Hi



Since your friends son is having a swollen gland near his ear and groin area with a slightly elevated white blood cell count and positive lymphoma markers it could be a lymphoma.

It can also be an infection for which he has to do a blood culture test.
I would advise you if the cause is infection then to treat it with sensitive antibiotics and if it comes out as negative for infection then biopsy test should be done to rule out lymphoma.

A biopsy test is a small test were a simple needle is inserted and a small specimen is taken from the gland to be studied under microscope.

Regards,
Dr. Monish De, Oncologist

Hi

Yest it could be a lymphoma since he is having slightly elevated white cells and positive lymphoma markers.

I would advise you to to do Biopsy. A biopsy is the removal of a small amount of tissue for examination under a microscope. Other tests can suggest that cancer is present, but Hodgkin lymphoma can only be diagnosed after a biopsy of an affected tissue, preferably by removal (or excision) of a lymph node. Most commonly, this will be a lymph node affected in the neck, under the arm, or in the groin. If there are no lymph nodes in these areas, a biopsy of other lymph nodes, such as those in the center of the chest, may be necessary. This type of biopsy usually requires minor surgery. It may also be possible to do a biopsy using a core needle. Doctors most commonly use ultrasound or a computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan (see below) to help guide the needle to the correct location.

A pathologist then analyzes the tissue sample(s) removed during the biopsy. A pathologist is a doctor who specializes in interpreting laboratory tests and evaluating cells, tissues, and organs to diagnose disease. A hematopathologist is a doctor who has received additional training in blood diseases and blood cancer diagnosis.

It is important that the biopsy sample is large enough to allow the pathologist to make an accurate diagnosis and determine the subtype of Hodgkin lymphoma. As described in the Introduction, a biopsy of cHL usually has Reed-Sternberg cells. For people with nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma, the Reed-Sternberg cells often look different and are called “LP” cells. In contrast to classic Reed-Sternberg cells, LP cancer cells have a protein on their surface called CD20.
The original treatments for Hodgkin lymphoma, developed in the 1960s and 1970s, were very effective at treating the disease. However, some people who received these treatments developed serious side effects later in life, including infertility (the inability to have children), heart problems (such as heart failure, leaky heart valves, and heart attacks), and secondary cancers, such as lung cancer and breast cancer. These long-term problems were partly caused by the types of chemotherapy and high doses of radiation therapy delivered to large areas of the body used at that time. Learn more about the late effects of treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma.

To avoid or reduce the risk of these problems, current treatment plans for Hodgkin lymphoma are aimed at achieving the best chance of curing the Hodgkin lymphoma while avoiding causing long-term side effects as much as possible. Newer types and doses of chemotherapy and new technologies that allow directing radiation therapy to smaller areas of the body have reduced these risks.

Most people with cHL, even stage I or stage II, often receive chemotherapy. In some patients, this is followed by radiation therapy to the affected lymph node areas. It may be possible to treat some people with early-stage disease (stage I or II) with a relatively short course of chemotherapy with or without radiation therapy. Patients should discuss with their doctor whether chemotherapy can be limited and/or whether radiation therapy is necessary in the treatment plan. For stage III or stage IV disease, chemotherapy is the primary treatment, although additional radiation therapy may be recommended, especially to areas of large lymph nodes.

Descriptions of the most common treatment options for Hodgkin lymphoma are listed below. Treatment options and recommendations depend on several factors, including:

The type and stage of lymphoma

Possible side effects

Results of regular PET-CT scans during treatment

The patient’s preferences and overall health

Your care plan may also include treatment for symptoms and side effects, an important part of cancer care. Take time to learn about all of your treatment options and ask about anything that is unclear. Talk with your doctor about the goals of each treatment and what you can expect while receiving the treatment, including any potential side effects. Learn more about making treatment decisions.

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells, usually by ending the cancer cells’ ability to grow and divide. Chemotherapy is given by a medical oncologist, a doctor who specializes in treating cancer with medication, or a hematologist, a doctor who specializes in treating blood disorders.

