| Lymphoma is a malignancy found in the lymph system, | | | | - Anorexia |
| specifically in the lymphocytes. The common cells that | | | | - Night sweats |
| show malignancy in lymphoma are the B-cell or | | | | - Unexplained weight loss |
| B-lymphocytes and the T-cells or T-lymphocytes. | | | | - Unexplained fever |
| These lymphocytes are responsible for destroying any | | | | After taking through medical history and physical |
| pathogens that enter the body and memorize them for | | | | examination, biopsy of a lymph node is done to |
| faster destruction the next time they invade the | | | | confirm the diagnosis of large cell lymphoma. This is |
| system. Lymphoma is sub-divided into Hodgkin's | | | | done by taking a sample tissue through a minor |
| Lymphoma (formerly known as Hodgkin's Disease) | | | | surgery and studying it under a microscope. Once the |
| and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. The main difference | | | | diagnosis is confirmed, several lab tests such as |
| between the two is the presence of Reed-Sternberg | | | | imaging studies (X-Rays, PET Scan, CT-Scan, |
| cells, commonly found in Hodgkin's lymphoma. | | | | Ultrasound) and blood tests are done to stage the |
| Large cell lymphoma is a type of lymphoma | | | | disease. |
| categorized under Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This | | | | Treatment of large cell lymphoma is based on the |
| aggressive type of lymphoma usually affects the | | | | staging. A combination of immunotherapy and |
| B-lymphocytes more than T-lymphocytes. Large cell | | | | chemotherapy is the usual management utilized for |
| lymphoma is named as such because the malignant | | | | lymphoma. The drugs usually have Rituxan, cytoxan, |
| cells in this category are bigger compared to malignant | | | | oncovin, and prednisone, a combination of |
| cells of other types of lymphoma. Because of its | | | | immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and steroids. This is |
| similarity with Burkitt's lymphoma, careful morphological | | | | done during the aggressive stage of large cell |
| and clinical studies must be conducted to prevent | | | | lymphoma. Once the disease has entered its relapse |
| giving the wrong type of treatment. | | | | stage, ICE or DHAP are used. Stage I and Stage II is |
| The cause of this disease is unknown. However, viral | | | | treated with local radiation therapy, although radiation |
| infections such as HIV/AIDS and Epstein-Barr virus | | | | therapy is also applied along with chemotherapy once |
| have been known as risk factors in developing this | | | | large cell lymphoma is at the later stage. Bone marrow |
| condition. Exposure to radiation during cancer | | | | transplant is done as a form of aggressive treatment |
| treatment can pose as a risk in developing secondary | | | | as a last attempt to combat the disease. Research is |
| lymphoma. | | | | still being done to fully understand the cause of large |
| Signs and symptoms of large cell lymphoma are: | | | | cell lymphoma so proper treatment can be done |
| - Swollen, painless lymph nodes | | | | without causing too much stress on the body brought |
| - Fatigue due to anemia | | | | about by the aggressive effects of the medication. |