Description

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is a rare type of cancer that begins in the white blood cells. The cancer affects white blood cells called T-cells, also called t lymphocytes These cells help the body's germ-fighting immune system. In the cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, the T cells that attack the skin.

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, also called CTCL, can cause a rash and slightly raised or scaly round patches on the skin. Sometimes other growths that appear on the skin.

There are several types of cutaneous lymphoma of t-cells. The most common types include:

  • Mycosis fungoides. Mycosis fungoides is the most common type of cutaneous lymphoma of t-cells. Grows slowly. Mycosis fungoides affects mainly the skin. It often causes patches of skin affected.
  • The syndrome Sezary. The syndrome Sezary is a less common type of cutaneous lymphoma of t cells Grows and spreads quickly. The syndrome Sezary affects the skin and the blood. At the time, causes a rash all over the body.

The treatment depends on the type of cutaneous lymphoma of t-cells. treatments may include skin creams, light therapy, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy.

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is a type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Another type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that affects the skin, called cutaneous B-cell lymphoma. Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is much more common than cutaneous B-cell lymphoma.

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma are:

  • The patches of raised, or peeling of the skin that can cause itching. The patches occur with greater frequency in the skin that does not get much sun.
  • Patches of skin that are pink, red, brown, or gray. The color can be more difficult to see in Black and brown skin.
  • Patches of skin that are lighter in color than the skin around them. This may be more easy to see in Black and brown skin.
  • The lumps that form in the skin and may rupture.
  • The lymph nodes become larger.
  • The loss of hair.
  • Thickening of the skin on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
  • A rash on the skin that is scaly and itchy.

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with a health care professional if you have symptoms that concern you.

Causes

The cause of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, often not known. This type of cancer causes a growth of the cells in the skin. It begins in the germ of the struggle of white blood cells called lymphocytes. Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma affects specific lymphocytes T lymphocytes.

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma that occurs when T lymphocytes develop changes in their DNA. A cell's DNA contains the instructions that tell the cell what to do.

The DNA gives healthy cells are instructions to grow and multiply at a set rate. The instructions that tell cells to die at a set time. In cancer cells, changes in DNA gives other instructions. The changes tell cancer cells to grow and multiply quickly. Cancer cells can continue living when healthy cells would die. This makes too many cells.

In the cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, cancer cells accumulate in the skin. In a type of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is called syndrome Sezary cells of cancer are also in the blood.

Risk factors

The risk of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma may be greater in:

  • Older adults. The condition can occur at any age, but is most common in people older than 50 years.
  • The people who are assigned male at birth. The condition is twice as common in persons assigned male at birth who is on the people assigned female at birth.
  • The black people. Blacks have the highest risk of developing cutaneous lymphoma of t-cells. blacks are also more prone to developing this type of cancer at a younger age.

There is no way to prevent the cutaneous lymphoma of t-cells.

Diagnosis

To diagnose cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, a health professional can begin with an examination to look for signs of cancer. Tests and procedures may include blood tests, skin biopsies, and imaging tests. Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are similar to those of other skin conditions such as eczema. And the first tests may not show cancer cells in the skin. To obtain the correct diagnosis may take time.

Physical examination

A healthcare provider may do a physical exam to look over his skin scaly areas or growths. The health professional you can search for other signs of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, such as the swelling of the lymph nodes.

Blood tests

Blood tests such as a complete blood count can provide information about its condition. Sometimes the blood tests show the cancer cells in the blood. This is more common with a type of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is called syndrome Sezary.

Skin biopsy

A skin biopsy is a procedure to remove cells from the surface of the body so that they can be tested in a laboratory. The tests can show if cancer cells are present in the skin.

A health professional can take the sample of cells with a circular cutting tool. This type of biopsy is called a punch biopsy. For larger areas, and growth, the health professional can use a small knife. This is called an excisional biopsy.

Skin biopsies do not always detect cancer cells, even when cancer is present. You might need more of a biopsy of the skin over time.

Imaging tests

If there is a concern that the cancer cells have spread to other parts of your body, your health care professional may suggest imaging tests. These may include a ct scan, also called a ct scan or a positron emission tomography scan, also called a PET.

