same thing?

Sorry for the dumb question, but I couldn't find anything about it elsewhere.

Answer 1

I would be glad to explain it to you. In fact, my own dad died of lymphoma and I was also a cancer care nurse for eight years.

The cancer of the uterus was different because that type of cancer grows as a single tumor that can actually be removed or it can be removed with the tissue surrounding it (such as the entire uterus) and the cancer will be gone from the body.

The difference with lymphoma is that one single lymph node is only the tip of the iceberg. Our bodies are made up of thousands of lymph nodes all connected by what is called the lymph system. This is a series of connections sort of like veins and arteries that carry blood and are all connected. Thus, if the cancerous cells are in one lymph node, they are in all of the them because they are connected throughout the body. There is no way to cure this because a person cannot live without or have removed their entire lymph system.

It is complicated, but I hope that helps a little.

Answer 2

If it didn’t have a chance to spread yet then yes removing the cancerous node would cure the cancer.

Problem is there is no way to determine that it did not have a chance to spread yet and it would be unlikely for it not to by the time a person has a biopsy.

Answer 3

If lymphoma is found in one lymph node then it is in all of them? This can't be true. We have lymph node clusters in our head and legs, yet for some Hodgkin's diagnoses front-line therapy consists only of involved field radiation therapy, which may be limited to nodes in the chest or to a bulky mass there. Since this often results in a cure, how is it that cancerous B-cells in nodes not within the radiation field also managed to die? Furthermore, a hallmark of Hodgkin's is the reliable spread of the disease from node cluster to node cluster, unlike the randomness in every subtype of non-Hodgkin's.

Answer 4

under are listed some indications and in the event that they are indicative of a particular variety of lymphoma (Hodgkin's ailment = HL, or considered one of those Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma = NHL): Lymph node swelling, in many situations interior the better physique area inspite of the undeniable fact that this is in in basic terms approximately any node or appropriate lymph gadget organ. The node is in many situations no longer painful as antagonistic to contaminated lymph nodes that are elementary and could be painful (HL, NHL) a loss of potential, typical fatigue. (HL, NHL) weight alleviation - in many situations a minimum of 10% over a quick time (HL, NHL) Fevers which could come and flow. it rather is in many situations observed via chills or a feeling of temperature swings (HL, NHL) nighttime sweats - unexplained sweating at nighttime, in many situations drenching (extra in many situations HL than NHL) Itching - itching with out an obvious reason or rash, each each now and then deep interior the floor relatively than on the floor, each each now and then on distinctive aspects of the physique (extra in many situations HL than NHL) Fever above a hundred levels Fahrenheit (38 levels Celsius) for over one week. much less in many situations: some human beings have decrease returned soreness this is unexplained (would be led to via increasing lymph nodes pressing on nerves). (HL, NHL) Lymph nodes are probable painful after alcohol intake. (HL) epidermis patches, lesions, itching (NHL of the floor / cutaneous) What now? a reliable proportion of diagnoses are made throughout the time of habitual tests, x-rays, or maybe mutually as pregnant. it rather is how complicated this is to diagnose lymphoma based on exterior indications on my own.

Answer 5

ask your doctor, if they think that the cancer is still in your body they will kill it with chemotherapy. you will recover soon