T Cell Lymphoma?!
Question:
T Cell Lymphoma?
Teen I know had trouble breathing and was sent by Dr. to hospital where they were diagnosed. Said that there was a mass on the heart wrapped around the windpipe. Doctors immediately started chemo. Anyone ever heard of this? How bad can this be? Thanks.
Answers:
The following quote is from www.cancer.org -which is the page of American cancer organization and their page of lymphoma.
Tcell mediastinal (mediastinum=the area where heart is between lungs,) tumors -even rarer than the below described B-cell?
Not benign, always treatable, not always curable, if I understood correctly. You can find more info on nci.gov (national cancer institute) net pages also.
" Primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma: This type accounts for about 2% of all lymphomas. The cells are large and resemble diffuse large B-cell lymphomas. This lymphoma starts in the mediastinum (the area around the heart and behind the chest bone). It usually is localized at the beginning. It rarely involves the bone marrow. It can cause trouble breathing because it often presses into the air passages (windpipe, or trachea) leading into the lung. It can also block the superior vena cava (the large vein that returns blood to the heart from the arms and head). This can cause the arms and face to swell.
About two thirds of people with this lymphoma are women. Most are young -- in their 30s. It is a fast growing lymphoma but it is treatable. About half of patients can be cured. Genetic studies have shown that this type of lymphoma is closely related to Hodgkin disease."