Lymphomas

Overview

Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system — a vital part of the immune system that includes lymph nodes, spleen, thymus, bone marrow, and lymphatic vessels. Unlike solid tumors, lymphoma is a blood-related cancer and can occur anywhere in the body.

There are two main types:

• Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) – often highly curable, especially in young patients

• Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) – a diverse group ranging from slow-growing to aggressive cancers

With modern chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and precision radiotherapy, lymphoma has become one of the most treatable cancers.

Causes and Risk Factors

The exact cause is not always known, but lymphoma develops due to mutations in lymphocytes (white blood cells). Risk factors include:

• Weakened immune system (HIV infection, post-transplant patients)

• Viral infections (Epstein-Barr virus, Hepatitis C, HTLV-1)

• Autoimmune diseases (Rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren syndrome)

• Long-term immunosuppressive medications

• Family history of lymphoma

• Exposure to certain pesticides and chemicals

Common Symptoms

Lymphoma often presents with painless swelling of lymph nodes and general body symptoms.

Typical warning signs include:

• Painless enlarged lymph nodes (neck, armpit, groin)

• Persistent fever

• Night sweats

• Unexplained weight loss

• Extreme fatigue

• Persistent itching

• Loss of appetite

• Chest pain, cough, or breathlessness (if chest nodes enlarged)

These are called “B symptoms” and are important for staging and treatment decisions.

Screening and Prevention

There is no routine screening test for lymphoma in the general population.

However, early medical evaluation is important if lymph node swelling persists beyond 2–3 weeks.

Preventive measures include:

• Proper treatment of chronic infections

• Avoid unnecessary immunosuppressive drug exposure

• Infection control in immunocompromised individuals

• Regular follow-up in high-risk patients (autoimmune or transplant patients)

Early diagnosis greatly improves cure rates.

Treatment Approaches

Treatment depends on lymphoma type, stage, and aggressiveness.

Main modalities include:

• Chemotherapy: Backbone of treatment (e.g., ABVD, R-CHOP regimens)

• Immunotherapy: Monoclonal antibodies like rituximab targeting CD20 protein

• Radiation Therapy: Used after chemotherapy for localized disease or bulky nodes

• Targeted Therapy: For relapsed or resistant lymphoma

• Stem Cell Transplant: In selected recurrent cases

Many lymphomas are completely curable, especially when treated early.

Cutting-Edge Cancer Care by Dr. Rajesh Natte

Dr. Rajesh Natte, an expert radiation oncologist, provides advanced precision radiotherapy for lymphomas and colorectal cancers using modern technology.

By integrating Image-Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT), Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT), and Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT), he delivers radiation accurately to involved lymph node regions while sparing nearby organs such as lungs, heart, bowel, and salivary glands.

With PET-CT based planning, adaptive dose sculpting, and AI-assisted contouring, treatment fields are minimized — reducing long-term complications while maintaining cure rates.

Patients benefit from:

• Organ preservation

• Lower late toxicity

• Shorter treatment duration

• Improved long-term quality of life

Conclusion

Lymphoma is one of the most treatable cancers today. Awareness of persistent lymph node swelling and constitutional symptoms helps ensure early diagnosis and cure.

Through advanced radiotherapy techniques and personalized care, Dr. Rajesh Natte continues to deliver highly effective cancer treatment with precision, safety, and compassion — bringing global-standard lymphoma care close to home.