Cancer of the lymph nodes is a type of oncological pathology in which a malignant process appears in the lymph nodes and in general in this system.
In the human body, the protective function is mainly assigned to the lymphatic system. It consists of lymph nodes and a branched vascular network. It is here that specific immune cells are formed - lymphocytes, which form the primary barrier when a viral or bacterial infection enters the body.
The highest concentration of lymph nodes is observed in the axillary, inguinal and cervical regions. Malignant damage to this system is approximately 4% of all cancers. The disease can be concentrated in one or more nodes.
Varieties
It should be remembered that the term "cancer of the lymph nodes" refers to at least thirty specific types of tumor formations.
- Hodgkin's lymphoma. It accounts for about 25-35% of existing lymphomas. During the examination, sheis determined by the presence of extensive Ridge-Berezovsky-Strenberg tissues in the lymph nodes. It is also called lymphogranulomatosis.
- Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas - all other types of malignant lymphomas are called that way. They account for 65-75% of the remaining cases. A diagnosis can be made only after a histological examination of all tissue samples and cells of formation.
The presence of malignant cells in the lymph nodes is a fairly common complication of many cancers. The symptoms of cancer of the lymph nodes in the neck are discussed below.
In almost all cases, regional or lymphogenous placement becomes the main method, after which more distant nodes are affected. This happens when cancer cells spread throughout the body. Often, specific tumors also form in the lymph nodes.
Causes of this pathology
There are four main theories of lymph node cancer:
- excessive insolation;
- interaction with carcinogens;
- HIV, Epstein-Barr virus and human papillomavirus;
- systemic diseases of the human body.
Risk factors
Risk factors include:
- smoking (depending on the amount of experience, the likelihood of the formation of lymphoid pulmonary formations and lymphoma of the thoracic duct increases);
- hazards of a professional nature, for example, work with mutagenic agents (herbicides) and radiationloads;
- young (from fifteen to twenty-five) and old age, which is very sensitive to the influence of harmful environmental factors due to the lack of stability of immunity protection;
- late and very difficult births can also significantly shake the homeostasis of the human body with the formation of a cancerous process;
- genetic predisposition (especially in first-line relatives) to lymphoid tumors.
Symptoms of lymph node cancer
Often, patients are interested in whether the lymph nodes hurt with cancer? Unpleasant sensations, as a rule, appear only because of their increase, since it is accompanied by bursting of the fiber around them, along with the receptors in it. The inflammatory process in the lymph nodes in the presence of cancer begins when an infection is attached to it or against the background of immunodeficiency.
There are typical symptoms of lymph node cancer:
- Increased body temperature, especially subfebrile in the evening. Progression is also associated with an increase to 39-40°, profuse night sweats and a state of fever.
- Itching of the skin, often generalized, but itching of the chest, scalp, palms and feet also occurs.
- Feeling of bursting of tissues and pressure at the site of localization of the lymph nodes. Symptoms of cancer of the lymph nodes (photo pathology posted in the article) are mostly quite specific.
Non-specific complaints
With lymphomas, there are also non-specific complaints,ex:
- disability of the patient due to a strong feeling of weakness and weakness;
- appetite reduction;
- increased fungal infections and bacterial infections;
- breathing difficulties;
- anemia;
- defects in the activity of the digestive tract;
- strong weight loss.
Cancer of the lymph nodes in the neck is sometimes difficult to identify. Enlarged lymph nodes are not strictly obligatory. This occurs only half the time.
The complaints listed above are more universal in nature, they accompany cancer, but autoimmune processes and inflammatory reactions are not excluded.
Stages of lymph node cancer
The differentiation of the four stages of the disease depends on the force with which the pathology is widespread. At the same time, the degree of damage to areas of the lymphatic type, as well as similar organs, is noted. On this basis, diagnostics are made.
- In the first stage of cancer of the lymph nodes, one specific area is affected (with cancer of the lymph nodes of the mammary glands or on the neck) or one organ that is outside the boundaries of the presented system.
