Lymphoma

Cancer of the lymphocytes
Cancer care
cancer diagnosis

Lymphoma can be divided broadly into 2 types of lymphoma: Hodgkins Lymphoma or Hodgkins Disease (HD) and Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (NHL).

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How common is lymphoma?

Below are a series of statistics on lymphoma to indicate how common the condition is and possible figures related to its treatment.

7-17%
7-17%
7-17%
prevalence of all lymphoma sub-types in South Africans.

Other types of cancer

Below you can find information on other types of cancer screenings that you might be interested in.

Bladder cancer

Cancer of the bladder

The fourth most common cancer in men and the twelfth most common cancer in women.

Breast cancer

Cancer of the breast

Cancer that forms in the cells of the breasts and can occur in both men and women, but it's far more common in women.

Cervical cancer

Cancer of the cervix

If detected early, cancer of the cervix can be one of the most successfully treatable cancers...

Colorectal cancer

Cancer of the rectum or colon

Colon cancer and rectal cancer are often grouped together because they have many features in common.

Sarcoma

Cancerous tumours of the soft tissues

A broad term for cancers that start in soft tissues like muscle, tendons, fat, lymph and blood vessels, and nerves.

Throat cancer

Cancer of the throat

A fast-growing cancer; therefore early treatment is key to having a good quality of life.

Lung Cancer

Caner of the lung

People who smoke are at a greater risk of getting lung cancer, though lung cancer can also occur in people who have never smoked.

Melanoma

A type of skin cancer

The primary known cause of melanoma, as well as all other types of skin cancer, is exposure to ultraviolet radiation contained in sunlight.

Lymphoma

Cancer of lymphocytes

Lymphoma can be divided broadly into 2 types of lymphoma: Hodgkins Lymphoma or Hodgkins Disease (HD) and Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (NHL).

Head and neck cancers

Cancer of the head and neck

These cancers, that could include oesophageal cancer, usually begin in the cells that line the moist surfaces (mucosal membranes) inside the...

Ovarian cancer

Cancer of the ovary

Recent evidence suggests that many ovarian cancers may actually start in the cells in the far end of the fallopian...

Prostate cancer

Cancer of the prostate gland

Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men. The lifetime risk for prostate cancer in men in South Africa, is 1 in 18.

Stomach cancer

Also known as gastric cancer

Most cancers of the stomach are adenocarcinomas. These cancers develop from the gland cells in the innermost lining of the stomach.

Thyroid cancer

Cancer of the thyroid gland

The thyroid gland makes hormones that help regulate your metabolism, heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature.

Uterine cancer

Cancer of the uterus or womb

Most uterine cancer begins in the layer of cells that form the lining (endometrium) of the uterus.

 
 
 

Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Lymphoma is a cancer that starts in cells called lymphocytes that starts in cells called lymphocytes, which are part of the body’s immune system.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma grows and spreads at different rates and can be indolent or aggressive. Indolent lymphoma tends to grow and spread slowly, and has few signs and symptoms. Aggressive lymphoma grows and spreads quickly, and has signs and symptoms that can be severe.

What is Lymphoma?

Lymphoma affects the body's lymph system (also known as the the lymphatic system). The lymph system is part of the immune system, which helps fight infections and some other diseases. It also helps fluids move through the body.

Lymphomas can start anywhere in the body where lymph tissue is found. The major sites of lymph tissues 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. They are connected by a system of lymphatic vessels.
  • Spleen: The spleen is an organ under the lower ribs on the left side of the body. The spleen makes lymphocytes and other immune ytem cells. It also stores healthy blood cells and filters out damaged blood cells, bacteria and cell waste.
  • Bone marrow: The bone marrow is the spongy tissue inside certain bones. This is where new blood cells (including some lymphocytes) are made
  • Thymus: The thymus is a small organ behind the upper part of the breastbone and in front of the heart. It's important in the development of the T lymphocytes.
  • Adenoids and tonsils These are collections of the lymph tissue in the back of the throat. They help make antibodies against germs that are breathed in or swallowed.
  • Digestive tract: The stomach, intestines and many other organs have lymph tissue.

Symptoms

Check with your doctor if you have any of the following:

  • Swelling in the lymph nodes in the neck, underarm, groin, or stomach
  • Fever for no known reason
  • Drenching night sweats
  • Feeling very tired
  • Weight loss for no known reason
  • Skin rash or itchy skin
  • Pain in the chest, abdomen, or bones for no known reason
  • When fever, drenching night sweats, and weight loss occur together, this group of symptoms is called B symptoms.

Other signs and symptoms of adult lymphoma may occur and depend on the following:

  • Where the cancer forms in the body
  • The size of the tumor
  • How fast the tumor grows
Starts in cells called lymphocytes, Which are part of the body's immune system.
 

Causes

Researchers have found that lymphomas are linked with a number of risk factors, but the cause of most lymphomas is not known. This is complicated by the fact that lymphomas are actually a diverse group of cancers.

Scientists have made a lot of progress in understanding how certain changes in DNA can cause normal lymphocytes to become lymphoma cells. DNA is the chemical in our cells that makes up our genes, which control how our cells function. We look like our parents because they are the source of our DNA. But DNA affects more than just how we look.

Some genes control when cells grow, divide, and die. Genes that help cells grow, divide, and stay alive are called oncogenes, while genes that help keep keep cell division under control or make cells die at the right time are called tumor suppressor genes. Cancers can be caused by DNA mutations (changes) that turn on oncogenes or turn off tumor suppressor genes.

Some people inherit DNA mutations from a parent that increase their risk for some types of cancer. Having a family history of lymphoma does seem to increase your risk of lymphoma.

Gene changes related to lymphoma are usually acquired during life, rather than being inherited. Acquired gene changes can result from exposure to radiation, cancer-causing chemicals, or infections, but often these changes occur for no apparent reason. They seem to happen more often as we age, which might help explain why most lymphomas are seen in older people.

While researchers are beginning to understand some of the gene changes that can lead to lymphomas, they still do not know why many of these gene changes develop, especially in people with no apparent risk factors.

Changes in the immune system seem to play an important role in many cases of lymphoma, such as:

  • People with immune deficiencies (due to inherited conditions, treatment with certain drugs, organ transplants, or HIV infection) have a much higher chance of developing lymphoma than people without a weakened immune system.
  • People with certain autoimmune diseases (where the immune system constantly attacks a certain part of the body) have an increased risk of lymphoma.
  • People with certain chronic infections are also at increased risk, probably because the immune system is constantly making new lymphocytes to fight the infection, which increases the chances for mistakes in their DNA.

Changes in the immune system seem to play an important role in many cases of lymphoma.

Risk factors

Anything that increases your risk of getting a disease is called a risk factor. Having a risk factor does not mean that you will get cancer; not having risk factors doesn’t mean that you will not get cancer. Talk with your doctor if you think you may be at risk.

The risk of certain types of Hodgkins Disease include:

  • Age
    Occurs most often in people in their 20 and 30s or after age 55
  • Gender
    More common in men than women
  • Family history of the disease
  • Infections
    previous Epstein Barr virus (EBV) and HIV infection Weakened immune system
  • Weakened immune system

The risk of certain types of Hodgkins Disease include:

  • Age
    Occurs most often in people in their 20 and 30s or after age 55
  • Gender
    More common in men than women
  • Family history of the disease
  • Infections
    previous Epstein Barr virus (EBV) and HIV infection Weakened immune system
  • Weakened immune system

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