Lymphatic cancer occurs most often in dogs who are between 5 and 9 years old Swollen glands, or lymph nodes, are often the first indicator that a dog has lymphoma Treatment might involve chemotherapy and in some cases radiotherapy and/or bone marrow transplantation, and can be curable depending on the histology, type, and stage of the disease.Large B-cell lymphoma, also known as diffuse large b-cell lymphoma, causes abnormal growth in red blood cells. It can also affect other organs in which case it is referred to as extranodal lymphoma. Extranodal sites include the skin, brain, bowels and bone. Lymphatic cancer are closely related to lymphoid leukemias, which also originate in lymphocytes but typically involve only circulating blood and the bone marrow (where blood cells are generated in a process termed haematopoesis) and do not usually form static tumors. There are many types of lymphomas, and in turn, lymphatic cancer are a part of the broad group of diseases called hematological neoplasms.

Hodgkin's lymphoma is named after Thomas HodgkinSince then, many other forms of lymphoma have been described, grouped under several proposed classifications. He first discovered the abnormalities that occurred within the lymph system It introduced the category non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), divided into 16 different diseases. However, because these different lymphatic cancers have little in common with each other, the NHL label is of limited usefulness for doctors or patients and is slowly being abandoned. The latest classification by the WHO (2008) lists 70 different forms of lymphoma divided in four broad groups.

Symptoms of Lymphatic Cancer

The lymphatic system is part of the immune system. When a person is diagnosed with this type of cancer, it is essential to get treatment immediately to prevent the cancer from progressing Lymph node cancer (lymphoma) generally fits into one of two categories, Hodgkin's disease or Non-Hodgkin's disease. The symptoms of both are similar Lymphatic cancer is also known as lymphoma and occurs in two different forms: Hodgkin's lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

One of the main symptoms of a lymphoma is painless swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, armpit and groin. Lymphomas also commonly present with symptoms that resemble the flu, including a fever, night sweats and chills. Another common symptom of lymphoma is persistent and chronic fatigue that is otherwise unexplainable. Lymphatic cancer can also cause a sudden loss of appetite as well as rapid weight loss.

Lymphatic Cancer Treatments

Surgery

According to the American Cancer Society, surgery is more commonly used for diagnostic reasons than for actual treatment, as it allows the physician to obtain a sample of the cancerous tissue. Nevertheless, surgery is occasionally a treatment option, especially for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that has begun in an organ outside of the lymphatic system, such as the thyroid or stomach.

Radiation

The American Cancer Society says that radiation therapy is one of the most common treatments used to treat lymphomas, both of the Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's variety. The goal of radiation therapy is to kill off cancer cells and tumors without damaging any other surrounding tissue The Mayo Clinic says that this type of treatment is often used to shrink tumors and is especially useful in lymphatic cancers that are detected in their early stages.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the use of drugs that poison or kill off cancer cells. Chemotherapy involves the ingestion or intravenous delivery of chemical compounds designed to seek out cancer cells and destroy them by altering their genetic make -up or inhibiting their reproductive system The University of Maryland Medical center website states that even late-stage Non Hodgkin lymphoma can be effectively treated with chemotherapy radiation is externally applied to the affected area as precisely as possible There is also a risk that white blood cell counts can drop even further since the treatment affects the entire lymphatic system. Common chemotherapy drugs used for lymph node cancer treatments include CHOP and Fludarabine

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a new mode of treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that employs a special kind of protein called an antibody to treat lymphatic cancer. Medications containing Rituximab are monoclonal antibodies that can trigger the body's immune system to respond strongly against cancer cells Once these antibodies have bound to a cancer cell, the body's immune system then attacks and kills the cancerous cells.

Stem Cell Transplants

In some cases, the only way to effectively treat a lymphoma is through the use of very high doses of chemotherapy. One of the side effects of prolonged chemotherapy, however, is damage to the bone marrow. Giving the patient stem cells from bone marrow or blood is one way to counteract this damage. These stem cells may be from the patient or from a donor. After the chemotherapy has been given and the patient has had some time to recover, the stem cells are then injected into the veins. These stem cells will then migrate to the bone marrow and reconstitute the damaged bone marrow tissue. This type of therapy, according to the American Cancer Society, is becoming more prevalent, because it allows physicians to prescribe chemotherapy regimens that would otherwise completely destroy the bone marrow.