Systemic chemotherapy gets into the bloodstream to reach cancer cells throughout the body. Common ways to give chemotherapy include an intravenous (IV) tube placed into a vein using a needle or by taking a pill or capsule by mouth. Many people with Hodgkin lymphoma receive chemotherapy through a port-a-cath placed under the skin. Learn more about catheters and ports in cancer treatment.

A chemotherapy regimen, or schedule, usually consists of a specific number of cycles of treatment given over a set number of weeks or months. There are many different types of chemotherapy that may be used to treat Hodgkin lymphoma. A patient may receive 1 drug at a time or combinations of different drugs given at the same time.

First-line chemotherapy
Newly diagnosed Hodgkin lymphoma is often treated with regimens that use a combination of chemotherapy drugs given at 1 time. The most commonly used combination of drugs in the United States is referred to as ABVD. Another combination of drugs, known as BEACOPP, is commonly used in Europe in patients with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma and is sometimes used in the United States. The drugs that make up these 2 common combinations of chemotherapy are listed below. There are other combinations that are less commonly used, which are not listed here.

ABVD: Doxorubicin (Adriamycin), bleomycin (Blenoxane), vinblastine (Velban, Velsar), and dacarbazine (DTIC-Dome). ABVD chemotherapy is usually given every 2 weeks for 2 to 8 months.

BEACOPP: Bleomycin, etoposide (Toposar, VePesid), doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan, Neosar), vincristine (Vincasar PFS, Oncovin), procarbazine (Matulane), and prednisone (multiple brand names). There are several different treatment schedules, but different drugs are usually given every 2 to 3 weeks.

Gemcitabine combined with other drugs: Patients older than 65 to 70 years can have trouble taking a regimen of ABVD and especially BEACOPP because of the side effects. If this happens, recent research suggests that gemcitabine combined with other drugs may be a good alternative.

The type of chemotherapy, number of cycles of chemotherapy, and the additional use of radiation therapy are based on the stage of the Hodgkin lymphoma and the type and number of prognostic factors. Talk with your doctor about the specifics of your treatment plan. Usually, doctors choose to monitor how well these treatments are working with repeat PET-CT scans after 2 to 3 months of treatment. If the PET scans show that the treatment is not working, the chemotherapy may be changed. If the PET scans show that treatment is working, then the doctor may decide to lower the subsequent number of drugs used or the total number of treatment cycles.

Second-line chemotherapy
There are several second-line treatments available for Hodgkin lymphoma. These are used if the lymphoma does not go into complete remission with the first treatment or if it relapses after first-line treatment with ABVD or BEACOPP, also known as a recurrence. The goals of second-line treatment may be to control the disease and its symptoms, but in many cases, they are given in preparation for an autologous stem cell transplant (see below) with the intent to achieve complete remission and cure.

ICE: Ifosfamide (Ifex), carboplatin (Paraplatin), and etoposide. ICE is usually given every 2 or 3 weeks for 2 to 3 cycles.

ESHAP or DHAP: Etoposide, methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol), high-dose cytarabine (Cytosar-U), and cisplatin (Platinol). Dexamethasone (multiple brand names), high-dose cytarabine, and cisplatin. ESHAP or DHAP regimens are given every 3 weeks for 2 to 3 cycles.

GVD, Gem-Ox, or GDP: Gemcitabine (Gemzar), vinorelbine (Navelbine), and doxorubicin. Gemcitabine and oxaliplatin (Eloxatin). Gemcitabine, dexamethasone, and cisplatin. Gemcitabine-based regimens are either given 2 weeks in a row followed by an off-week or every other week.

Brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris): Brentuximab vedotin is an antibody drug conjugate. This means it delivers chemotherapy only to cells that have a special protein on the surface called CD30. Brentuximab vedotin is usually given every 3 weeks for up to 16 cycles, although sometimes it is given every 4 weeks. This drug is an important therapy if previous chemotherapy stops working. It is being tested as an adjunct or replacement for chemotherapy before stem cell transplantation in patients with recurrent Hodgkin lymphoma. It was also approved in 2015 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in certain patients after stem cell transplantation who are at a high risk for recurrence.

Bendamustine (Treanda): Bendamustine is generally given every 4 weeks. Sometimes it is combined with other drugs listed above to treat Hodgkin lymphoma that has come back after treatment.

