Contents:
- Medical Video: Progression And Staging Of Breast Cancer - Manipal Hospitals
- Overview of lymph node cancer
- Diagnose cancer of the lymph nodes
- Understand the stages of the stage of lymph node cancer
Medical Video: Progression And Staging Of Breast Cancer - Manipal Hospitals
When you are diagnosed with lymph node cancer, the doctor will tell you the stage of your cancer. Stadium is a way to find out your condition, as well as a way for doctors to find out if cancer has spread to other organs. Knowing the stage of the cancer will also help the doctor to plan the best treatment. Then, what are the stages of lymph node cancer from the mildest to the advanced?
Overview of lymph node cancer
Cancer of the lymph nodes or lymphoma is a type of cancer that appears on lymphocyte cells, namely cells in the immune system. Cancer of the lymphoma affects the lymph nodes, spleen, thymus, bone marrow, and other parts of the body including the lymphatic system which should fight diseases in your body.
There are many types of lymphoma cancer, but the two main categories of lymphoma are hodgkin's lymphoma and non-hodgkin's lymphoma. The difference in cancer stage may be distinguished from its type.
Diagnose cancer of the lymph nodes
To understand the stage of cancer, you must first know what symptoms of lymph node cancer and possible tests are done to confirm the diagnosis.
Some examinations are generally carried out to formalize the diagnosis of lymph node cancer, including:
- Family health history related to cancer offspring
- Physical examination. Lymph nodes in the neck and armpit will be examined to check for swelling or not. Swelling of the liver and spleen is also examined, along with other symptoms that arise.
- Biopsy. To take samples of part or all of the infected lymph nodes through a needle, then examine them in the laboratory.
- Body imaging tests, such as X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, and PET scans.
- Blood and urine tests to determine the health of the body as a whole, know the levels of white blood cells / red blood cells / platelets, while ensuring whether the kidneys and liver (liver) work properly
- Lumbar puncture, which is a procedure for taking nerve system fluids to see the spread of cancer in the spinal cord. Usually this is done for the examination of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Understand the stages of the stage of lymph node cancer
From the series of examinations above, the doctor can thendetermine the stage of stage of lymph node cancer and plan treatment therapyaccording to the patient's condition.
The stage of lymphoma cancer is divided into four categories. The higher the number, the more distant the cancer cell has spread to other parts of the body.
Next is the stage of lymph node cancer that needs to be watched out:
Stage 1: cancer is only found in one area of the lymph nodes or lymphoid organs such as thymus (I). Cancer is found only in one area outside the lymph node organs (IE).
Stage 2:cancer attacks two or more groups of lymph nodes, can be at the top or bottom of the diaphragm. For example in the nodes in the armpit and neck area but not a combination of the armpit and groin nodes (II). Cancer is in the group of lymph nodes and in one area of the closest organ (IIE). This can also affect other groups of lymph nodes on the same side as the diaphragm.
Stage 3: cancer has attacked the surrounding tissue or other organs, such as the spleen. In this condition, the cancer has also spread from the location of the first appearance then to the collection of glands above and below the diaphragm.
Stage 4: cancer has spread to at least one organ outside the lymph system, such as the lungs, bones, liver, spleen, skin, and bone marrow.
For stage I and II stages, if cancer cells affect the external organs near the lymph nodes, the letter E is added behind the stage (IE or IIE).
However, at the stage of lymph node cancer or Hodgkin's lymphoma there are additional letters A and B in the cancer staging. Letter B is added (for example, stage IIIB) if someone has the following symptoms:
- Loss of more than 10% of body weight in the previous 6 months (without dieting)
- Permanent fever, around 38 degrees Celsius or more
- Sweating at night
If there are no B symptoms, letter A is added behind the stadium, for example IIIA. Cancer of stage B lymph nodes usually requires more intensive care.
