Lymphoma is a cancer that starts in the lymph system. The lymph system includes the lymph nodes, lymph vessels, and other parts of the body's immune and blood-forming systems, such as the spleen and bone marrow. The lymph system makes and stores infection-fighting white blood cells called lymphocytes. It carries these cells to places in the body where there is infection. Lymph nodes and lymph vessels are found throughout the body.
Hodgkin lymphoma is one of the many types of lymphoma. Other types of lymphomas are called non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). The type of lymphoma is determined by how the cancer cells look under a microscope. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is much more common than Hodgkin lymphoma.
Lymphoma happens when white blood cells become abnormal and start growing without control. It is not known why this happens. The abnormal cells don't die when they should. Unlike normal white blood cells, they don't protect the body from infections or other diseases. The buildup of abnormal cells often forms a mass of tissue called a tumor. Tumors may interfere with normal body functions.
Lymph nodes and lymph vessels are in many parts of the body, so lymphoma can start almost anywhere. It can occur in one lymph node, in a group of nodes, or in an organ, such as the spleen, lung, bone marrow, brain, stomach, or small intestine. It can then spread to almost any part of the body.
The risk of having non-Hodgkin lymphoma gets higher as you get older. Most people with this disease are older than 60. A weakened immune system, such as from an inherited condition or certain drugs used after an organ transplant, may also increase your risk.
Some infections increase the risk of lymphoma, such as:
Lymphoma is not contagious. You cannot catch lymphoma from another person.
Signs and symptoms may include:
If you notice lumps in your neck, armpit, or groin, tell your healthcare provider.
Your healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms and examine you. Lab tests of a sample of tissue (biopsy) taken from a swollen lymph node can confirm the diagnosis.
Other tests may be done to see how far the disease has spread and to help decide the best treatment. Examples of such tests are:
Treatment depends on the type of lymphoma, your symptoms, and how far the disease has spread. Some lymphomas grow very slowly and cause few problems. These lymphomas may be treated just with “watchful waiting.†This means your condition is closely watched, but you do not have any treatment until you have symptoms or the disease gets worse.
You will probably be treated with chemotherapy or biological therapy if you have:
Chemotherapy uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping the cells from making new cells. Biological therapy uses your immune system to fight cancer.
You may also have radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells.
If lymphoma comes back after treatment, you may be given a different treatment called a stem cell transplant. This means you are given young blood cells from your own blood or a donor's blood after you have been given high-dose chemotherapy. The chemotherapy destroys your old blood-forming cells, and the new transplanted stem cells become new, healthier blood cells.
American Cancer Society, Inc.
Phone: 1-800-ACS-2345 (1-800-227-2345)
Web site: http://www.cancer.org
AMC Cancer Research Center and Foundation
Phone: 1-800-321-1557
Web site: http://www.amc.org
Cancer Information Service
Phone: 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237)
Web site: http://www.cancer.gov/aboutnci/cis