It is unclear which of these chemotherapy treatments is best for patients with Hodgkin lymphoma. The best treatment may differ depending on the type and stage of the lymphoma. For this reason, many clinical trials are underway to compare these different treatments. These clinical trials are designed to find out which combination works best with the fewest short-term and long-term side effects.

During chemotherapy, your doctors will usually repeat some of the original tests, especially PET-CT scans. These tests are used to watch the lymphoma and see how well treatment is working.

The side effects of chemotherapy depend on the individual and the doses used, but they can include fatigue, risk of infection, nausea and vomiting, peripheral neuropathy (tingling or pain in the fingers and toes), hair loss, loss of appetite, and constipation. These side effects usually go away after treatment is finished. Although the risk of long-term side effects has decreased as treatments have improved, chemotherapy still can cause long-term side effects. People with lymphoma may also have concerns about if or how their treatment may affect their sexual function and fertility. Talk about these topics with the health care team before treatment begins. Learn more about late effects of treatment.

Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy x-rays or other particles to destroy cancer cells. A radiation oncologist is a doctor who specializes in giving radiation therapy to treat cancer. Radiation therapy for Hodgkin lymphoma is always external-beam radiation therapy, which is radiation given from a machine outside the body. A radiation therapy regimen, or schedule, usually consists of a specific number of treatments given over a set number of days or weeks.

Whenever possible, radiation therapy is directed only at the affected lymph node areas. This helps reduce the risk of damaging healthy tissues. Some patients may be able to receive newer radiation therapy techniques. These include:

Involved-site radiotherapy, which focuses the radiation on the lymph nodes that contain cancer.

Intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), which varies the strength and direction of the radiation beams so less healthy tissue is affected.

Controlling breathing during treatment, such as having the patient hold their breath, may enable smaller areas to be effectively treated.

Proton therapy, which uses protons rather than x-rays to treat the cancer, may be used for certain patients.

The immediate side effects from radiation therapy depend on the area of the body that is being treated. All patients may experience fatigue or mild skin reactions. Patients who receive radiation therapy to the neck may have a sore mouth and/or throat. Patients who receive radiation therapy to the mediastinum may experience a cough, nausea, or pain with swallowing. Most side effects go away soon after treatment is finished.

Although the risk for long-term side effects has decreased with improvements in treatment, radiation therapy may still cause long-term side effects, also called late effects. This may include thyroid damage if radiation therapy is given to the neck, secondary cancers, and vascular damage, including damage to blood vessels and valves in the heart if radiation therapy is given to the chest. To reduce the risk of long-term side effects, clinical trials are being done to find out the best doses and smallest possible area to receive the radiation therapy.



Stem cell transplantation/bone marrow transplantation
A stem cell transplant is a medical procedure in which a patient’s bone marrow is replaced by highly specialized cells, called hematopoietic stem cells, that develop into healthy bone marrow. Hematopoietic stem cells are blood-forming cells found both in the bloodstream and in the bone marrow. Today, this procedure is more commonly called a stem cell transplant, rather than bone marrow transplant, because it is stem cells that are typically collected from the blood that are being transplanted, not stem cells from the actual bone marrow tissue.

Stem cell transplantation is not used as a first treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma, but it may be recommended for patients who have lymphoma remaining after chemotherapy or if the lymphoma returns following treatment.

Before recommending transplantation, doctors will talk with the patient about the risks of this treatment and consider several other factors, such as the results of any previous treatment and the patient’s age and general health. It is very important to talk with a doctor at an experienced transplant center about the risks and benefits of stem cell transplantation.

The goal of transplantation is to destroy all of the cancer cells in the marrow, blood, and other parts of the body with high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy and then allow replacement blood stem cells to create healthy bone marrow.

There are 2 types of stem cell transplantation, depending on the source of the replacement blood stem cells: autologous (AUTO) and allogeneic (ALLO).

In an AUTO transplant, the patient’s own stem cells are used. The stem cells are collected from the patient when he or she is in remission after treatment. The stem cells are then frozen until they are needed. An AUTO transplant allows more intense chemotherapy doses to be given so leftover lymphoma cells are destroyed. Returning the saved stem cells to the body then allows the bone marrow and blood cells to recover from the intensive, high-dose chemotherapy.

