The absence of pain is actually the suspicious thing.
Lymphoma is Brazil's eighth most common cancer, affecting lymphocytes responsible for immune defense, with over 14,000 new cases registered annually. Two main types exist: Hodgkin's lymphoma spreads orderly between lymph nodes, while non-Hodgkin's spreads randomly, with over 40 subtypes identified.
- Over 14,000 new lymphoma cases registered annually in Brazil
- Lymphoma is Brazil's eighth most common cancer, affecting 6 per 100,000 inhabitants
- More than 40 subtypes of lymphoma exist; diffuse B-cell non-Hodgkin represents 30% of cases
- In 2020, Brazil recorded 4,357 non-Hodgkin and 455 Hodgkin lymphoma deaths
- José Dirceu hospitalized at Sírio-Libanês Hospital in São Paulo since May 12, 2026
José Dirceu, a pre-candidate for federal deputy, was diagnosed with lymphoma while hospitalized in São Paulo. The article explains lymphoma types, symptoms, risk factors, and treatment options, noting Brazil registers over 14,000 new cases annually.
José Dirceu, a federal deputy candidate from the Workers' Party, has been hospitalized at Sírio-Libanês Hospital in São Paulo since the previous Sunday. On Friday, May 15th, medical staff released a bulletin confirming he had been diagnosed with lymphoma—a cancer that originates in lymphocytes, the immune cells responsible for protecting the body against infection. The diagnosis arrives as the world marks Lymphoma Awareness Day, a moment when health officials emphasize the importance of catching the disease early.
Lymphoma ranks as Brazil's eighth most common cancer. Each year, the National Cancer Institute registers more than 14,000 new cases across the country. The most recent mortality data, from 2020, recorded 4,357 deaths from non-Hodgkin lymphoma and 455 from Hodgkin lymphoma. The disease affects roughly six people per 100,000 inhabitants, with men slightly more likely to develop it than women. The risk of death from lymphoma stands at approximately two per 100,000 people, according to the Ministry of Health.
The lymphatic system—composed of lymph nodes, vessels, and tissues—forms part of the body's immune machinery, producing the cells that defend against infection and disease. When cancer develops within this system, it becomes classified as either Hodgkin lymphoma or non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The distinction matters because of how each spreads. Hodgkin lymphoma advances in an orderly fashion, moving from one group of lymph nodes to the next through lymphatic vessels. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, by contrast, spreads without pattern or predictability. Because lymphatic tissue exists throughout the body, cancer can originate almost anywhere. The National Cancer Institute identifies more than 20 distinct varieties of non-Hodgkin lymphoma alone, with over 40 subtypes existing overall. Ricardo Bigni, a hematologist and head of the Hematology Section at the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Hospital I in Rio de Janeiro, explains that the most common forms include diffuse B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, accounting for roughly 30 percent of cases, and follicular lymphomas, representing about 22 percent, followed by mantle cell lymphomas and marginal zone lymphomas.
The symptoms vary depending on the type and location. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma typically announces itself through swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, or groin, excessive night sweats, fever, itching skin, fatigue, and unexplained weight loss exceeding 10 percent. Hodgkin lymphoma can emerge anywhere in the body, so symptoms depend on where it takes hold. Cancer in the neck, armpit, or groin nodes produces painless swelling. When it affects the chest, patients often experience cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain. In the pelvis or abdomen, discomfort and abdominal bloating become common. Bigni notes that enlarged lymph nodes can result from many causes—infections and inflammatory diseases among them—and nodes swollen from these benign conditions typically hurt when touched. Cancerous nodes, by contrast, tend to be painless. When a swollen node persists for weeks without tenderness, doctors move into investigative mode, considering lymphoma among the possibilities.
In most cases, no identifiable risk factors explain why lymphoma develops. However, exposure to radiation and certain chemicals can increase vulnerability. Benzene and some pesticides carry documented risk, particularly for people exposed in workplace settings. Those with compromised immune systems—infected with Epstein-Barr virus or HIV—face elevated risk as well. Unlike some cancers, lymphoma has no established prevention strategy. The best defense, Bigni emphasizes, lies in early detection and diagnosis, which allows treatment while the disease remains in less advanced stages. Some lymphoma types are considered curable with available therapies.
Diagnosis requires multiple tests to identify the exact lymphoma type and clarify other characteristics that determine the most effective treatment approach. A surgical biopsy—removing a small tissue sample, usually from an enlarged lymph node—goes to the laboratory for histopathological analysis by a pathologist. Immunohistochemical examination must be included in this evaluation to precisely classify the lymphoma. Additional imaging may include lumbar puncture, CT scan, or MRI. Treatment varies by lymphoma type, location, and disease stage. Most patients undergo chemotherapy alone or in combination with radiotherapy and immunotherapy, which harnesses the patient's own immune system to fight cancer cells. Oral medications or intravenous drugs may be used in combination—a approach called polychemotherapy. Bigni stresses that treatment selection must also account for the patient's physical condition and any existing illnesses, such as heart or lung disease, that might affect tolerance to cancer therapy.
Notable Quotes
The best form of action with lymphomas is in detection and early diagnosis, which can allow treatment while the disease remains in less advanced stages, with some lymphoma types considered curable with available therapies.— Ricardo Bigni, hematologist and head of Hematology Section at National Cancer Institute's Cancer Hospital I
When a swollen lymph node persists for weeks without tenderness, doctors move into investigative mode, considering lymphoma among the possibilities.— Ricardo Bigni, hematologist
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does it matter that lymphoma spreads differently depending on the type?
Because the pattern of spread tells doctors how aggressively to treat it and where to look for cancer that might have traveled. Hodgkin's orderly progression is almost predictable—you can follow the path. Non-Hodgkin's randomness means it could be anywhere, so the search is wider and the strategy changes.
The article mentions that painless swelling is a warning sign, but people get swollen lymph nodes all the time from colds.
Exactly. That's the trap. A node that hurts usually means infection—your body's fighting something. A node that doesn't hurt and keeps growing for weeks is what makes a doctor stop and think. The absence of pain is actually the suspicious thing.
It says some lymphomas are curable. Does that mean others aren't?
It means some respond so well to treatment that people recover completely. Others are managed as chronic conditions—controlled but not eliminated. The type matters enormously. Finding it early gives you the better outcomes.
Why is there no prevention for lymphoma like there is for other cancers?
Because we don't fully understand what causes most of them. We know a few triggers—radiation, certain chemicals, immune problems—but for the majority of people who get it, there's no clear reason. So you can't prevent what you can't predict. Early catching is the only real defense.
What does immunotherapy actually do?
It wakes up your own immune system and points it at the cancer cells. Instead of poisoning everything with chemotherapy, you're teaching your body to recognize and destroy the threat itself. It's a fundamentally different approach—using the body's own weapons.