Lymphoma is a serious disease with a high incidence both in Thailand and around the world. Lymphoma is the most common disease in hematological cancers with more than 6,000 new cases found per year, resulting in more than 3,000 deaths per year in Thailand and tends to increase continuously.

Get to know lymphoma 

Lymphoma is a https://ufabet999.app type of blood cancer caused by abnormalities in lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell that is responsible for the immune system. These cells are found in lymph nodes, spleen, thymus, bone marrow, and other parts of the body. Lymphoma is divided into two main types: Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL). NHL is the most common type in Thailand and worldwide. With an incidence of up to 4 out of 5 lymphoma patients.

Dr. Chavalit Lakhammee, a hematologist at Yanhee Hospital, said that lymphoma is not a genetic disease. But the risk of developing the disease may be found if the patient has a history of exposure to chemicals for a long period of time.

Lymphoma is a cancer with a high chance of being cured. Therefore, observing symptoms is a very important factor because early diagnosis will increase the chance of being cured for the patient. The suspicious symptoms of lymphoma are lumps growing in various parts of the body. Such as the neck, armpits, or groin, and may also have symptoms of fever, night sweats, and weight loss.

Risk factors for lymphoma

Risk factors for lymphoma include age, gender, infections such as Helicobacter pylori. Immunodeficiency in HIV patients and autoimmune diseases, and exposure to chemicals such as pesticides. The incidence of lymphoma increases with age, and is more common in elderly men than women.2

Lymphoma is curable.

Although lymphoma is most commonly found in men aged 60-70, surveillance and awareness of this disease are important for the general population because lymphoma can occur in patients of all ages. Ms. Chotima Terdwikran. A 35-year-old lymphoma patient who found an abnormal lump under her chest skin five years ago at the age of 30, is an example of a lymphoma patient who was not at risk. However, due to her alertness and observation of abnormalities in her body. She immediately went for a diagnosis and treatment. She has now been able to return to her normal life. 

Ms. Chotima shared her experience of battling lymphoma after being diagnosed in 2015, saying, “Personally, I did not have any symptoms or any signs of a serious illness. However, when I found an abnormal lump on my body, I decided to see a doctor immediately for peace of mind. When I found out that I had lymphoma, I immediately started chemotherapy. Because I started treatment at an early stage, I did not show many symptoms. However, on the contrary, I had to face the rather severe side effects of chemotherapy. In addition, the treatment took quite a long time. I personally spent more than 8 hours receiving intravenous chemotherapy per round. Which caused me to feel exhausted and wasted a lot of time on treatment.”

Treatment of lymphoma

Currently, chemotherapy is being administered through subcutaneous injections for the treatment of lymphoma. The aim is to increase convenience and reduce the length of hospital stay. When comparing intravenous chemotherapy with subcutaneous injections. The latter method saves treatment time and hospital stay by up to 32 percent.

Dr. Chavalit said, “In terms of treatment, chemotherapy is a standard treatment that can be used in conjunction with other treatment methods, such as targeted therapy, which provides good treatment results and is highly effective. It is also a treatment that all Thais have access to. In addition, treatment by subcutaneous injection for lymphoma patients is another option that is an important factor in shortening the treatment time for patients. Especially in the current COVID-19 outbreak situation. A fast and effective treatment time not only helps improve the quality of life of patients. But also helps medical personnel work more flexibly and quickly.”