Treatment

Treatments for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma include medications, radiation therapy, light therapy and bone marrow transplantation. There are many treatments for this type of cancer. Your treatment plan may include a combination of treatments.

Skin creams and ointments

Some medications for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is applied to the skin. Medications can come in creams, gels, and ointments.

The drugs used in this mode are:

  • Steroids. Steroids applied to the skin can help to control the skin rash and itching.
  • The chemotherapy drugs. Chemotherapy treats the cancer with strong medications. Some chemotherapy drugs are applied to the skin to remove the cancer cells.

Light therapy

The light therapy for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma implies that shines a certain kind of light in the skin to remove the cancer cells. During this treatment, you are standing in a treatment area, while the lamps glow on your skin. The treatment is often given a pair of times a week for several weeks.

Sometimes the light therapy is also used in medicine to make cancer cells easier to hurt with the light. This is called photodynamic therapy.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy treats cancer with powerful rays of energy. For the cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, the energy beams are most often X-rays or electrons. The treatment can be directed to a small area of skin cancer. Or may be given to all the skin on the body.

Medicines in pill form, or through a vein

Some medications for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is given in pill form, or through a vein. Giving the medicine in this way means that it travels through the body and can treat the cancer, where it is growing.

The drugs used in this mode are:

  • Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy treats the cancer with strong medications. The drugs to kill cancer cells.
  • The targeted therapy. Targeted therapy for cancer is a treatment that uses drugs that attack specific chemicals in cancer cells. By blocking these chemicals, specific treatments can cause cancer cells to die.
  • Immunotherapy. Immunotherapy for cancer is a treatment with a medication that helps the body's immune system destroys the cancer cells. The immune system fights diseases by attacking the germs and other cells that should not be in the body. Cancer cells survive by hiding from the immune system. Immunotherapy helps the cells of the immune system find and kill cancer cells.

Bone marrow transplantation

A bone marrow transplant, also called a bone marrow stem cell transplantation, involves placing healthy bone marrow stem cells in the body. These cells replace the cells from damage by chemotherapy and other treatments. A bone marrow transplant may be used when cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is too long or has come back after other treatments.

Lifestyle and home remedies

Many people with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma have itching in the skin. Skin care can help. In addition to what your healthcare provider gives you to control the itching, it can also help to:

  • Use a mild soap, without smell. This could help to relieve the itching. When you wash your skin, warm, not hot, water.
  • Keep the skin hydrated. Put a soft lotion, cream or ointment with no smell on your skin after showers and baths. The use of the moisturizing cream during the day as needed. This may help to relieve the itching.

Coping and support

A diagnosis of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma can be a challenge. Here are some ideas that may help you cope.

Learn about cutaneous T-cell lymphoma

Learn enough about your cancer to feel OK making decisions about your treatment and care. Talk with your health care team. Ask your care team to recommend good sources of use for more information. The U.S. National Cancer Institute and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society are two good sources.

Find a good listener

Find someone who is willing to listen to you talk about your hopes and fears can be useful when managing a cancer diagnosis. This could be a friend or family member. A counselor, medical social worker, or a member of the clergy can also provide useful guidance and care.

It can also help to join a support group or talking with other people who have cancer.

Preparing for your appointment

Start by making an appointment with a doctor or other health care professional if you have symptoms that concern you.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

When you make the appointment, ask if there is something that you need to do before you go. For example, you may be asked not to eat before you have a certain test. Make a list of:

  • Its symptoms, including those that do not seem to be related to the reason of his appointment, and when they began.
  • Key personal information, including major stresses, recent life changes and family medical history.
  • All the drugs, vitamins, and other supplements you are taking, including the dosage.
  • Questions to ask your health care professional.

A family member or a friend with you, if possible, to help you remember the information they give you.

For the cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, some basic questions to ask include:

  • What is likely causing my symptoms?
  • Other that the most likely cause, what are other possible causes of the symptoms?
  • What tests do I need?
  • What is the best course of action?
  • I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
  • There are restrictions that must be followed?
  • You should see a specialist?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material I can have? What websites do you suggest?

Be sure to ask all the questions that you have.

What to expect from your doctor

Your health care professional may ask you questions, such as:

  • Do you have symptoms all the time or come and go?
  • How bad are the symptoms?
  • What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
  • What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
Symptoms and treatment of Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma