What is skin lymphoma?
skin lymphoma is a general name for a group of white blood cell cancer that manifests in the inner layers of skin tissue. There are several different forms of skin lymphoma, but the two most common types are B-cell and T-cell cancers. Both types are considered slowly growing tumors and symptoms are usually mild. Skin lymphomas are easy to treat, due to most other cancers and patients with the diagnosis of the condition usually do not have long -term health problems. Doctors are not sure exactly what causes skin lymphoma. Some research suggests that environmental factors such as irritating skin products and exposure to mushrooms can play significant roles. T-cell skin lymphoma is a bit more common than B-cell variety and men over 50 are most likely to develop one type. Unlike most other types of lymphoma, skin tumors usually do not spread to other parts of the body.
In its early stages skin lymphom notes cause noticeable physical symptoms. As cancer progresses, one can notice the localined abnormalities of the skin. The skin area can become red, scaly, itchy and seems to rise. After a few months the skin can color and feel leather. Open lesions appear with some types of lymphoma and one rarely can experience fever and nausea.
If a primary care physician or a dermatologist is suspected of skin lymphoma, he will usually refer to the patient to oncologist for further testing. The specialist can diagnose the state by exploring skin lesions and analyzing the results of laboratory tests from samples of skin and blood. The doctor may also decide to perform a computer tomography (CT) scanning of the chest and abdomen to make sure that cancer is limited to skin tissue. After determining the phase, accurate location and a specific type of lymphoma, the physician may have a better means of treating it.
Because most forms of skin lymphoma are slowly growing and do not spread out of the skin, doctors sometimes decide withnot to treat them. Instead, patients are instructed to plan regular checks with their oncologists to make sure that their conditions do not get worse. If treatment is required, the doctor may decide to apply local steroid creams, expose the affected area to ultraviolet radiation or surgically consumer parts of cancer tissue. Lymphoma, which does not respond to conservative treatment and begins to spread, is usually treated by radiation or chemotherapy. Most cases of skin lymphoma may be removed, although cancer is able to return for several months or years after initial treatment.