Primary Central Nervous System (CNS) Lymphoma
About Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma
Lymphoma refers to any cancer that affects lymphocytes, the cells within the lymph system. Lymphocytes are carried through the lymph and travel in and out of the central nervous system. There are various types of lymphoma that may require different kinds of targeted therapy. Primary central nervous system lymphoma refers to a type of cancer that affects lymph tissue in the brain or spinal cord. This form of cancer can start anywhere in the central nervous system, including the layer forming the outer cover of the brain known as the meninges. Primary CNS lymphoma may also begin in the eyes due to their proximity to the brain. This is known as an ocular lymphoma.
Primary CNS lymphoma is an incredibly rare form of cancer with only about 1,500 new patients in the United States diagnosed with this disease per year. While primary central nervous system lymphoma can affect people of any age, it is more common in cancer patients around the age of 60 and older.
Causes and Risk Factors
Cancer is caused by a genetic mutation that contributes to the unregulated and abnormal growth of cells. The cells grow out of control, resulting in the formation of tissue masses known as tumors. These can eventually spread to other parts of the body in a process known as metastasis. The exact cause of this genetic mutation is not known. With primary CNS lymphoma, lymphocytes become malignant and form lymphoma within the central nervous system.
There are various factors that may increase your risk of primary CNS lymphoma. The most significant risk factor is any disease or condition that contributes to a suppressed immune system, including HIV/AIDS or a recent organ transplant. A family history of primary CNS lymphoma may also contribute to an increased risk.
Early Detection, Diagnosis, and Staging
Some of the most common signs and symptoms of primary central nervous system lymphoma include:
- Seizures
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sudden weakness in the arms and legs
- Frequent headaches
- Confusion
- Double vision
- Hearing loss
However, these symptoms can be caused by other conditions and may not be indicative of lymphatic cancer. The only way to know for sure that you have primary CNS lymphoma is to get diagnosed by a professional. Diagnosing primary CNS lymphoma starts with a basic physical exam, which may proceed to a neurological exam to test brain, spinal cord, and general nerve function. The doctor may also request an MRI or other imaging tests to determine the formation of a tumor or mass. Your doctor may also take a biopsy of the tumor, which involves taking a tissue sample for testing to determine the presence of cancer cells.
Once your cancer has been diagnosed, your doctor will proceed to the staging phase. Staging involves determining the severity of the cancer, including if it has metastasized. This allows the doctor to plan appropriate cancer treatment options. There is currently no standard staging system for primary CNS lymphoma.
About Alternative/Natural Treatment for Primary CNS Lymphoma
The treatment plan for primary central nervous system lymphoma usually involves radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and steroid therapy. However, these can come with unwanted side effects and weaken your immune system. For example, chemotherapy drugs and radiation have been known to cause significant weight loss in cancer patients, leaving them weak as they approach the next stage of their treatment plan. Alternative and holistic treatments for primary central nervous system lymphoma can help to support your healing without the negative side effects.
Immunity Therapy Center offers a wide range of alternative treatments and targeted therapy options that are tailored to your specific health needs. Our team works directly with you to learn more about you and foster a positive relationship to support your ongoing wellness and healing. In addition to a unique treatment plan, you may also be eligible to try out one of our clinical trials to target your cancer. To learn more about lymphoma natural treatment and receive your custom cancer treatment plan, contact us today.
Sources:
- https://www.cancer.gov/types/lymphoma/patient/primary-cns-lymphoma-treatment-pdq
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5516483/
Customized Care For the Body And The Mind
Discuss Your Custom Alternative Treatment Plan With Our Team Today
Hear from Our Patients
Peter Richardson
Peter Richardson was having significantly increasing pain in his stomach earlier in February. Following doctors orders for treating constipation, Peter took laxatives and pain killers for 5 months, but nothing was helping. When he went back to the doctor a second time they did a CT scan and found a large mass in his abdomen […]
Pamela Carrillo
In 2015, Pamela was diagnosed with Stage 2 Breast Cancer that escalated into Stage Four Breast Cancer. Along with her cancer, she also was dealing with infection and swelling on her chest and arm. After hearing about the success of integrative medicine over a conventional method, she knew that she wanted to start her journey […]
Joshua Gibbs
Joshua Gibbs of Detroit, Michigan was diagnosed with Stage 4 Small Bowel Cancer in January 2020 at the age of 28. He was very sick and in a wheelchair when he arrived at Immunity Therapy Center, but was encouraged by how quickly “Dr Bautista jumped in to help” once he arrived. With the support of […]
Alessandra Solimano
Alexandria, a United States resident, was diagnosed with Mantle Cell Lymphoma in March. The disease came very suddenly. After living a very active lifestyle, she could no longer walk and took a turn for the worst. She knew that she had to receive quality care fast if she was going to recover. When she met […]
Marie Dueck
“The nurses… prayed with us during hard times.” Marie started experiencing pain in her stomach. When she visited her doctor in Belize, he prescribed medicine and said she should feel better in two weeks. Instead, she felt worse. She went to Mexico for more tests and was diagnosed with stomach cancer. Through research and asking friends […]
Fouad Youssef
“ITC offers so many different therapies and none of them are painful at all. During my time at ITC my quality of life was not taken away from me [unlike with Chemotherapy] and my lymphoma shrank drastically” In 2016, Fouad Youssef discovered he had a lymphoma the size of his thumb knuckle under his arm. […]
Johnny Russell Jr
“I am amazed at Dr. Bautista’s knowledge, we know the term doctor really means teacher.” Johnny had never been to Tijuana, Mexico prior to his visit at the Immunity Therapy Center, he is now in love with the city and the culture. After 3 weeks of treatment, Johnny was able to leave cancer free of […]
Johnny Russell, Jr. | Follow Up
This is Johnny’s 3rd follow up. He has been cancer free since June 2017 after being at ITC for two and a half weeks starting in May of 2017 with Myeloma Cancer. He decided to stay the full 6 weeks to get the full treatment and benefits of the therapies. Since then he maintains a […]
Clara Kornelsen
9 years ago Clara Kornelsen came to ITC for treatment after being diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Although she was living in Canada at the time and healthcare was free, she felt it was the right thing to come to ITC for treatment. Today, Clara is “strong and healthy as ever” and thanks Dr. Bautista for […]
Joseph Turkington
“The approach they take here is to help the body, to strengthen the immune system, and to stimulate it, so that the body itself fights the disease” In 2018, Joseph Turkington’s health started to deteriorate. A usually healthy person, he began to have pains in his stomach area, pains so bad that he eventually decided […]