Metastatic Lymph Cell Carcinoma Treatment

A diagnosis of metastatic lymph cell carcinoma is devastating. This fatal disease causes a lot of pain and discomfort, and the treatments involved often have strong side effects, such as weight loss, lethargy and vomiting. While cancer is automatically associated with death, metastatic lymph cell carcinoma is not always terminal. The earlier it is caught the more likely it is to be successfully treated.

Identification

• Metastatic lymph cell carcinoma describes a cancer that starts in the lymph nodes but can potentially spread to other organs in the body, including the brain, heart and lungs. The lymph nodes are distributed all over the body and will become inflamed or enlarged if they develop cancerous cells. According to the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, a needle aspiration or biopsy can confirm a cancer diagnosis, while imaging scans, such as CT and PET, are useful for identifying the stage of the cancer.

Significance

• Metastatic lymph cell carcinoma is fatal if left untreated. Metastatic means that the cancer will spread to and infect other parts of the body. Therefore, it is important to have the condition diagnosed and begin treatment as soon as possible. Once the cancer has spread, it will be harder to treat. According to the UC San Francisco School of Medicine, the survival rate in patients who experienced metastasis in other organs is only 56 percent.

Causes

• Metastasis occurs when cancerous cells break away from the primary tumor and are transported to other parts of the body through the blood stream or lymphatic system. According to the National Cancer Institute, these cells can spread anywhere in the body, although certain areas, such as the lungs, brain, liver and bones, are more commonly affected than others. In some cases, the metastasis might not cause any symptoms.

Solution

• Treatment for metastatic lymph cell carcinoma is most effective when different therapies are combined. The UC San Francisco School of Medicine explains that the affected lymph nodes will be removed and the patient will usually undergo a course of radiation therapy after surgery. Oral retinoids, which are a synthetic form of vitamin A, might also be prescribed, along with chemotherapy, hormone therapy and biological therapy, depending on the area to which the cancer has metastasized.

Considerations

• According to the National Cancer Institute, research is continuously being conducted into new treatments for metastatic cancer. Hospitals are constantly looking for patients to take part in drug trials to determine whether they are effective and suitable for general release. With the agreement of their doctor, cancer patients can take part in these studies, which help develop methods of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of different types of cancer.