Lymphoma

What is lymphoma?

Lymphoma is a group of blood cancers that begin with an abnormal change in a single white blood cell (lymphocyte) in the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is the network of tissues and organs that help the body fight against disease and infection. 

Parts of our lymphatic system include: 

• Bone marrow (the spongy center of the bones)
• Lymphocytes (type of white blood cell) 
• Lymph nodes (bean-shaped collections of lymphocytes) 
• Lymphatic vessels
• The spleen (the organ just above the stomach's left side that filters our blood)

Once the abnormal change occurs, the now-cancerous white blood cell begins to multiply. These cancer cells may grow faster and survive better than healthy blood cells. 

There are two main types of lymphoma: Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.  

Types of lymphoma

Hodgkin lymphoma is distinguished from other lymphomas by the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells. These are large, abnormal lymphocytes, named for the scientists who first identified them. Hodgkin lymphoma is one of the most curable forms of cancer.

NHL represents a diverse group of diseases distinguished by the characteristics of the cancer cells associated with each disease type. Most people with NHL have a B-cell type of NHL (about 85 percent). The others have a T-cell type or an NK-cell type of lymphoma. Some patients with fast-growing NHL can be cured. For patients with slow-growing NHL, treatment may keep the disease in check for many years.