Understanding Lymphoma
- Actor and cancer survivor Jeff Bridges is showing off a new drawing and encouraging people to give back on this #GivingTuesday after revealing that he's now cancer-free.
- Bridges broke the news of his lymphoma diagnosis in October 2020. And in September of this year, posted to his blog that his cancer has entered remission.
- While Bridges didn't disclose publicly the type of lymphoma he was diagnosed with, the two most common types of this disease are Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
View this post on InstagramRead More"Help children get the food they need to thrive as @NoKidHungry works to help connect kids with up to #50MillionMeals this giving season. Today, on #GivingTuesday, you can help kids get the meals they need," he writes on Instagram.The drawing is of a turkey (with a human face) with the words “Happy Thanksgiving” above its head; below the drawing reads: “Let the gratefullness (sic) over flow into blessing all around you.”
Bridges is known for his various forms of art, specifically his photography, outside of his acting career. On his website, he has many printed photos available for purchase, which range in price from $1,200 to $4,500. He also showcases his work in photography exhibits around the world from Spain and Germany, to Australia and the United States.
Jeff Bridges' Cancer Battle
Jeff Bridges broke the news of his cancer diagnosis lymphoma in October 2020 via social media. He announced his diagnosis saying, "I have a great team of doctors, and the prognosis is good."
The actor had chemotherapy to treat his disease, and throughout his cancer journey, he kept his fans updated during his treatment process. He shared exciting updates, such as news that his tumor is shrinking, in his online journal and on social media.
View this post on Instagram
Luckily, his doctors were right about his prognosis; earlier this year, in September, the actor posted to his blog that his cancer has entered remission.
"The 9" x 12" mass has shrunk down to the size of a marble," Bridges writes. He also suffered after contracting Covid in the midst of his cancer battle earlier this year. "Covid kicked my ass pretty good, but I'm double vaccinated and feeling much better now."
Understanding Lymphoma
While Jeff Bridges didn't disclose publicly the type of lymphoma he was diagnosed with, the two most common types of this disease are Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Lymphoma is a cancer of the immune system that affects infection-fighting cells called lymphocytes. And there are more than 40 different types of lymphoma.
"Lymphoma is split up into a number of different categories," Dr. Elise Chong, a medical oncologist at Penn Medicine, tells SurvivorNet.
"The first distinguishing breakpoint, if you will, is non-Hodgkin lymphoma versus Hodgkin lymphoma," she adds, "and those sound like two different categories. But non-Hodgkin lymphoma comprises the majority of lymphoma, and Hodgkin lymphoma is a single specific type of lymphoma."
What Kind of Lymphoma Do You Have? Why Your Type Matters
Hodgkin lymphoma has distinctive, giant cells called Reed-Sternberg cells. The presence of these cells, which can be seen under a microscope, will help your doctor determine which of the two lymphoma types you have.
There are a few other important differences between non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Hodgkin lymphoma to note. For one thing, non-Hodgkin lymphoma is much more common. And you're more likely to be diagnosed with it after age 55, like Jeff Bridges. People usually develop Hodgkin lymphoma at a younger age.
It should be noted that another difference between these two types of lymphoma is that non-Hodgkin lymphoma is more likely to spread in a random fashion and be found in different groups of lymph nodes in the body, while Hodgkin lymphoma is more likely to grow in a uniform way from one group of lymph nodes directly to another.
These two different types of lymphoma behave, spread and respond to treatment differently, so it's important for you to know which type you have.
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