In an ALLO transplant, stem cells are obtained from a donor whose tissue matches the patient’s on a genetic level. Testing to see if a donor’s tissue matches that of the patient’s is called HLA typing. Most often, a patient’s brother, sister, or other relative serves as the donor, although an unrelated person can be a donor as well. The patient receives chemotherapy to stop his or her immune system from destroying the donor’s cells. In an ALLO transplant, the donor’s immune system is used to destroy the patient’s cancer cells.

It is important to talk with the doctor about the potential risks and benefits of both types of transplants to determine the best choice for an individual patient. Side effects depend on the type of transplant, your general health, and other factors. Learn more about the basics of stem cell and bone marrow transplantation.

Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy, also called biologic therapy, is designed to boost the body's natural defenses to fight the cancer. It uses materials made either by the body or in a laboratory to improve, target, or restore immune system function.

Nivolumab (Opdivo) and pembrolizumab (Keytruda) are immunotherapies that recently received FDA approval for the treatment of patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma that has recurred or progressed after multiple previous treatments, including AUTO transplantation and post-transplant treatment with brentuximab vedotin. These drugs are called immune checkpoint inhibitors or PD-1 inhibitors. When these drugs are used alone in people with Hodgkin lymphoma who have had a recurrence after previous treatments, the scans of about 2 of every 3 patients show improvement for an average of 9 months, although it is unlikely that these patients are cured. There are side effects, but they are generally mild. There is some concern that ALLO transplantation may be more dangerous in people who have received 1 of these drugs. Doctors do not yet know if it is safe to combine PD-1 inhibitors with other treatments for Hodgkin lymphoma or if these drugs would be useful in treating Hodgkin lymphoma that has not recurred.

Different types of immunotherapy can cause different side effects. Talk with your doctor about possible side effects for the immunotherapy recommended for you. Learn more about the basics of immunotherapy.

Getting care for symptoms and side effects
Hodgkin lymphoma and its treatment often cause side effects. In addition to treatments intended to slow, stop, or eliminate the disease, an important part of care is relieving a person’s symptoms and side effects. This approach is called palliative or supportive care, and it includes supporting the patient with his or her physical, emotional, and social needs.

Palliative care is any treatment that focuses on reducing symptoms, improving quality of life, and supporting patients and their families. Any person, regardless of age or type and stage of cancer, may receive palliative care. It works best when palliative care is started as early as needed in the cancer treatment process. People often receive treatment for the lymphoma at the same time that they receive treatment to ease side effects. In fact, patients who receive both at the same time often have less severe symptoms, better quality of life, and report they are more satisfied with treatment.

Palliative treatments vary widely and often include medication, nutritional support, relaxation techniques, emotional support, and other therapies. You may also receive palliative treatments similar to those meant to eliminate the cancer, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Talk with your doctor about the goals of each treatment in your treatment plan.

Before treatment begins, talk with your health care team about the possible side effects of your specific treatment plan and palliative care options. During and after treatment, be sure to tell your doctor or another health care team member if you are experiencing a problem so it can be addressed as quickly as possible.



Progressive Hodgkin lymphoma
Progressive disease is the term used when the cancer becomes larger or spreads while the original lymphoma is being treated. However, progressive disease is uncommon for people with Hodgkin lymphoma.

If progression happens, it is a good idea to talk with doctors who have experience in treating it. Doctors can have different opinions about the best standard treatment plan. Also, clinical trials might be an option. Learn more about getting a second opinion before starting treatment, so you are comfortable with your chosen treatment plan. Complete recovery from progressive Hodgkin lymphoma is not always possible.

Often, a doctor will recommend a stem cell transplant (see above). This treatment appears to be more effective for progressive Hodgkin lymphoma than standard chemotherapy. Palliative care is also important to help relieve symptoms and side effects.

For most patients, a diagnosis of progressive Hodgkin lymphoma is very stressful and, at times, difficult to bear. Patients and their families are encouraged to talk about the way they are feeling with doctors, nurses, social workers, or other members of the health care team. It may also be helpful to talk with other patients, including through a support group.

