Lymphoma risk factors a diet high in meat and fat. Other risk factors are possible but have not been confirmed, such as exposure to certain solvents, herbicides and pesticides, and some chemotherapy medicines. If you have any of these risk factors or are concerned about your risk for lymphoma, please see your doctor.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma risk factors include:
Previous chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Radiation exposure. Immune system deficiency and HIV infection. Infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8), or Epstein-Barr virus.
Causes of lymphoma
In most cases, there is no known cause for lymphoma. However, for a few types of lymphoma, scientists have identified a cause: Most cases of gastric MALT lymphoma are caused by a common bacterial infection called Helicobacter pylori. Usually, Helicobacter pylori causes stomach ulcers and indigestion.
Lymphomas can start anywhere in the body where lymph tissue is found. The major sites of lymph tissue are: Lymph nodes: Lymph nodes are bean-sized collections of lymphocytes and other immune system cells throughout the body, including inside the chest, abdomen, and pelvis.
People between the ages of 15 and 40 and people older than 55 are more likely to develop Hodgkin lymphoma. Gender. In general, men are slightly more likely to develop Hodgkin lymphoma than women, although the nodular sclerosis subtype is more common in women (see the Introduction).
Staying at a healthy weight, keeping physically active, and following a healthy eating pattern that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and that limits or avoids red and processed meats, sugary drinks, and highly processed foods may help protect against lymphoma, but more research is needed to ...
With lymphoma, the lymph nodes often grow slowly and may be there for months or years before they're noticed.
Blood tests are not used to diagnose lymphoma, but they can sometimes help determine how advanced the lymphoma is.
Common symptoms of having lymphoma include swelling of lymph nodes in your neck, in your armpits or your groin. This is often but not always painless and often could be associated with fevers, or unexplained weight loss, or drenching night sweats, sometimes chills, persistent fatigue.
While the cause of the initial mutation that triggers non-Hodgkin lymphoma is unknown, a number of factors can increase your risk of developing the condition. These include having: a medical condition that weakens your immune system, such as HIV.
Overall, the chance that a man will develop NHL in his lifetime is about 1 in 43; for a woman, the risk is about 1 in 53. But each person's risk can be affected by a number of risk factors. NHL can occur at any age.
Vitamin D Deficiency Associated With Poorer Survival in Hodgkin Lymphoma.
There is no evidence that suggests stress causes lymphoma or other types of cancer. Researchers cannot provide evidence that psychological stress worsens lymphoma in humans, either. That said, some members have shared that stress can affect how they experience lymphoma and its side effects.
The best way to find lymphoma early is to pay attention to possible signs and symptoms. One of the most common symptoms is enlargement of one or more lymph nodes, causing a lump or bump under the skin which is usually not painful. This is most often on the side of the neck, in the armpit, or in the groin.
Certain areas of skin may also thicken, harden and form plaques that itch and ulcerate. Typically, these plaques develop on the face or buttocks or within skin folds. As a skin lymphoma rash progresses, papules (small bumps) may start to appear.
Cancer-related fatigue is exhaustion that's at a much higher level than would usually be expected – you might feel tired very quickly after doing quite little. It can be physical, emotional or mental exhaustion.
Both children and adults can develop Hodgkin lymphoma, but it's most common in early adulthood (especially in a person's 20s). The risk of Hodgkin lymphoma rises again in late adulthood (after age 55). Overall, the average age of people when they are diagnosed is 39.
Other common non-Hodgkin lymphoma symptoms
Night sweats (often soaking the sheets) and/or chills. Persistent fatigue, lethargy, weakness. Loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting. Abdominal pain or swelling, or a feeling of fullness.
Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is one of the main tools used to treat lymphoma. Chemotherapy medications are chemicals that kill lymphoma cells.