Her body was itching, I thought it was an allergy, they diagnosed ca… see more
Her body was itching relentlessly, red patches spreading across his skin like wildfire. At first, I assumed it was just an allergy—maybe a reaction to new
laundry detergent or something he ate. We tried antihistamines and soothing creams, but the itching only grew worse, keeping him awake at night. Concerned,
I finally took him to the doctor, hoping for a quick fix and reassurance.
The doctor’s expression changed as he examined the symptoms, his casual demeanor shifting into something more serious.
He ordered blood tests and scans, speaking in hushed tones to the nurses. My stomach twisted with dread as I watched the medical team move with urgent efficiency.
Days later, the diagnosis came—not an allergy, but cancer. The word hit me like a physical blow, leaving me struggling to process what it meant.
Suddenly, our lives were consumed by hospital visits, treatments, and the crushing weight of uncertainty.
The itching, once dismissed as a minor irritation, was now a grim reminder of the disease spreading through his body.
I watched as he endured chemotherapy, his strength fading with each session, yet he never complained. In quiet moments,
I replayed the early signs, wondering if we could have caught it sooner—if I had pushed for answers faster.
Now, every itch, every ache feels like a potential warning, and fear lingers in the back of my mind. The diagnosis changed everything, turning ordinary discomforts into possible threats.
But amid the fear, there’s also determination—to fight, to hope, and to cherish every moment we have together. Cancer may have entered our lives uninvited, but it won’t define us without a fight.
Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma
Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) is a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that affects the skin.
Like all lymphomas, CTCL starts with lymphocytes, which are an important part of the immune system. They are immune cells that are made in the bone marrow and found in the blood and in lymph tissue. Lymphocytes move throughout the body reacting to bacteria and viruses. Lymphoma develops when lymphocytes become abnormal and grow and multiply uncontrollably, possibly forming tumors.
CTCL typically develops as a scaly, itchy, red rash that can become thick or develop into tumors on the skin. In some patients, the lymph nodes may also be swollen. Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas often grow slowly, but for a small number of people they can grow quickly and spread to the lymph nodes or other internal organs.
CTCL accounts for 2% to 3% of all non-Hodgkin T-cell lymphoma cases. It is the most common kind of skin lymphoma. CTCL subtypes include:
- Mycosis fungoides
- Sézary syndrome
- Anaplastic large T-cell lymphoma
- Primary cutaneous CD8+ T-cell lymphoma
- Subcutaneous T-cell lymphoma
Most CTCLs are chronic lymphomas; they are treatable, but not curable and usually not life-threatening. Mycosis fungoides, the single most common type of CTCL, grows slowly. As a result, about 70% of patients have early-stage cancer when diagnosed. According to research, when patients begin treatment in the early stages, they have a normal life expectancy. Only a small percentage of people with CTCL develop advanced forms of the disease.
Risk factors
While doctors don’t know the exact cause of skin lymphomas, there are some factors that increase a person’s risk of developing the disease, including:
- Age: In general, skin lymphomas appear in older adults, but they can affect other age groups, including children.
- Race: Cutaneous lymphoma (specifically mycosis fungoides) is more often diagnosed in African Americans than other demographic groups.
- Sex: Skin lymphomas are more likely to affect men than women.
- Compromised immune system: People with weakened immune systems are at higher risk.
Symptoms
The symptoms of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma can vary according to the stage of the cancer. The symptoms can also mimic those of other skin conditions, such as eczema and chronic dermatitis, Because of this, the diagnosis of CTCL is often delayed. Generally, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma symptoms can include:
- Larger, pimple-like spots
- Flat, scaly lesions that look like a rash
- Thicker, raised lesions
- Tumors in the skin
- Erythroderma: A severe and usually widespread reddening of the skin due to inflammatory skin disease. It is also called generalized exfoliative dermatitis.
Some patients may also experience weight loss, fever, sweating and severe itching.
Treatment
Treatment options for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma include:
Topical creams or gels
Many patients, especially with small, localized skin lesions will respond to creams or gels applied to the affected areas. Examples include topical steroids, which are anti-inflammatory medications, or topical chemotherapy, which helps kill cancer cells.
Between 8,000 and 9,000 people are diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in the United States each year and the disease is most frequently diagnosed among people between the ages of 20-34, according to data from the National Cancer Institute.
What are the parts of the lymphatic system?
The lymphatic system carries disease-fighting white blood cells throughout the body. It includes:
Lymph: Fluid that carries lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, through the body in a network of lymph vessels, which are like tiny veins. Lymph helps fight against infection and cancer.
Lymph nodes: Tiny, bean-shaped masses found in several parts of the body, including in the underarm, pelvis, neck, abdomen and groin. They filter lymph and store white blood cells to help the body fight disease.
Spleen: An organ on the left side of the abdomen that helps lymphocytes develop, stores blood cells and gets rid of old blood cells.
Thymus: Located in the chest, this tiny organ helps make and develop lymphocytes.
Tonsils: Nodes in the back of the throat that store white blood cells.
Bone marrow: Material in bones that produces blood cells, including white blood cells.
Hodgkin lymphoma diagnoses have been trending down over the last decade and the survival rate is relatively high. The average five-year survival rate across all stages is close to 87%, with a survival rate of greater than 91% in cases confined to a single region (stage I).