Radio Dwarka caught up with oncologist Dr Prashant Mehta, who is passionate about music and loves to compose music in his free time, to know more about lymphoma. Music, he says, is therapeutic and helps combat stress for the doctor and patient alike.
Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymph nodes and lymphatic system. The lymph nodes make the red and white blood cells and platelets. When the white blood cells increase manifold and hamper the growth of healthy blood cells and platelets. The main symptom is usually enlargement of lymph nodes that does not go away (as it does after infection). Other could be fever, drenching night sweats, sudden weight loss, changes in blood profile, etc. referred to as B symptoms.
These symptoms are often confusing and are mistaken as that of tuberculosis. It may waste a lot of time.
The lymph nodes, blood and bone marrow are subsequently tested to ascertain if these symptoms are of lymphoma or not.
Chemotherapy and targeted therapy are quite useful in destroying fast-moving lymphoma that is categorised into four stages based on number of sites involved and involvement of the bone marrow.
He said that most patients are depressed after being diagnosed with cancer. It is natural. Today, thanks to medical advancements, a cancer patient can be cured but not many are aware of it. "First and foremost, the patient needs to be comforted. The family also needs counselling about various aspects of the disease. It will stand the patient in good stead and go a long way in his recovery."
He also busted myths associated with chemotherapy, saying that it can work wonders in curing cancer.

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Vishal Gupta,
Radio Dwarka,
India's First Online Community Radio,
Monday, May 23, 2016