Mantle cell lymphoma is a rare blood cancer that affects the lymph nodes and the spleen. The disease can also involve bone marrow and the gastrointestinal system, including the liver and the colon. It is classified as a non-Hodgkin's type cancer and for some reason affects men more than women.Symptoms of Mantle Cell LymphomaThere are a few symptoms of the disease. They can include fevers, frequent episodes of night sweats and weight loss. If the disease has reached the digestive tract it can also cause diarrhea. Some people also report a small mass in areas such as the armpits, neck or groin. Unfortunately those symptoms can also be mistaken for other conditions, so sometimes a diagnosis of mantle cell lymphoma is not made until the disease is in it's advanced stages.Diagnosis of Mantle Cell LymphomaThe definitive diagnosis of the disease usually requires the partial or full removal of a lymph node. The node is then examined to see if there is indication of the presence of this particular type of cancer. Other tests such as a CT scan, lumbar punctures and endoscopies are also used to see the areas the cancer generally spreads to. Doctors might also use PET scans to determine where tumors might be residing within the body. It is important to target all of the areas the cancer might have spread to in order to get the most of out treatment.As with all cancers, it is better when mantle cell lymphoma is caught as early as possible. The survival rate is higher for people who are diagnosed earlier rather than later, although great strides have been made in recent years that have helped to increase survival rates. Treatments include chemotherapy and immunotherapy, all of which have also been made stronger through years of research. Bone marrow transplants can also be used to treat mantle cell lymphoma. New medications are also evolving, again due to years of research. Some patients might benefit from participating in clinical trials of these new drugs, as those medicines are specifically tailored to people who have been diagnosed with this particular type of cancer.