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Shazza, a 55-year-old singer who was once hailed as “the queen of disco-polo”, was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago – lymphoma. She admitted that she found out about the disease during the checkups. The singer’s case is a good opportunity to recall how lymphoma is diagnosed and what tests a woman should undergo after her 50th birthday.
- Shazza admitted that she has been struggling with lymphoma for several years. It is the most common blood cancer. It affects the lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, blood, and other organs
- It usually gives symptoms similar to a cold or flu. There is also an enlargement of the lymph nodes
- The diagnosis involves imaging and histopathological examination of the collected tissue (e.g. an enlarged lymph node)
- Prophylactic examinations that should be done by a woman over 50 include, among others: blood count, general urine examination, breast tests, blood in stools, colonoscopy
- More information can be found on the Onet homepage
Shazza has been battling lymphoma for several years
The singer confessed on Sunday in the “Question for breakfast” program that for several years she had been diagnosed with a cancer disease – lymphoma. She found out about him by accident, doing a checkup. As she admitted, the diagnosis “knocked her off her feet”.
“On my way to one of the concerts, I did an MRI and it turned out that I was sick,” she said. At the same time, she emphasized that she is a strong person. «I am strong and I believe everything will be fine» she added.
The singer remains professionally active. She is undergoing treatment.
The rest of the text below the video material.
What Symptoms May Be About Lymphoma?
Cancer of the lymphatic (lymphatic) system takes many forms. It is malicious in nature. It can attack all systems and organs. Therefore, prompt diagnosis is essential for treatment. If you feel enlarged lymph nodes above 2-3 cm, and it is accompanied by general symptoms, such as fever, weight loss (more than 10% of weight in 6 months), excessive sweating at night, you should immediately see a doctor who will decide whether or not to refer you for further tests.
What tests will detect lymphoma?
Lymphoma can be initially diagnosed in basic diagnostic tests, e.g. blood counts and ESR. It is also recommended to check liver enzymes, urea, creatinine, and sugar levels. It is important to perform an X-ray examination, because the disease often affects the lymph nodes in the chest. If the nodes are enlarged for more than three weeks, they can be assessed by ultrasound. The disease is confirmed by histopathological examination of the harvested tissue (e.g. enlarged lymph node). A biopsy is not a definitive test. If the histopathological examination confirms the neoplasm, the stage of the disease is determined. Then, computed tomography of the chest and abdominal cavity with the pelvis is performed, as well as the examination of the marrow taken from the plate of the iliac bone.
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Research on women over 50
The basic laboratory test is blood counts, which should be performed once a year. It allows for a quick overview of the health condition, exclusion of inflammation, anemia, and blood coagulation disorders. Additionally, fasting blood glucose should be assessed. This test will detect type 2 diabetes. A general urinalysis is needed to evaluate the urinary system and liver condition.
Women over 50 should also have their breasts checked every month, and the gynecologist should check the condition of the patient’s breasts once a year. Women should have a mammogram every two years. In turn, cytological tests are recommended every three years, and cytology with HPV DNA testing every 5 years.
Women over 10 should also undergo preventive examinations for colorectal cancer. Examine faecal occult blood at least every two years and perform a colonoscopy every XNUMX years.
We encourage you to listen to the latest episode of the RESET podcast. This time we devote it to self-compassion – a trend that has developed very strongly in the United States, but is still in its infancy in Poland. What is it and how does it affect our daily functioning? You will hear about this and many other issues related to self-compassion in the latest episode of our podcast