Outstanding Cancer Treatment Results
Why Choose New Hope for Alternative Cancer Treatments
What Is Lymphoma?
Lymphoma, also called lymphatic cancer, is a type of cancer affecting cells of the immune system called lymphocytes. Just as cancer represents many complex diseases, lymphoma represents many different cancers of lymphocytes, including approximately 35 to 60 different subtypes. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cells that help fight infections in the body, meaning they play a vital role in the immune system. Further, since lymphoma is present in the bloodstream, it can spread or metastasize to different parts of the body.
What Is Hodgkin Lymphoma?
Hodgkin’s disease (HD) is a type of lymphoma that affects one lymph node after another or subsequently. It is more prevalent during early adulthood, between ages 15 and 40, and in late adulthood, from age 55 and beyond. The condition is rare for children under the age of five.
Hodgkin’s disease has two types, including:
Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma
Accounting for 95% of Hodgkin lymphoma cases, this disease is detected when abnormal types of B lymphocytes (Reed-Sternberg cells) are present. Classic Hodgkin lymphoma has four subtypes, including nodular sclerosis Hodgkin lymphoma, mixed cellularity Hodgkin lymphoma, lymphocyte-rich classic Hodgkin lymphoma, and lymphocyte-depleted Hodgkin lymphoma.
Nodular Lymphocyte-Predominant Hodgkin Lymphoma (NLPHL)
Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin disease is rare and only accounts for 5% of Hodgkin lymphoma cases. It is characterized by large cells called popcorn cells due to their resemblance to the snacking staple. Popcorn cells are a variation of Reed-Sternberg cells. NLPHL can occur at any age and is most common in young men.
What Is Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma?
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is the most common type of lymphoma. It accounts for approximately 4% of all cancer cases in the United States. In 2018, it is estimated that about 74,680 people (41,730 males and 32,950 females) will be diagnosed with NHL, and 19,910 people will die of the disease. One in 47 is the average American’s risk of developing NHL in a lifetime.
There are many different types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and they are typically classified on whether they affect B-cells or T-cells.
B-cell lymphomas include diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, mantle cell lymphoma, marginal zone B-cell lymphoma, Burkitt lymphoma, Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia, hairy cell leukemia, and primary central nervous system lymphoma. On the other hand, T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas include precursor T-lymphoblastic lymphoma and peripheral T-cell lymphomas.
Warning Signs and Symptoms
Hodgkin lymphoma
- Lumps felt in the neck, groin, or underneath the arm that are usually painless
- Fever
- Itching skin
- Tiredness
- Appetite Loss
- Cough
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest pain
- Night sweats
- Unexplained weight loss
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Enlarged abdomen or belly
- Feeling full even with just a small food intake
- Chest painless
- Cough
- Shortness of Breath
- Headache
- Difficulty with through the process
- Seizures
- Personality Changes
- Itchiness
- Lumps
- Low blood cell count
- Unexplained weight loss
- Night sweats
- Fever
- More susceptible to bruising or bleeding due to low blood platelet count
- Fatigue
- Severe Infection
It is important to note that some of these symptoms may also be signs of different medical conditions apart from lymphoma. If your body is showing any of the signs listed above, it is best to seek medical attention as soon as possible. This way, you can diagnose the problem early and receive treatment before your condition worsens.
Prevention
There is no sure way to prevent non-Hodgkin lymphoma because the cause of the disease is yet to be determined. For now, the best way to keep lymphoma at bay is to reduce your exposure to certain risk factors. While they are not many, managing them is nevertheless a better course of action than doing nothing and hoping that lymphoma will not affect you and your loved ones.
Maintain a healthy weight
Scientific research suggests that being overweight or obese may increase your risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In fact, a diet high in fat and red meat may further raise your risk. Maintaining a healthy weight may help protect against lymphoma.
Protect and enhance your immune system
Boost your immunity and avoid infections that can compromise your health, including the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV attacks and greatly weakens the body’s immune system, so avoid sharing needles and having unprotected intercourse with multiple partners.
Fuel your body with nutritious eats
When you take excellent care of your body, you will boost your body’s defense systems and lessen your chances of falling prey to many unwanted diseases. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, which are linked with a lower risk of many cancers.
New Hope Medical Center Lymphoma Diagnostic Process
Medical History and Physical Exam
Blood Test
A complete blood count (CBC) is often done to examine the kidney and liver function. If lymphoma has been diagnosed, the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level may be checked because high LDH levels are often present in patients with lymphomas.
Chest X-Ray
A chest x-ray can detect Hodgkin lymphoma since it is quite common for patients with the disease to have swollen or enlarged lymph nodes in the middle of the chest.
MRI
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is a noninvasive medical test that uses a large magnet and a computer to take pictures of the inside of the body.
PET Scan
A positron emission tomography (PET) utilizes a radioactive substance to help determine if an enlarged lymph node contains lymphoma.
