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). Family history.
Some chemotherapy drugs used to treat other types of cancer, including other blood cancers, might increase your chance of developing lymphoma in the future. Exposure to radiation, including radiotherapy for other cancers, can also increase your risk of developing lymphoma.
Getting older is a strong risk factor for lymphoma overall, with most cases occurring in people in their 60s or older. But some types of lymphoma are more common in younger people.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is caused by a change (mutation) in the DNA of a type of white blood cell called lymphocytes, although the exact reason why this happens isn't known. DNA gives cells a basic set of instructions, such as when to grow and reproduce.
Causes of lymphoma
Exposure to radiation and certain types of chemicals can put some people at higher risk. Benzene and some agricultural chemicals have been implicated; people exposed in the workplace, who can be at highest risk, should follow occupational health guidelines to minimise exposure.
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.
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.
With lymphoma, the lymph nodes often grow slowly and may be there for months or years before they're noticed.
Vitamin D Deficiency Associated With Poorer Survival in Hodgkin Lymphoma.
Blood tests are not used to diagnose lymphoma, but they can sometimes help determine how advanced the lymphoma is.
There are no guidelines for preventing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. To reduce your risk, avoid exposure to chemicals such as herbicides, pesticides and benzene. If you have celiac disease (gluten intolerance), maintain your gluten-free diet.
Lymphomas are fairly common. Most lymphomas are NHL, the most common type of white blood cell cancer of the lymphatic system. It encompasses 25 types of lymphoma, including lymphoma of the skin. Out of every 100,000 Americans, 19 will be diagnosed with NHL yearly.
The most common sites are in the chest, neck, or under the arms. Hodgkin lymphoma most often spreads through the lymph vessels from lymph node to lymph node. Rarely, late in the disease, it can invade the bloodstream and spread to other parts of the body, such as the liver, lungs, and/or bone marrow.
The 5-year survival rate for NHL in the United States is 74%. The survival rates for NHL vary based on several factors. These include the stage and subtype of cancer, a person's age and general health, and how well the treatment plan works.
Signs and Symptoms
NHL is a disease that usually comes on suddenly and gets worse quickly. Symptoms vary depending on where tumor(s) are.
The lumps may be confined to one area of the body, such as the neck, or develop in multiple areas, such as the neck, armpits and groin. Lymphoma lumps have a rubbery feel and are usually painless. While some lymphoma lumps develop within a matter of days, others can take months or even years to become noticeable.
extreme tiredness – tiredness that doesn't go away even after rest or sleep (fatigue) chest pain, cough or breathlessness if there's a swelling in your chest. feeling uncomfortably full or feeling sick caused by a swelling in your stomach area. itching either widespread or in one place.
Lymphoma is cancer that starts in the lymph nodes. For example, if breast cancer spreads to the lymph nodes in the armpits it does not become lymphoma. The cancer cells that have spread to the lymph nodes are still breast cancer cells. So they are treated as breast cancer.
Lymphoma most often spreads to the liver, bone marrow, or lungs. Stage III-IV lymphomas are common, still very treatable, and often curable, depending on the NHL subtype.
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.
Symptoms common to Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma can include: Painless swelling of one or more lymph nodes in your neck, armpits or groin that doesn't go away within a few weeks. Persistent fatigue, when you feel very tired day after day even after getting enough sleep.
Excisional or incisional biopsy: This is the preferred and most common type of biopsy if lymphoma is suspected, because it almost always provides enough of a sample to diagnose the exact type of NHL. In this procedure, a surgeon cuts through the skin to remove the lymph node.