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Understanding Types of Treatment
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SECTION1:
Understanding Types
of Treatment
Lymphoma is a family of cancers of white blood cells called lymphocytes.There
are 2 types of lymphocytes:B cells andT cells.Both types of lymphocyteswork
tofight infections in the body.When one type of lymphocyte cellmutates and
multiplies uncontrollably, it becomes a lymphoma.
Most types of lymphoma develop in lymphnodes,where lymphocytes typically
function.However, lymphocytes travel tomany sites in the body during their
normal function, including the skin.When a lymphocyte residing in the skin
develops amutation resulting in cancer it is called cutaneous lymphoma.There
are several varieties of cutaneous lymphomas depending on the type of white
blood cell that developed the original cancerousmutation.CutaneousT-cell
lymphomas (CTCLs) develop frommutations inT cells. Similarly, cutaneous
B-cell lymphomas (CBCLs) develop from alteredB cells and are less common
thanCTCLs.BothCTCLs andCBCLs are further divided into various
subtypes, as discussed in the sections for each of these diseases.
Treatment Decision
Treatments for cutaneous lymphomas vary based on several factors.These
includewhether it is aCTCL orCBCL, an early or advanced cancer, and any
prior treatments for the lymphoma.As a result, treatments are personalized and
tailored to eachpatient’s particular situation.
The goal of treatment for cutaneous lymphoma is to:
• Clear up all patches, plaques, or tumors
• Eliminate or reduce the number of cancerous lymphocytes in the skin and
blood
• Preventmigration ofmalignant cells from skin to other organs
• Block the growth of tumor cells
• Restore immune balance and competence
• Improve the patient’s quality of life by relieving symptoms such as pain,
itching, burning, and redness