- Regarding the next stage, that is, cancer of the second degree, we can say that it is characterized by inflammation of the lymph nodes of two or more zones on one side of the diaphragm or an organ that is outside the lymphatic system.
- For cancer of the lymph nodes of the thirddegree, a total inflammation of the diaphragm occurs, which passes with damage to one organ outside the lymphatic system or the whole area, and the spleen. In some cases, simultaneous manifestations may be observed.
Fourth stage
The fourth stage should be noted separately. It is characterized by damage to one or more tissues outside the organs or the lymphatic system. Lymph nodes in this case may be involved in the pathological process, and may not be affected. It depends solely on the specific signs of the patient's body.
A lymphoma diagnosed at the fourth stage suggests that the disease has already made its way very far. This stage is characterized in particular by:
- Steadily increasing inflammation with placement on the site of bone tissue, pancreas, liver, lungs, the brain can also be affected;
- accelerated progressive malignancies;
- extremely fatal cancers (eg, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, skin cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, myeloma and other oncological forms);
- an inoperable bone cancer.
That is why the probability of a patient recovering in the fourth and even third stages is not too high compared to the first and second.
Cancer Therapy
In accordance with the latest information, the treatment process of this pathology can be considered very successful. Around 70-83percent of patients are in remission for a period of five years. On average, the number of relapses ranges from 30 to 35%. It depends on the time of the start of treatment, the methods used and the age category.
The cancerous process of the lymph nodes directly depends on a significant number of factors: the location of the tumor, its dimensions, stage, satellite diseases, the presence of metastases and their specific location. In the vast majority of cases, the doctor combines the usual therapeutic methods (these include either one or several chemotherapy courses). This can be either an independent appointment or combined with radiation therapy, as well as before or after surgery.
- Chemotherapy is a universal treatment method for this pathology, which allows to stop the process of tumor growth, to a certain extent reduce its size and destroy some cancerous formations.
- The next common treatment is radiation therapy. Such a course can last from several weeks to one month. Especially often, radiation therapy is prescribed to a patient after the removal of lymph nodes.
- Surgical treatment of cancer of the lymph nodes is perhaps the most effective way. It is, in essence, the total elimination of the affected lymph nodes. To reduce the likelihood of a new appearance of pathology, several regional nodes are resected simultaneously with this operation.
- Also developed and much more modern methods of cancer therapylymph nodes, for example, a bone marrow transplant to a patient from a suitable donor. Such treatment is a guarantee of a rather optimistic prognosis, especially when contacting a doctor in the early stages. In this regard, it is necessary to pay special attention to the slightest changes in the state of he alth, carrying out diagnostic examinations as often as possible.
Thanks to this, it is possible to search for a malignant formation at the very moment when it will be possible to cope with it without severe damage to the patient's he alth.
Features of the prognosis for the disease
How long can patients with a diagnosis like cancer of the lymph nodes live? Specialists, based on long-term statistical observations, have developed the International Prognostic Code, which is effective for lymphomas at any stage of malignancy.
There are 5 factors that affect patient survival:
- firstly, this is the age of patients - the younger the person, the stronger his body, respectively, he can more easily cope with the pathology;
- human he alth status (according to WHO standards);
- LDH degree (serum level, normal or elevated);
- lesions that are found outside of the lymph nodes;
- disease stage.
Points
When cancer of the lymph nodes occurs, the prognosis is made by the sum of the points that were obtained in each section. Average Survival Conclusionsperformed in a specific group of patients. For example, an excellent prognostic indicator in a patient with follicular lymphoma is observed in the following condition:
- his age is 32;
- normal LDH levels;
- first stage;
- indicator of condition in general - 1 point, limited ability to work.
Forecast by stages
By stages, the prognosis for survival is approximately as follows:
- Stage 1 - 5-year predictive survival rate of 82%;
- second stage - 88%;
- third stage - 63%;
- fourth stage - about 49%.