Remission and the chance of recurrence
A remission is when lymphoma cannot be detected in the body and there are no symptoms. This may also be called having “no evidence of disease” or NED.

A remission may be temporary or permanent. This uncertainty causes many people to worry that the cancer will come back. While many remissions are permanent, it’s important to talk with your doctor about the possibility of the disease returning. Understanding your risk of recurrence and the treatment options may help you feel more prepared if the lymphoma does return. Learn more about coping with the fear of recurrence.

If the lymphoma does return following remission after the original treatment, it is called recurrent lymphoma. Recurrence is uncommon for people with Hodgkin lymphoma. However, if Hodgkin lymphoma does recur, a new cycle of testing much like that done at the time of diagnosis will begin again to learn as much as possible about the recurrence. After this testing is done, you and your doctor will talk about your treatment options.

Most often, the first step is to give a second-line chemotherapy treatment, such as ICE, ESHAP, DHAP, gemcitabine-based treatments, or brentuximab vedotin (see “Chemotherapy” above) to regain control over the recurrent Hodgkin lymphoma. For most patients, this treatment is used to prepare for a stem cell transplant, which provides the best possible chance of curing the disease.

Radiation therapy may be included in the treatment plan, before or after a stem cell transplant, especially if radiation therapy was not used during the initial treatment period.

Your doctor may suggest clinical trials that are studying new ways to treat this type of recurrent lymphoma.

Whichever treatment plan you choose, palliative care will be important for relieving symptoms and side effects.

People with recurrent lymphoma often experience emotions such as disbelief or fear. Patients are encouraged to talk with their health care team about these feelings and ask about support services to help them cope.

Learn more about dealing with cancer recurrence.

If treatment doesn’t work
Recovery from lymphoma is not always possible. If the lymphoma cannot be cured or controlled, the disease may be called advanced or terminal.

This diagnosis is stressful, and for many people, advanced cancer is difficult to discuss. However, it is important to have open and honest conversations with your doctor and health care team to express your feelings, preferences, and concerns. The health care team is there to help, and many team members have special skills, experience, and knowledge to support patients and their families. Making sure a person is physically comfortable and free from pain is extremely important. It is also important to discuss newer treatment options that are being tested in clinical trials. Finding a second opinion may be useful, too.

Patients who have advanced cancer and who are expected to live less than 6 months may want to consider a type of palliative care called hospice care. Hospice care is designed to provide the best possible quality of life for people who are near the end of life. You and your family are encouraged to talk with the health care team about hospice care options, which include hospice care at home, a special hospice center, or other health care locations. Nursing care and special equipment can make staying at home a workable option for many families.

Regards

DR DE

Hi

Yes a swollen gland can be a lymphoma

Doctors use many tests to find, or diagnose, cancer. They also do tests to learn if cancer has spread to another part of the body from where it started. If this happens, it is called metastasis. For example, imaging tests can show if the cancer has spread. Imaging tests show pictures of the inside of the body. Doctors may also do tests to learn which treatments could work best.

For most types of cancer, a biopsy is the only sure way for the doctor to know whether an area of the body has cancer. In a biopsy, the doctor takes a small sample of tissue for testing in a laboratory. If a biopsy is not possible, the doctor may suggest other tests that will help make a diagnosis.

This section describes options for diagnosing this type of cancer. Your doctor may consider these factors when choosing a diagnostic test:

The type of cancer suspected

Your signs and symptoms

Your age and medical condition

The results of earlier medical tests

The following tests may be used to help diagnose Hodgkin lymphoma. Not all tests listed below will be used for every person.

Medical history and physical examination. The doctor will ask detailed questions about your medical history and do a physical examination, which can identify typical symptoms of Hodgkin lymphoma, such as night sweats, fevers, and enlarged lymph nodes or spleen.

