Is lymphoma the best at disguising itself? Be careful if you have painless lymph nodes

Some people find swollen lymph nodes during physical examinations, or accidentally touch a skin mass while taking a shower, which is considered to be swollen lymph nodes. If the lymph nodes are systemic, infectious diseases and non-infectious diseases (connective tissue diseases, blood system diseases, such as acute and chronic leukemia, lymphoma, etc.) need to be considered.

What does a normal lymph node look like?

Lymph is responsible for immune function and is composed of lymph nodes, lymphatic vessels, lymph fluid, and lymphocytes.

Among them, lymph nodes are interspersed in the lymphatic vessels and are mainly responsible for filtering lymph, removing bacteria and foreign matter, and producing lymphocytes and antibodies.

Under normal circumstances, lymph nodes are smaller than mung beans, and are round or oval gray-red bodies of varying sizes, with a diameter of mostly between 0.2-0.5cm. They are soft in texture, smooth in surface, and have no adhesions to adjacent tissues, and are generally not palpable.

Enlarged lymph nodes also reflect the body's resistance to external invasion to a certain extent and play a protective role.

What is lymphoma?

Lymphoma is a malignant tumor that originates from lymph nodes or other lymphatic tissues. It is more common in the elderly and young adults. It is not a single disease. Due to the distribution characteristics of the lymphatic system, lymphoma is a systemic disease that can invade almost any tissue and organ in the body. Except for hair, nails, and teeth, which have no lymph nodes or lymphatic tissues, lymphoma can occur in different parts of the body.

Pathological tissue biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosing lymphoma. Lymphoma is divided into two categories: non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and Hodgkin's lymphoma. Among them, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma accounts for about 70%. Among non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common invasive malignant lymphoma in my country.

According to the WHO classification, lymphoma is actually a general term for the "lymphoma family" of more than 70 different subtypes.

Lymphoma is the best at disguising itself . What signals in the body should we pay attention to?

According to statistics, lymphoma has ranked among the top ten malignant tumors in my country and ranks second among malignant tumors of the blood system. The symptoms of the disease are very hidden at the beginning and it is often described as "the most disguised disease." It has successively taken the young lives of host Luo Jing, actor Li Yu, and cartoonist Xiong Dun.

It is often related to viral infection, autoimmune factors, genetic factors, contact with toxic and harmful substances, ionizing radiation, previous history of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, etc. Viral infections include Epstein-Barr virus, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection, which can also increase the risk of lymphoma.

The first symptoms of lymphoma are not obvious, mostly superficial lymph node swelling without pain or itching , painless masses in the neck, armpits or groin, or unexplained fever, night sweats, weight loss, etc. If you find these symptoms, you should go to the hospital's hematology or lymphoma specialist for treatment in time!

Reminder: Be vigilant about swollen lymph nodes that are painless and itchy!

Do I need surgery for lymphoma?

Lymphoma is different from some other solid tumors and generally cannot be cured by surgical resection. It is usually treated with systemic chemotherapy, supplemented by surgery and radiotherapy, and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for enhanced consolidation treatment. The specific plan needs to be selected individually based on a comprehensive analysis of the disease's pathological type, clinical stage, invaded organs, and the patient's physical condition.

How to prevent lymphoma?

(1) To enhance immunity, keep exercising, get enough sleep, have a regular work and rest schedule, don’t stay up late, don’t smoke, and don’t drink excessively;

(2) Eat a balanced diet. Eat a combination of meat and vegetables, do not eat one-sidedly, and eat less smoked and fried foods;

(3) Be in a good mood. Release stress in time and try to reduce the pressure in life and work;

(4) Stay away from toxic environments.

Stay away from radiation, polluted environments and toxic substances. Try to avoid contact with pesticides, herbicides, hair dyes, heavy metals, benzene and other chemicals. Do not move into a newly renovated house immediately.

(5) Have regular physical examinations. Especially if brothers and sisters are diagnosed with lymphoma one after another or at the same time, they should have regular physical examinations and pay close attention to observation. The physical examination should include the doctor touching the superficial lymph nodes, liver and spleen, performing ultrasound of the superficial lymph nodes, abdominal lymph nodes and liver and spleen, and blood routine and biochemical tests.

Since 2004, the International Lymphoma Alliance and the World Health Organization have designated September 15th of each year as "World Lymphoma Awareness Day" with the aim of helping people identify the early symptoms of lymphoma and achieve "early detection, early diagnosis, and early treatment"!

Improve the level of awareness about lymphoma and enhance confidence in fighting lymphoma!

Healthy China Action Spokesperson

Associate Chief Physician