EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR NODES

  • Defence forces – The lymphatic system is part of the immune system, playing a major role in the body’s defence against infection and cancer. 
  • Up sizing – Lymph nodes look like jelly beans and are less than 1 cm long. When fighting infection, they become enlarged.
  • Hide and seek – Nodes are located throughout the body. Nodes can usually be felt in the armpits, the groin and the neck. There are others can’t be felt, such as in the abdomen, pelvis and chest.
  • Three’s company – During a regular physical examination, a physician will often feel and compare three major groups of lymph nodes (neck, armpit and groin) to make sure they are healthy.
  • Open wide – Tonsils, which are a better-known part, are lymphatic organs and work with the immune system to help prevent infections.
  • What is lymphoma?  – Lymphoma is a blood cancer. It affects the white blood cells that can be found in lymph nodes. Lymphomas are classified as either Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
  • Know the signs – The signs and symptoms of lymphoma can often be mistaken for other less serious illnesses. Fatigue, fever, swollen lymph nodes, a persistent cough and unexplained weight loss can all be symptoms. If any of these symptoms persist or if you are concerned mention them to your doctor.
  • More common than you think – Lymphoma is the sixth most common cancer in New Zealand. Each year more than 750 new cases of lymphoma are diagnosed. The cause is unknown.

ALL ABOUT LYMPHOMA

  • Lymphoma is the most commonly occurring blood cancer and the third most common childhood cancer. Although the disease is becoming increasingly more common, many people are still unaware of lymphoma and that it is a life-threatening form of cancer.
  • There are more than 35 types of lymphoma. The two most common types are Hodgkin lymphoma, discovered by Thomas Hodgkin in 1832, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which breaks out into 30 different types. The different types of lymphoma affect different types of lymphocytes.
  • The signs and symptoms of lymphoma can often be mistaken for other less serious illnesses, like the flu. By knowing more about your nodes, the symptoms can be detected early and there is a better chance of quicker diagnosis, treatment and overall survival. For more information (click signs and symptoms).
  • Approximately 750 will be diagnosed with lymphoma this year, placing it in the top 6 most common cancers in New Zealand affecting children, men and women in alarming numbers.
  • One million people around the world are living with lymphoma today. In fact, lymphoma has one of the fastest rising incidence rates of any cancer and the exact cause of it is unknown.
  • For more information about lymphoma, contact the Leukaemia & Blood Foundation at www.leukaemia.org.nz or call on 0800 15 10 15.