Non-Hodgkin lymphoma: Specialized cancer care from a team of experts

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is the name for many cancers that affect your lymphocytes (white blood cells). As part of your immune system, these cells play an important role in fighting infections. However, when they grow abnormally, lymphocytes can become cancerous.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma starts in either B-cells (which create antibodies that fight infection) or T-cells (which help B-cells make antibodies and might kill cancer cells). Some non-Hodgkin lymphomas are aggressive and grow quickly. Others grow and spread slowly (indolent).

At the UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center, hematologic — or blood-related — cancer specialists care for people with all types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. We are Wisconsin’s only Comprehensive Cancer Center, as designated by the National Cancer Institute. Our expert care begins with a careful diagnosis so you can get the best possible treatment.

There are several possible signs and symptoms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma:

• Itchy skin or skin rash

• Night sweats

• Swollen lymph nodes in the groin, neck, stomach or underarm

• Unexplained fever

• Unexplained pain in your abdomen, bones or chest

• Unexplained weight loss

Making a diagnosis

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma symptoms are also common with other health conditions. But if you have symptoms, you should tell your doctor. Your doctor might do an exam and run tests to determine the cause of your symptoms. One test, a biopsy, involves sampling all or part of a lymph node and examining it under the microscope for signs of cancer. It is one of many possible ways to diagnose lymphoma.

Getting a clear diagnosis is key, as it will guide decisions about your treatment. But lymphomas are among the most misdiagnosed cancers.

At the UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center, we have a team of highly experienced blood pathologists. They’re up to date on the latest ways to diagnose lymphoma. They review all biopsies performed at the Carbone Cancer Center and even serve other facilities. In about one in five cases, our experts change or clarify the results from other labs. An accurate diagnosis can have important implications for your treatment and prognosis.

At the UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center, we use a team approach to care. It helps us meet all your needs: physical, emotional and practical.

Your team includes specialized doctors who focus on your physical well-being. But we also have experts who focus on other areas, such as your mental health, family concerns and financial needs. They make sure the care you receive will be just right for you and your disease.

Your team might also include:

• Health psychologists

• Hematologic nurses

• Hematologic oncologists

• Hematopathologists

• Nutritionists

• Radiation oncologists

• Social workers

Our team uses what they learn about your cancer to guide decisions about your treatment. They also consider your needs and preferences, so you get the treatment that will work best for you.

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