Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: Symptoms & Diagnosis
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: Symptoms & Diagnosis
Since there are no screening tests for lymphomas and symptoms can be hard to identify, a specific test must be performed to diagnose non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
- All non-Hodgkin lymphomas start in white blood cells called lymphocytes, but there are different categories of the disease
- Doctors categorize the cancers based on whether they grow out of B cells or T cells
- What type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma a person is diagnosed with will determine treatment
Symptoms & Diagnosis: Understanding the Types of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
- All non-Hodgkin lymphomas start in white blood cells called lymphocytes, but there are different categories of the disease
- Doctors categorize the cancers based on whether they grow out of B cells or T cells
- What type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma a person is diagnosed with will determine treatment
- To confirm a lymphoma diagnosis, your doctor will need to perform a biopsy on a lymph node
- A biopsy can determine what the type of cancer is, but imaging tests will then be needed to discover where in the body the cancer is
- Your doctor may order a CT or PET scan to determine the stage of the cancer
Symptoms & Diagnosis: The Workup
- To confirm a lymphoma diagnosis, your doctor will need to perform a biopsy on a lymph node
- A biopsy can determine what the type of cancer is, but imaging tests will then be needed to discover where in the body the cancer is
- Your doctor may order a CT or PET scan to determine the stage of the cancer
- A pathology report is an important part of the treatment planning process for non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- The report will indicate what type and grade of disease you have
- Your doctor will use the report to determine how likely it is that your cancer will spread and what actions to take next
Symptoms & Diagnosis: Determining Treatment
- A pathology report is an important part of the treatment planning process for non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- The report will indicate what type and grade of disease you have
- Your doctor will use the report to determine how likely it is that your cancer will spread and what actions to take next