Diagnosis

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Using PET Scans to Determine Outcome in Hodgkin's

In the Annals of Oncology, a study indicates that a PET scan after 2 or 3 cycles of chemo for Hodgkin's Lymphomaaccurately predicts how a patient is doing and their remission strength. In the study, most patients that had a negative PET scan after 2-3 cycles of chemo generally would achieve a lasting remission while those whose scans still showed extensive involvement had a worse prognosis. Article

Hands and Feet Numb?

Do your fingers tingle? Do your feet have no feeling? Pins & needles? This is peripheral neuropathy (abbreviated PN). It can be caused by a number of medical conditions. For lymphoma patients, it can be caused by some chemotherapy drugs, especially vincristine (in CHOP for NHL) and vinblastine (in ABVD for Hodgkin's). If you are suffering from PN, read the PN Page for more information and resources.

Nebraska Awarded $9 Million Grant for Lymphoma Research

The University of Nebraska Medical Center has received a nearly $9 million grant from the NCI for research aimed at improving the diagnosis of lymphomas. Researchers are using microarrays, or gene chips, to study cancerous genes. They hope to learn more about lymphoma, find better ways to diagnose it and predict patient outcomes and eventually find targets for new therapies.

Study on AIDS-Related Lymphomas

A recent article published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology reports that survivals of patients diagnosed with AIDS-related diffuse large cell lymphoma (DLCL) have improved with recent advances in the use of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART). However, similarly treated patients diagnosed with AIDS-related Burkitt’s Lymphoma have not experienced the same benefits.

Does travel or living abroad contribute to lymphoma risk?

This one is a shot in the dark. As you might have read by my story, I travel and occasionally live outside the US as a dutiful public servant. My diagnosis came after living two years in India although I can't really blame India (such a nice country really). I'm well aware that people come down with lymphoma who haven't wandered far from their hometown let alone travelled extensively. But, it does beg the question - if you do travel, especially to third world countries, does your risk of getting lymphoma increase?

NHL Risk Factors Studied

A recent Italian study confirms what we knew about smoking - heavy smoking doubles the risk of non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. The same study also determined that persons who are infected with the hepatitus C virus and who are heavy smokers had a 4 fold risk of developing NHL.

The study was published in the International Journal of Cancer, July 1, 2005 and a report appears in Reuters Health.

Causes of Lymphoma Investigated

There are articles in the last day that offer more evidence that exposure to things can lead to lymphoma.

First is a study suggesting exposure to PCBs (chemicals once used in some transformers & manufacturing but banned since the 1970s) can increase Non-Hodgkin's risk. The higher the concentration in the home, the greater the risk. Makes an argument for hardwood floors. Article in Reuters Health.

Thyroid Cancer Risk Related to Radiotherapy for Childhood Cancer

Radiotherapy used to treat childhood cancers may contribute to survivors developing subsequent thyroid cancer, say researchers from the US NCI in the June 11 journal Lancet. Chemotherapy given for the original cancer had no impact on later thyroid cancer risk, nor did it modify the risk found from radiotherapy.

LIN Note: radiotherapy is often used in childhood lymphoma treatment.

Even Horses Can Get It

On the Animal Lymphoma Page, I have never mentioned horses. A new article came out today actually detailing lymphoma in horses.

Hodgkins Diagnoses Follow a Seasonal Pattern!

Hodgkin's lymphoma is more likely to be diagnosed during certain months-- suggesting that, in some groups, the cancer follows a seasonal pattern, according to a new study.