Biopsy. A biopsy is the removal of a small amount of tissue for examination under a microscope. Other tests can suggest that cancer is present, but Hodgkin lymphoma can only be diagnosed after a biopsy of an affected tissue, preferably by removal (or excision) of a lymph node. Most commonly, this will be a lymph node affected in the neck, under the arm, or in the groin. If there are no lymph nodes in these areas, a biopsy of other lymph nodes, such as those in the center of the chest, may be necessary. This type of biopsy usually requires minor surgery. It may also be possible to do a biopsy using a core needle. Doctors most commonly use ultrasound or a computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan (see below) to help guide the needle to the correct location.

A pathologist then analyzes the tissue sample(s) removed during the biopsy. A pathologist is a doctor who specializes in interpreting laboratory tests and evaluating cells, tissues, and organs to diagnose disease. A hematopathologist is a doctor who has received additional training in blood diseases and blood cancer diagnosis.

It is important that the biopsy sample is large enough to allow the pathologist to make an accurate diagnosis and determine the subtype of Hodgkin lymphoma. As described in the Introduction, a biopsy of cHL usually has Reed-Sternberg cells. For people with nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma, the Reed-Sternberg cells often look different and are called “LP” cells. In contrast to classic Reed-Sternberg cells, LP cancer cells have a protein on their surface called CD20.

Once Hodgkin lymphoma is diagnosed, other tests can help find out the extent of the disease, the stage, and other information to help the doctors plan treatment. These tests include:

Laboratory tests. Blood tests may include a CBC and an analysis of the different types of white blood cells, in addition to the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR or "sed rate") and liver and kidney function tests. Blood tests cannot detect Hodgkin lymphoma.

Computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan. A CT scan creates a 3-dimensional picture of the inside of the body using x-rays taken from different angles. A computer combines these images into a detailed, cross-sectional view that shows any abnormalities, such as enlarged lymph nodes, or tumors. A CT scan of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis can help find cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. A special dye called a contrast medium is usually given before the scan to improve the details of the images. This dye can be injected into a patient’s vein or given as a liquid to swallow. People with a history of kidney disease or poor kidney function should not receive a contrast medium given into a vein (intravenously or IV).

Positron emission tomography (PET) or PET-CT scan. A PET scan is usually combined with a CT scan (see above), called a PET-CT scan. However, you may hear your doctor refer to this procedure just as a PET scan. A PET scan is a way to create pictures of organs and tissues inside the body. A small amount of a radioactive sugar substance is injected into the patient’s vein. This sugar substance is taken up by cells that use the most energy. Because cancer tends to use energy actively, it absorbs more of the radioactive substance. A scanner then detects this substance to produce images of the inside of the body. PET-CT scans may be used to determine the stage of Hodgkin lymphoma. PET-CT scans may also be used to see how the lymphoma is responding to treatment.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An MRI uses magnetic fields, not x-rays, to produce detailed images of the body. A special dye called a contrast medium is given before the scan to create a clearer picture. This dye can be injected into a patient’s vein or given as a liquid to swallow. This test is sometimes used for Hodgkin lymphoma.

Lung function tests. Also called pulmonary function tests or PFTs, lung function tests evaluate how much air the lungs can hold, how quickly air can move in and out of the lungs, and how well the lungs add oxygen and remove carbon dioxide from the blood. These tests may be done if a person's treatment plan includes chemotherapy with certain drugs that could affect the lungs.

Heart evaluation. A heart evaluation, including an echocardiogram (ECHO) or a multigated acquisition (MUGA) scan, may be used to check the function of the heart if specific types of chemotherapy will be included in a person's treatment plan.

Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy. These 2 procedures are similar and often done at the same time to examine the bone marrow. Bone marrow is the soft, spongy tissue found inside the center of bones. It has both a solid and a liquid part. A bone marrow aspiration removes a sample of the fluid with a needle. A bone marrow biopsy is the removal of a small amount of solid tissue using a needle. A pathologist then analyzes the sample(s). These bone marrow procedures have been mostly replaced with PET-CT scans and are no longer required if this scan has been performed as part of the initial staging evaluation.

After diagnostic tests are done, your doctor will review all of the results with you. If the diagnosis is Hodgkin lymphoma, these results also help the doctor describe the extent of cancer. This is called staging.

The next section in this guide is Stages. It explains the system doctors use to describe the extent of the disease. You may use the menu to choose a different section to read in this guide.
Regards
DR DE