Bob Bogle, Guitaritst for The Ventures dies of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma

Bob Bogle, guitarist for the 1960’s group The Ventures, died this week of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at the age of 75. The Ventures, a Seattle-based instrumental group, was best known for their songs, “Walk, Don’t Run” and the theme song from “Hawaii Five-O.” Bogle was diagnosed with the disease over 12 years ago, but became sicker over the past 2 years.

Non-Hodgkins Lymphomas (NHL) are a group of cancers of the blood system, specifically of the infection fighting cells called white blood cells, or lymphocytes. NHL is the fifth most common type of cancer (not including skin cancer)in the United States today. Over 66,000 adults and children will be diagnosed with NHL this year. Over 95% of those cases will be adults around 60 years of age. This group is separate from patients with Hodgkins Lymphoma, who carry a special kind of cancer cell- called a Reed-Sternberg cell, in their blood. For a discussion of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, see Survivor’s Ethan Zohn, 35, has a very treatable form of cancer.

There are two types of lymphocytes in the blood- B-cells and T-cells, each with a different job within the immune system. B-cells normally help protect the body against bacteria or viruses by making proteins called antibodies. The antibodies attach to the bacteria or viruses and attract other immune system cells that surround and digest the antibody-coated germs.

There are several types of T-cells, each with a specialized job. Some normal T-cells help protect the body against “foreign invaders”- viruses, fungi,and some bacteria. T-cells can also release substances called cytokines that attract certain other types of white blood cells, which then digest the infected cells. T-cells are also thought to destroy some types of cancer cells, as well as the cells of transplanted organs. Some types of T-cells play a role in either boosting or slowing the activity of other immune system cells. Because there are many different lymphocytes, there are many different forms of NHL.

Symptoms of NHL can be nonspecific,as well as identical to those of patients with Hodgkins Lymphoma- chills, swelling of the lymph nodes (which are often but not alwayspainless), fever, night sweats, unexplained weight loss, lack of energy, and itching.

While many effective treatment options exist, low grades of NHL usually recur, and some people go in and out of remission for years, some for 20 years or more. In certain patients with low grade disease, treatment may not be necessary until there are signs of progression. However, 30%-60% of patients with aggressive NHL can be cured. Many people treated for NHL will receive some form of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biologic therapy, or a combination of these. Bone marrow or stem cell transplantation may sometimes be used.

Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma is becoming a disease on the leading edge of new research techniques that may be applied to other cancers. These include: antibody treatments, vaccines, tumor profiling (like a fingerprint), and new therapies that are biologically targeted to unique abnormalities specific to certain lymphomas.

Resounding Health e-book on NHL