Lymphoma is a group of cancers that develop in the lymph system. Some cancers, such as lung or breast cancer, can spread to the lymph nodes, but they’re not lymphomas.
Types of lymphoma
There are many types of lymphoma, including two main types:
The difference between these two types is the nature or growth of lymphocytes (types of white blood cells) involved. Large, abnormal cells called Reed-Sternberg cells indicate Hodgkin’s lymphoma. If you don’t have these cells, you may have non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
In addition, our team treats related diseases such as Castleman disease, also called giant lymph node hyperplasia or angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia. This rare condition causes abnormal growth of lymph node cells. It’s not cancer, but it acts like lymphoma, and people with the disease often go on to develop lymphoma.
Risk factors for Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Risk factors for Hodgkin’s lymphoma include:
- Age (early adulthood, ages 15–40, or late adulthood, after age 75)
- Exposure to chemicals such as Agent Orange in the Vietnam War
- Family history of Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Previous infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection or mononucleosis
- Weakened immune system, including infection with HIV
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma risk factors
Risk factors for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma include:
- Age (older than 60)
- Chronic infection with the hepatitis C virus or Helicobacter pylori bacteria
- Exposure to certain chemicals, such as benzene, herbicides and pesticides, including Agent Orange
- Immune system deficiency and HIV infection
- Infection with HIV, human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) or EBV
- Previous chemotherapy or radiation therapy
- Radiation exposure
Symptoms of lymphoma
Lymphoma can have many different symptoms depending on where in the body it’s located. Some common signs include:
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Night sweats
- Unexplained weight loss
How we treat lymphoma
Your doctor may recommend one or more treatments, based on the type and stage of lymphoma, your medical history and your preferences:
- Stem cell transplant
- Chemotherapy
- Immunotherapy
- Radiation therapy
We participate in several clinical trials to test promising new lymphoma treatments. Talk with your doctor about whether you qualify. Learn about advanced lymphoma therapies we’ve developed.
.svg?iar=0&hash=F6049510E33E4E6D8196C26CCC0A64A4){kind=logo}
/hfh-logo-main--white.svg?iar=0&hash=ED491CBFADFB7670FAE94559C98D7798){kind=logo}