Lymph node cancer or lymph gland cancer is a malignant disease of the lymphatic system that occurs in the form of Hodgkin's or non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Lymph node cancer is relatively rare. If detected in time, the chances of recovery are between 70 and 90 percent. If left untreated, the disease leads to death.
Below you will find further information and selected lymph node cancer specialists.
Lymph node cancer or lymph gland cancer is a malignant disease of the lymphatic system. This leads to degeneration of the lymph cells. There are different forms. In the case of malignant lymphomas, for example, a distinction is made between Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's.
Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas can develop not only inside but also outside the lymphatic system. This form of lymph node cancer is relatively rare.
If doctors detect lymph node cancer in time, the chances of recovery are between 70 and 90 percent. Children who develop lymph node cancer have a very good chance of recovery.
If patients do not have lymph node cancer treated, the disease leads to death. In addition to the lymph nodes, other organs such as the spleen or lungs can also show malignant changes at an advanced stage. The bones can also be affected.
The symptoms are not always easy to interpret. The patient is usually unaware of them or does not give them any significance.
Symptoms include, for example
However, you should not panic unnecessarily, as all of these symptoms also occur with harmless illnesses:
A swollen lymph node often also indicates an infection in the body. The same applies to fever or fever attacks.
Lymph nodes are distributed throughout the body, but many of the lymph nodes are densely clustered in the neck @ Kalim /AdobeStock
If the patient has any of the symptoms mentioned, they can consult their GP or an oncology specialist. Part of the examination is, for example, a more detailed assessment of weight loss.
The focus is on the following questions:
All these questions and their answers can help the doctor to make a diagnosis.
However, the decisive factor in the diagnosis of lymph node cancer is the blood test. Based on your blood values, the doctor will know whether you have lymph node cancer.
This is because the altered cells in lymph node cancer displace the other cells. This inevitably leads to anemia (anemia) or a lack of platelets.
The blood count can also be used to determine the extent to which other organs have already been affected. Doctors can detect damage to the kidneys in the blood count. High inflammation values also provide an indication of lymph node cancer.
A biopsy of the lymph nodes can also help with the diagnosis. During the biopsy, the doctor removes cells or tissue samples. Specialists then examine the sample under a microscope to determine whether it is cancer.
A biopsy is usually a minor procedure that is performed on an outpatient basis and with a local anesthetic @ luchschenF /AdobeStock
Imaging procedures such as an ultrasound scan or CT scan can also be used to determine the stage of the disease.can lymph node cancer be prevented?
Basically, a healthy lifestyle is always important: a healthy diet, no smoking and no excessive alcohol as well as regular exercise are the key criteria here.
However, as the causes of lymph node cancer are not yet fully understood, there is basically nothing you can do to prevent it. This is not the case with lung cancer, where smoking plays a decisive role.
Chemotherapy is usually used for lymph node cancer. Before this, however, the doctors first clarify the stage of the diagnosed cancer. Based on this information, the doctors know which chemotherapy and how many cycles are suitable. In many cases, there is a good chance of recovery. The decisive factor is the stage the patient is at. Unfortunately, however, there are also types of lymph node cancer that cannot be cured.
In addition to chemotherapy, it is also possible to actively monitor the lymphoma or to combat it with the help of radiotherapy. The treating doctor decides on the type of treatment.
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