Lymphoma Awareness in Gilbert & Chandler

September is designated as Lymphoma Awareness Month. A time to reflect, support, and educate on the form of blood cancer.

Lymphoma is named after the cells that are affected – lymphocytes. These are the white blood cells that actively fight germs and infections. While there are many different types, the two main types are Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin. Hodgkin lymphoma affects a certain type of white blood cell called Reed-Sternberg cells. Hodgkin lymphoma is also often curable. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma affects any other cell and is the more common of the two. Whether it can be cured often depends on the specific type of lymphoma you have.

Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms will vary based on the type you have and the body part affected. Notably, early-stage lymphomas may not have any symptoms; however, when they do occur, they may include:

• Swollen lymph nodes – most common in the neck, armpit, and groin
• Fever
• Profusely sweating at night
• Fatigue
• Weight loss without trying
• Pain in bones, chest, or abdomen
• Itchy skin
• Cough

Lymphoma of the skin (cutaneous lymphoma), has symptoms that include:

• Rash
• Itchy skin
• Change in skin color – red, purple, or brown depending on your skin tone
• Peeling or painful skin
• Tumor on the skin

If your lymphoma is in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), symptoms possible are:

• Confusion
• Double vision
• Headaches
• Hearing loss
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Weakness in the arms or legs

If you have consistent symptoms that are worrying you, please schedule an appointment with a healthcare professional.

Possible Complications

The cancer does have some potential complications to be aware of. Relapses are one, even after successfully treating the disease, it may come back. It is possible for this to occur years later, and it may happen more than once. Another complication is known as transformation. This is when a slow-growing type changes into a more aggressive type. Lymphomas like that often require stronger treatments.

Causes

If you have been diagnosed with lymphoma, it wasn’t because of something you did or didn’t do. You also can’t give it to anyone else. It is a form of cancer that forms when white blood cells grow uncontrollably. This is due to a DNA mutation, which causes the cells to divide more frequently and/or not die when they should. However, while there are no guaranteed causes, there are several factors that may increase your odds of developing the cancer.

Risk Factors

While several risk factors exist that may increase your chance of developing lymphoma, it is important to note that having one or more does not mean you will get it. It just means you have a slightly higher chance than someone without any.

• Age
• Gender
• Family History
• Certain Infections
• Autoimmune Conditions
• Other Conditions
• Other Possible Factors

Griswold Can Help

If you are living with lymphoma in Ahwatukee, Queen Creek, Sun Lakes, or the surrounding area, Griswold can help! Our team of Caregivers can help assist you with homemaking, personal care, and companionship. Whether it’s respite care for a couple of hours of care a week or full-time, 24 hours a day, we are here to help you Live Assured. Give us a call today, and we’d be happy to chat about care options and put together a personalized care plan just for you. We can often have a Caregiver to your home within 24 hours of inquiry.

In case you missed it, we recently had the pleasure of joining Cheryle Scheidell with Barrett Financial Group, LLC on AM 960 The Patriot! We talked about how reverse mortgages can give families more financial flexibility and even help cover the cost of in-home care. It was a great conversation about planning and making sure seniors and their families have the resources they need to live safely and comfortably at home. The full segment aired on August 31st. Click here to view the replay!