Molecular Test
Molecular diagnostics examine changes in genetic codes, proteins, and substances to help detect the type of lymphoma a patient has.
Facilities
At New Hope Unlimited, we pride ourselves in providing superior comfort, cleanliness, and cancer care at our 8,000 square foot medical treatment center in San Luis Rio Colorado, Mexico. We worked with renowned architects and contractors to create the ideal space for recovery, which includes state-of-the-art lounge areas and spacious private in-rooms that assure the comfort of our patients and their loved ones.
To make our patients feel right at home, each private ward is equipped with high-definition U.S. television, quality bedding, and high-speed internet connection. And with proper nutrition playing a vital role in cancer recovery, New Hope Unlimited also fulfills the dietary needs of each patient using fresh, organic produce to prepare breakfasts, lunches, snacks, and dinners.
Comfort and cleanliness are also strictly implemented in our medical treatment rooms, which are equipped with the latest medical supplies and technology to provide the highest standard of care and treatment. Our medical center also has an in-house Hyperbaric Chamber, a well-established therapy for decompression sickness, exclusively available for our patients’ use.
Further, New Hope Unlimited has maintained its exceptional partnership with Hospital Migoo, a medical group comprised of certified physicians and specialists committed to our patients’ comfort and well-being.
A Message from Our Patients
Michelle & Tyler Hoffman
Lymphoma Survivor
Jerome Fiorella
Lymphoma Survivor
Alternative Medicine Misconception
Several misconceptions surround complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), especially since more and more cancer patients are turning to alternative medicine, including those who have difficulty meeting the cost of conventional care. Some inaccurate information about CAM include:
Alternative Medicine is Only an Alternative
Many alternative medicine practitioners are also medical doctors, chiropractors, or other trained medical specialists. Many of these professionals work closely with MDs to coordinate care. To reap the full benefits of your cancer treatments, remember to always inform your health care providers about all therapies received from every practitioner you work with.
Alternative Medicine Doctors Never Use Conventional Medicine
A credible natural doctor will never tell a cancer patient to replace prescribed medication without the consent of the original doctor. In most cases, the MD and alternative medicine practitioner are the same person. If not, they will coordinate a treatment approach that benefits the general health or well-being of the patient.
Alternative Medicine Does Not Work
Licensed health care providers will not recommend natural therapies without conducting in-depth research. They will consider scientific investigations and personal experiences to suggest protocols that work. Multiple studies have, for instance, confirmed that acupuncture is an effective treatment for various medical conditions. Also, appropriate dietary changes are perceived to promote good health and even reduce or treat some diseases, among several other alternative therapies backed up by scientific studies.
Lymphoma Myths vs. Truths
Myth: No one survives lymphoma
Truth: Lymphoma is a highly curable disease. In fact, the survival rate during 2004 to 2010 was nearly 88 percent, which is more than twice the survival rate of 40 percent during 1960 to 1963, according to statistics from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Myth: Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma are the same
Truth: The primary distinction between Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is the lymphocyte they possess. When examining cells, the presence of a specific type of abnormal cell called a Reed-Sternberg cell classifies lymphoma as Hodgkin’s. Moreover, Hodgkin lymphoma is considered one of the most treatable cancers, whereas most patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma are diagnosed at a more advanced and challenging stage.
Myth: Doctors know what causes lymphoma
Truth: Like most cancers, the definite cause of lymphomas remain a mystery to human knowledge. But specific factors may increase a person’s risk, such as age, gender, and family history of lymphoma. Organ transplant recipients, people who have autoimmune diseases, or those have been infected with viruses like HIV, HTLV-1, Epstein-Barr, and hepatitis C are also at high risk.
FAQs
There is no age limit for alternative cancer treatments, especially since most cases occur in older adults. Many older patients benefit from alternative therapies as much as younger patients do.
2. Can I exercise while receiving treatment?The decision to exercise during cancer therapy is a personal one. There is no evidence supporting that exercise is likely to improve or worsen response to treatment. But regular exercise can improve physical and mental functioning, as well as quality of life in patients undergoing certain therapies like low-dose chemotherapy for lymphoma. However, it is crucial to ask your doctor if he or she has concerns before starting any new workout program.
3. How did I get lymphoma?The sources of lymphoma are not entirely understood, primarily because there are too many different subtypes of lymphoma, each one with various risk factors. The concise answer for most subtypes is that we still don’t know why one person may get lymphoma and another person does not. One of the most significant risk factors include problems with the immune system, since lymphoma is a cancer of the immune system.
Hair loss is a standard side effect of many chemotherapy drugs, which is why we do not practice high-dose use of this treatment at New Hope Unlimited. Further, many new, “targeted” drugs do not result in hair loss.
5. Are alternative treatments to lymphoma painful?Pain is a common symptom of cancer and a well-known side effect of conventional cancer treatments. However, not all people with cancer experience pain, especially when choosing the more natural route to combating the disease. If pain does develop, it can be easily treated with medications and other pain management techniques.