Lymphoma is cancer that attacks your immune system by crowding out the healthy infection-fighting cells known as lymphocytes and replacing them with abnormal cancerous cells. When someone is diagnosed with lymphoma, it means that these lymphocytes have grown dangerous and out of control. So, the best way to fight the condition is by educating yourself about the diagnosis and treatment options for lymphoma so you can avail of the right procedures. Read this article to know more.

Diagnosis
Here are the tests and procedures used to detect lymphoma in your body:

• Physical diagnosis
  When you go to your doctor for a physical exam, they will check for swollen lymph nodes in your underarm, neck, groin, spleen, and even your liver.

• Removal of lymph node for further testing
  Depending upon your condition, your doctor may even suggest you undergo a lymph node biopsy procedure in a lab. This advanced test helps determine the presence of lymphoma cells and the type of cells involved.

• Blood test
  Through this test, the lab will count the number of cells in your blood sample that will help your doctor make an accurate diagnosis of your condition.

• Removal of bone marrow sample for testing
  A bone marrow sample is taken by inserting a needle in your hipbone. This sample is sent for a biopsy procedure to look for lymphoma cells.

Treatment
The treatment options for lymphoma depend on when the diagnosis takes place, i.e., the procedures can be determined only after knowing the the type of disease and the stage it is at. Other factors include your overall health and preferences. The main purpose of the treatment is to remove as many cancer cells as possible to slowly eliminate the disease from your body. Some of the treatments for lymphoma, once the diagnosis is made, include:

• Active surveillance
  Some types of lymphoma take time to grow. It is up to you and your doctor to wait for the disease to show symptoms that start interfering with your day-to-day life. Until then, you may undergo regular tests to keep an eye on your condition.

• Chemotherapy
  Chemotherapy is a process that uses medications to eliminate fast-growing cancer cells. These are usually administered intravenously; however, some patients prefer to take it as a pill. You can discuss your preferred method of treatment with your doctor.

• Radiation therapy
  Radiation therapy utilizes high laser technology, such as X-rays and protons, to kill cancer cells in your body.
• Bone marrow transplant
  A bone marrow transplant, also known as stem cell transplant, uses high amounts of radiation and chemotherapy to suppress the diseased bone marrow. Then the surgeon will infuse your body with new bone marrow, either extracted from your body or that of your donor where it moves to your bones and reconstructs the old one.

It is natural to feel overwhelmed when you are diagnosed with this serious condition. However, the best way to cope with the uncertainty is by understanding the diagnosis and making yourself aware of the treatment options for lymphoma.