Cancer survivors highlight lymphona awareness

Around 100 cancer survivors, family and friends will gather in Dublin today for a conference to mark World Lymphoma Awareness Day.

Organised by Lymphoma Support Ireland (LSI) – which helps people diagnosed with Hodgkin’s and its sister condition Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma – the conference will hear about advances in the treatment of the condition.

Almost 100 people were diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2005, while there were 545 new cases of Non-Hodgkin, which is increasing at a rate of between 6% and 9% a year.

Lymphoma is one of the most curable kinds of malignant diseases, but if left untreated some types of lymphoma can be fatal within six months.

World Lymphoma Awareness Day aims to increase awareness of the condition, and to improve earlier diagnosis and treatment outcomes.

The symptoms of lymphoma, which often mimic a number of other conditions, include swollen lymph nodes, fever, unexplained weight loss, severe night sweats and a significant lack of energy.

Isobel Thompson, Chairperson of LSI and lymphoma survivor, said: “It is an honour to be chairing LSI on their 20th anniversary.

“We currently have 250 members but we would like to take this opportunity to reach out to all people who are going through treatment for lymphoma or have finished treatment to contact us and hear more about what information, advice and emotional support we have to offer.

“We hold regular meetings covering a range of issues such as the diagnosis and treatment of lymphoma, fertility following treatment and immune enhancement.

“We also have trained volunteers, who are all lymphoma survivors, who can go and visit newly diagnosed patients,” she said.

A DVD – A Personal Journey Through Hodgkin & Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma – will also be launched at the conference.

It was produced by two students at NUI Maynooth and features the stories of three lymphoma survivors, an overview of the work of LSI and an update on advances in treatment.