All you need to know about B-cell lymphoma

The lymphatic system is the main network of the body responsible for fighting diseases. B-cell lymphoma consists of non-Hodgkins lymphoma and is a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system. Continue reading the article to find out some insightful information regarding B-cell lymphoma:

What is B-cell lymphoma?

• This lymphatic cancer originates from lymphocytes, which is one of the types of white blood cells.

What are the causes of B-cell lymphoma?

• Doctors have not been able to find a particular cause for B-cell lymphoma.
• However, one of the main reasons for it is a weak immune system, which is susceptible to the lymphomas growing wildly out of control.
• When the body starts to produce too many lymphocytes, the nodules get overcrowded and the formation of B-cell lymphoma begins.
• For the normal body, old lymphocytes die and the new ones replace them for healthy functioning. Under this condition, the old cells do not die and multiple drastically, causing overcrowding.

What are the types of B-cell lymphoma?

• B-cell lymphoma is largely divided into Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. However, there are other forms of this cancer too.
• Since non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is the most common type of lymphoma, it mostly occurs in the form of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
• Follicular lymphoma is a type which grows slowly and mainly affects adults.
• Mantle Cell Lymphoma and Burkitt Lymphoma are lesser common forms of lymphoma, which grow very fast in the body.
• Other rare and slow growing lymphomas include Marginal zone lymphoma, Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma, and Primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma.

What are the main symptoms of B-cell lymphoma?

• B-cell lymphoma is mainly characterized by the swelling of areas that have lymph tissues.
• Patients also complain of symptoms such as fever and night sweats.
• Appetite loss, fatigue, and weight loss without any cause are also some common symptoms of B-cell lymphoma.
• Some patients may also complain of severe itching, swelling in the belly accompanied by pain, and issues in breathing.

Who can find themselves at a high-risk factor of B-cell lymphoma?

While this condition may affect anybody, people who are at the highest risk factor of getting it are:

• People aged 60 and above, as the immunity system weakens with age.
• Men are more susceptible to it as compared to women.
• People taking medication for treating an autoimmune disorder or who regularly consume immunosuppressants.
• Patients who have been infected with Epstein-Barr virus or HIV.

Are there any herbal treatments available for lymphoma?

• Herbal treatments should not be the stand-alone solution to treating lymphoma. Instead, they can be used as support along with medical intervention to provide you with more benefits.
• Herbs that mainly help in the betterment of this condition include parsley, cleavers, and red clover.
• One may also consume green tea regularly to see its benefits on the abnormal growth of lymphocytes.
• Even Pau d’Arco, red and echinacea root, and reishi mushroom have shown to provide some relief for people affected with lymphoma.

What are the medical treatments available for lymphoma?

The medical treatment options available for lymphoma include:

• Radiation: This therapy is used to kill the cancerous cells and also for shrinkage of tumors with the help of high powered energy beams.
• Chemotherapy: This systemic treatment can be administered orally and intravenously. These are mainly used to cure extremely aggressive lymphoma cells during the initial stage.
• Stem cell transplant: Under stem cell transplant, the bone marrow is replaced with that of a healthy donor. This is only followed by sessions of chemotherapy and radiation as this will kill the cancerous cells and help in accommodating the new marrow.
• Immune therapy: Biologic drugs and radioimmunotherapy drugs are administered as a part of this therapy.