Lymphoma treatment and cost in india

LYMPHOMA?

Cancer ultimately results when there is uncontrollable growth of certain types of cells and the programmed cell death (apoptosis) machinery breaks down. Although researchers have not been able to figure out why exactly lymphoma develops, there are several risk factors that are known to aid in the development of the disease.

Some of these risk factors include:

Genetics: Some people may be genetically predisposed to the development of lymphoma. Such people may inherit faulty genes or mutations from either of their parents.

Cancer-causing agents: Chemicals such as pesticides, solvents and herbicides contain specific substances that may aid in development of cancer, especially lymphoma. An exposure to such carcinogens can lead to formation of free radicals, which, in turn, hamper the functioning of cells and promote cancerous growth.

Other factors: People from certain age groups are more likely to experience cancer-causing mutations that lead to development of specific types of lymphoma. In addition, presence of certain bacteria and viruses, including Helicobacter pylori, HIV, Epstein-Barr virus and hepatitis B or C are also associated with higher rates of lymphoma.

LYMPHOMA: SYMPTOMS

People suffering from this type of blood cancer may experience swelling in areas where lymph nodes are located (armpits, groin and neck), fullness in the abdomen, pain in the chest while breathing and unexplained weight loss. Some of the other symptoms include night sweats and fatigue.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF LYMPHOMA?

The following are the two types of lymphomas:

Hodgkin lymphoma: Also known as Hodgkin’s disease, this type of lymphoma occurs due to appearance of specific abnormal B-cells. It has five different sub-types and is characterized by the presence of a specific type of cell called Reed-Sternberg cell. It is typically treated with the help of chemotherapy and radiation, however, stem cell or bone marrow transplant may be advised in some cases.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma: This category of lymphoma accounts for more than 90 percent of the cases diagnosed in a year. A majority of non-Hodgkin lymphoma initiate in B-lymphocytes. This type of lymphoma is characterized by the absence of Reed-Sternberg cells.

YMPHOMA TREATMENT IN INDIA

The best hospitals for lymphoma treatment in India offer different types of treatment, which is further selected based on the stage of lymphoma, the age of the patient, the severity of the symptoms and the possible side effects.

A patient suffering from lymphoma are treated with the help of one or a combination of the following treatment methods:

Chemotherapy: This form of therapy involved the use of specific drugs to kill off cancerous cells. The decision to conduct chemotherapy on a patient depends on the severity of the symptoms and the stage of lymphoma.

Based on the condition of the patient, doctors may decide to follow aggressive or moderate treatment regimen. Aggressive regimen is specially designed to kill all cancer cells in cases where it is possible to completely cure lymphoma. Moderate treatment regimen is usually followed to provide relief from the symptoms.

Radiotherapy: This type of treatment is usually preferred when cancer is just restricted to one part of the body. Before the treatment, the radiographer prepares a map of the body to identify the regions affected by lymphoma. Next, radiation sessions are planned daily, and usually continued at an interval of two to six weeks.

Steroids: Steroid are sometimes injected intravenously to improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy. The treatment lasts for a period of few months and continues along with chemotherapy. However, there are certain side effects associated with the use of steroids, including indigestion and increased energy levels and appetite.

Antibody therapy: Monoclonal antibodies are sometimes used to identify certain types of cancer cells in the body. The antibodies then attaches themselves to the cancer cells and destroys them. This type of treatment can be conducted independently or in combination with chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

In certain cases, a bone marrow transplant or stem cell transplant is advised if high doses of chemotherapy end up destroying healthy bone marrow cells.

India has evolved in the last few years to become one of the major medical tourism hubs. Long waiting period, quality medical care and low cost of lymphoma treatment are some of the reasons why patients from across the world travel to India for treatment of blood cancer.

Lymphoma is a rare form of cancer. For the same reason, it is often difficult to find an experienced oncologist for timely and quality treatment. India has a brigade of experienced oncologists that specialize in handling complicated and uncomplicated cancer cases.

In addition, there are several hospitals for lymphoma treatment in India that are equipped with modern technology and experienced nursing staff. Some of these hospitals include:

• Medanta The Medicity, Gurgaon
• Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi
• Max Super Specialty Hospital Saket, New Delhi
• BGS Global Hospital, Bangalore
• SevenHills Hospital, Mumbai
• Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon

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