Lymphoma Coalition The Lymphoma Coalition is focusing on Lymphoma patients’ biggest issues Late & Misdiagnosis. Late diagnosis: more commonly known as misdiagnosis to most patients, late diagnosis is receiving your lymphoma diagnosis after one or more other diagnoses. As a result, you receive your diagnosis late, which delays your option for seeing a lymphoma specialist sooner. Misdiagnosis: the patient is diagnosed with lymphoma, but the subtype is not diagnosed correctly. KNOW YOUR NODES QUIZ 1. What shape is a lymph node? • Round like a ball • Rectangular like a brick • Oval like a bean • Flat like a disk Correct! A lymph node is a small, bean-shaped organ. Lymph nodes are approximately 1 cm in size, but they get bigger when they need more power to do their job fighting off bacteria and viruses. 2. Where on your body can you find lymph nodes? • Under your arms • In the groin area • In your abdomen • All over your body Correct! Lymph nodes can be found anywhere! Nodes are strategically located throughout the whole body where bacteria are most commonly found. 3. How many lymph nodes do you have in your body? • 50-70 • over500 • 50,000-70,000 • 5 million-7 million Correct! No one actually knows exactly how many lymph nodes are in the body, but it is estimated there are over 500 lymph nodes from head to toe. 4. True or False: Lymph nodes get enlarged or swollen when your body is fighting an infection? • True • False Correct! When working to fight an infection, the nodes become much larger because they need more power to do their job. You may even notice your lymph nodes become tender when the body is fighting infection. While an enlarged lymph node is not always a sign of a serious health problem, an enlarged node that does not shrink back to normal and remains enlarged for a long period of time should be examined by a doctor. Remember that nodes are all over your body and that any node in any location can become enlarged and signal a more serious health issue. 5. All medical practitioners know about lymphoma and how to diagnose it? • True • False Correct! Although it is becoming increasingly more common, many are still unaware of lymphoma even though lymphoma is the most commonly occurring blood cancer and the third most common childhood cancer. Its symptoms closely resemble that of the flu or itchy rash, and it may be misdiagnosed by healthcare professionals. Get to know your body, your nodes and your health so that you can inform your doctor about what is normal for you and what is not. 6. Lymphoma has similar symptoms to: • The flu • A cold • Allergies • All of the above Correct! Symptoms of lymphoma include low energy, fever, unexplained weight loss, severe night sweats and swollen lymph nodes. Since the signs and symptoms of lymphoma can often be mistaken for other less serious illnesses, make sure you know what to look for. By knowing more about your nodes, the symptoms can be detected early and there is a better chance for quicker diagnosis, treatment and overall survival. 7. If you have swollen lymph nodes, when should you go see your doctor? • When I get additional symptoms. • When my lymph node gets to the size of a golf ball. • When I make time in my busy schedule. • Immediately! Correct! You must make an appointment to see your doctor immediately so that a professional can examine your swollen nodes, access your symptoms and your overall health. At any time, if you are unsatisfied with your doctor’s assessment of your health, insist on a second opinion. 8. True or False: There is only one type of lymphoma? • True • False Correct! There are two main types of lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Hodgkin lymphoma, which break down into over 80 subtypes. Each of these subtypes may have different symptoms, different treatments and different outcomes. Some are aggressive and require treatment right away, and some people live with the less-aggressive forms of lymphoma for many years without requiring treatment. It is very important to know your body, know your nodes, be diagnosed early and be diagnosed with the correct subtype. Only then will you be able to receive the appropriate treatment for your lymphoma. 9. Can lymphoma be cured? • Yes • No Both answers are correct. While there are cures for some subtypes, there are others that are very hard to treat or that grow very slowly which mayrequire no treatment for many years, and have no cure. It is important to know what kind of lymphoma you have so be sure to see a lymphoma specialist and receive the correct treatment protocol. 10. Approximately how many people worldwide are living with lymphoma? • The equivalent of 240 Boeing 747 airplanes (100,000) • The equivalent of 962 Boeing 747 airplanes (400,000) • The equivalent of 1683 Boeing 747 airplanes (700,000) • The equivalent of 2404 Boeing 747 airplanes (1,000,000+) Correct! One million people around the world are living with lymphoma today - approximately the equivalent of 2404 Boeing 747 airplanes. In fact, lymphoma has one of the fastest rising incidence rates of any cancer and the exact cause of it is still unknown. Despite this staggering number, many people still don’t know what lymphoma is, nor the signs and symptoms. Common Signs & Symptoms of Lymphoma: • Painless swelling in a lymph node • Chills/temperature swings • Recurrent Fevers and • Excessive sweating at night • Unintentional weight loss • Loss of appetite • Persistent tiredness and • Lack of energy • Breathlessness and Coughing • Persistent itch all over the body without an apparent cause or rash • General fatigue • Enlarged tonsils • Headache Share this quiz with your friends and family by posting this link to Facebook or by sending this link via email. You may be the person who helps someone detect lymphoma early!If signs and symptoms are detected early, there is a better chance for overall survival.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:07:36 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015