Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a type of cancer that begins in the lymphatic system, which works as part of the immune system to fight off infection and disease.
About Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
The lymphatic system is made up of small organs called lymph nodes located in the neck, underarms, chest, abdomen and groin. The lymph nodes are connected by a network of vessels. The tonsils, spleen, thymus and bone marrow are also part of the lymphatic system.
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma begins when a type of white blood cell located in the lymph node, called a lymphocyte, becomes abnormal and begins to divide and duplicate out of control. The abnormal cells are cancer cells.
There are two types of lymphocytes: B cells and a T cells. Nearly 85 percent of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma begins in the B cells.
Since lymphatic tissue is located throughout the body, the cancer can begin almost anywhere and easily spread to other areas of the body.
Who’s at Risk?
Each year in the U.S., more than 54,000 people are diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The disease can develop at any age, but people older than 60 are a higher risk.
Risk Factors
The following risk factors are known to increase the chance of developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma:
- Weak immune system: Either from an inherited condition, HIV infection or certain drugs.
- Infections: Infections with certain viruses, including HIV, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and Human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus (HTLV-1). Bacteria that cause stomach ulcers (Helicobacter pylori) and Hepatitis C virus are also known to increase the risk.
Treatment
Treatment options depend on the type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (there are more than 30 types), the location of the cancer, and where and how quickly the disease is spreading.
Early lymphoma that is growing slowly and causes few symptoms— called indolent lymphoma—may not require treatment. Patients are often followed every 4 – 8 weeks until the lymphoma changes. Then the treatment will usually include chemotherapy, immunotherapy or radiation therapy.
Aggressive lymphoma that spreads rapidly is usually treated with chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
Stem cell transplantation is another treatment option for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Some of the information on this page is provided by the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society.