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Hematology & Lymphoma

Hematology is the study of blood diseases. Even the earliest societies had a modest understanding of the importance of blood, so the study of hematology dates back centuries. Lymphoma is a group of cancerous diseases that afflict the lymph nodes. Scientists and doctors classify lymphomas as hematological malignancies since they originate with abnormal blood cells.

  1. History of Hematology

    • The earliest hematology treatments seem unbelievable in today's technological age. Blood-letting through leeches was a common practice believed to cure a host of diseases and ailments---even some diseases that were later found to have no relation to the bloodstream. Doctors discovered that blood circulates through the body in 1628. Since then, the medical community has continued to improve treatments for blood diseases. Today, most blood-related disorders are curable.

    Hodgkin Lymphoma

    • Hodgkin lymphoma, or Hodgkin Disease, is a rare form of cancer. It generally begins in the lymph nodes and spreads to the liver, spleen, lungs and/or bone marrow. Signs of the disease include swelling of lymph nodes, fever, chills, weight loss and loss of appetite. Doctors can quickly diagnose the disease through a biopsy.

    Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

    • Non-Hodgkin lymphoma causes similar symptoms but originates in specific blood cells rather than lymph nodes. Abnormal T or B white blood cells are the first indicator of developing lymphoma, but they often go undetected until symptoms arise. Swelling of lymph nodes, fever, night sweats, and weight loss are all symptoms of lymphoma.

    Incidence and Trends of Lymphoma

    • Non-Hodgkin lymphoma typically affects older people. A recent study by the Cancer Institute found that the median age for diagnosis is 67. Approximately 20 people out of 100,000 are diagnosed with the disease each year. Men are more affected than women, and whites are affected more than other races. The incidence of Hodgkin lymphoma is much lower at only 3 in 100,000. Hodgkin Disease is also diagnosed at a much younger median age---38 years old. White people are slightly more affected with Hodgkin Disease, though the difference between races is not as great as with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

    Treatment

    • Radiotherapy and chemotherapy are the most common treatments for both types of lymphoma. Though such treatments take a physical toll on the patient, they are also highly effective ways to eradicate the disease and keep the patient in remission. Currently, medical research institutes, such as Cedars-Sinai, are experimenting with bone marrow transplants as a possible cure for low-grade lymphomas.

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