Why is it that they say they can cure aggressive non hodkins indolent lymphoma but ?!
Question: Why is it that they say they can cure aggressive non hodkins indolent lymphoma but .?
the slow growing lymphoma low grade that its not... they can only control... is it because it may be resistent to the treatment when it comes back.?
and generally why can they cure the aggressive... and not the slow growing low gradeHealth Question & Answer
and generally why can they cure the aggressive... and not the slow growing low gradeHealth Question & Answer
Answers:
Yes it I think if it comes back that it may be resistent to the chemotherapy and therefore stemcell transplant is used. and other methodsHealth Question & Answer
Chemotherapy is designed to kill cells that are dividing fast. This is why ALL fast growing cells in the body are often sensitive to chemotherapy and why people usually lose their hair, suffer stomach upset (the intestinal lining is fast growing), etc. depending on the chemo regimen.
So in theory, the faster the cells are dividing, the more sensitive they will be to chemotherapy. Cancers that grow quickly include aggressive Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, AML, and Hodgkin's Disease.
In an aggressive lymphoma, the cells are spreading and dividing very fast. This makes them highly sensitive to chemotherapy. (In most cases. There are always some people who have cancers that for whatever reason don't respond to chemotherapy.)
In an indolent lymphoma, the cells are dividing and spreading much more slowly. This is good in a way because the cancer will grow slowly. However, because the cells aren't dividing quickly, they are much less sensitive to the effect of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy will kill some of the indolent cells, but not all of them.
Another thing to consider is chemotherapy effects "younger" tumors and cancers more effectively. Younger tumors have a much lower grade of difference between the cells, so it's easier to target a treatment at them. As the cancer "ages" the cells become more and more different. Since the cells are so different, it becomes harder to treat.
Obviously, that's a layperson's explanation. If you wanted to know more about the science, you would probably need to actually ask an oncologist.Health Question & Answer
So in theory, the faster the cells are dividing, the more sensitive they will be to chemotherapy. Cancers that grow quickly include aggressive Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, AML, and Hodgkin's Disease.
In an aggressive lymphoma, the cells are spreading and dividing very fast. This makes them highly sensitive to chemotherapy. (In most cases. There are always some people who have cancers that for whatever reason don't respond to chemotherapy.)
In an indolent lymphoma, the cells are dividing and spreading much more slowly. This is good in a way because the cancer will grow slowly. However, because the cells aren't dividing quickly, they are much less sensitive to the effect of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy will kill some of the indolent cells, but not all of them.
Another thing to consider is chemotherapy effects "younger" tumors and cancers more effectively. Younger tumors have a much lower grade of difference between the cells, so it's easier to target a treatment at them. As the cancer "ages" the cells become more and more different. Since the cells are so different, it becomes harder to treat.
Obviously, that's a layperson's explanation. If you wanted to know more about the science, you would probably need to actually ask an oncologist.Health Question & Answer