What type of lymphoma did whitfield have

Lymph nodes are vital to your immune system. A healthy lymph node is about one centimeter wide, but exposure to germs or infection can cause it to swell to as much as an inch in diameter. According to the Mayo Clinic, the most frequent cause is a viral infection such as the common cold.

In that case, the enlarged node may go away on its own once your body has fought off the virus that caused it. Other possible causes of swollen lymph nodes include strep throat , ear infections , mononucleosis , an infected tooth, and, less often, certain sexually transmitted diseases , cat scratch fever, rheumatoid arthritis, and cancers such as lymphoma or leukemia. In March doctors found out why. The thenyear-old Whitfield had cancer , specifically stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma. After a relatively mild round of chemotherapy, by September he felt healthy enough to return to the New Zealand set for season two.

This time nothing would go easily. Without an aggressive and debilitating chemotherapy regimen, the married father of two small children would have three to six months left to live. Whitfield rose from anonymity when he nabbed the role of Spartacus on the Starz series in He appeared in every episode of the first season and was preparing for the second when diagnosed. During his treatment, the network produced a six-part prequel, "Spartacus: Gods of the Arena," which aired earlier this year and included a brief voice-over from Whitfield.

But his condition worsened in January, and the network replaced him. Exposure to some chemicals may also increase susceptibility. Treatment typically includes chemotherapy and radiation, and sometimes bone marrow or stem cell transplants.

Biologic medications that are derived from biological foundations may also be used. Recent studies have shed light on new ways to treat the disease as well as how lifestyle factors can play a role.