VANCOUVER -- We don't know exactly why this type of cancer is on the rise, but this year about one thousand British Columbians will be diagnosed with some form of lymphoma, a cancer of the immune system. It is the fifth most common cancer and it strikes both the young and old. While some forms can be hard to treat, many are curable.
Paul McDonald is a lymphoma patient and cancer researcher, says, "even with elevated lymph nodes, I didn't experience and other symptoms, I didn't really have fatigue."
McDonald was just finishing up his PhD in vascular biology and was about to start working at the BC Cancer Research Centre, when he found out cancer: non-Hodgkin's follicular B-Cell lymphoma.
"It was a foreign concept to me at the time...to be diagnosed with non-hodgkin's lymphoma was simply a big shock."
Dr. Laurie Sehn, Medical Oncologist at the BC Cancer Agency, says, "lymphoma is a cancer arised from the immune system. Our immune system is very complicated depending on different immune cells it comes from leads to different subtypes of lymphoma."
Dr. Sehn says for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma alone, there are more than 30 different subtypes.
"There's a wide range of behavior, some very slow growing, others rapidly progressive and quickly cause symptoms to develop."
The good news is there have been huge advances in lymphoma research. And with greater understanding comes newer drug treatments like retuximab.
Dr.Sehn says, "And since we've introduced this drug for certain lymphomas in British Columbia, we've seen an improvement in survival rate by 50 percent."
Retuximab was included in Paul's second round of chemotherapy. For the past 2 years, his lymphoma has been in remission.
Paul McDonald says, "with lymphoma, you never know when it comes back, could be two months, could be 12-15 years from now, but I'm doing well"
Having non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has given him a different perspective in his research into breast and prostate cancer. It's also given him a renewed outlook on life.
McDonald says, "I, myself, for more balance within my life. I'm still very dedicated to what I do as a career , but I'm much more cognizant spending timw with family, spending time with my wife and kids."
Lymphoma symptoms can be vague, but experts say if you do have ongoing tiredness, fevers, and unexplained weight loss, that go beyond the flu, you should see your doctor. The BC Cancer Agency, by the way, has the largest lymphoma research program in Canada.
Monday April 24, 2006
