Lymphoma is a type of cancer that develops in the white blood cells of the body known as lymphocytes. It is a cancer of the lymphatic system and can easily spread or metastasize to other parts of the body if not treated early. It can affect the liver, lungs, or bone marrow. Read to know the signs, foods to eat and treatment options for lymphoma.

Early signs and symptoms

Swollen Lymph Nodes: This symptom is common in both non-Hodgkin and Hodgkin lymphoma. Due to the ill-functioning of the immune system, the lymph nodes get swollen or enlarged and look like lumps under the skin. These lumps can form anywhere from the side of the neck to the groin to the underarm area or even above the collarbone. 

General Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin symptoms: Fatigue, erratic weight loss, loss of appetite, easy bruising or bleeding, fever, sweating, and chills. 

Location-specific symptoms: If the cancer is spread to the abdomen, it will cause the liver or the spleen to swell, causing pain. If it affects the intestines, it can lead to vomiting and nausea. If cancer spreads to the brain, then it can lead to headaches and seizures. If it affects the chest, one can experience symptoms like difficulty in breathing, chest pain, and pressure.

Foods to eat

Carbohydrates: These are essential nutrients that provide energy to the body. Treatments can lead to weakness and fatigue, and a food regime replete with healthy carbs can help in managing recovery. So, ensure that you choose whole-grain options that have fiber, like quinoa, brown bread, brown rice, and whole-grain cereals. 

Protein: Foods rich in protein help body muscles grow and repair during treatment and after exertion. Fish, nuts, seeds, lentils, eggs, and beans are some great protein sources. Make sure that you choose lean meat.

Vitamins and minerals: These nutrients keep the immune system healthy. Leafy vegetables and fruits are replete with vitamins and minerals. So, ensure that your plate is full of colorful vegetables. Citrus fruits have an abundance of vitamin C and other rich antioxidants, which are great for the immune system and also skin and hair health.

It is best to consult your doctor regarding any food regime change to help recovery during treatment.

Treatment options

Biologic therapy: A medicinal treatment, this method infuses microorganisms into the body that helps the immune system attack unhealthy, cancer-causing cells.

CAR T Cell therapy: Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy focuses on treating cancer by using the patient’s immune cells. Abnormal T cells are removed from the patient’s body, genetically modified in a laboratory to be healthy, and then allowed to multiply into billions. Then these cells are transferred back into the patient’s body.