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Lymphoma
What are the symptoms?
Lymphomas are cancers of the lymphatic system. Lymphomas often start in the lymph nodes or spleen. The lymphatic system is part of the body's defence against infection - the immune system. Lymphoma can spread to other parts of the lymphatic system and in the blood stream to almost any organ in the body.
The most common symptom is a painless lump or swelling. This lump is most likely to be found in the neck, armpit or groin but the symptoms could also include:
- Fever or sweating, especially at night
- Weight loss
- Poor appetite
- Tiredness
- Persistent itching
- Abdominal swelling or pain
- Pain in the lymph nodes after drinking alcohol
- Cough or breathlessness
Around 1,500 people are diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in the UK each year.
Around 9,200 people are diagnosed with Non Hodgkin lymphoma each year in the UK.
Who is affected?
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma makes up about four out of five lymphomas and is the seventh most common cancer in men and the sixth most common cancer in women in the UK. More than nine out of ten cases occur in adults and people who are diagnosed are usually over 50.
Increasing age, some rare genetic diseases causing children to be born with an abnormal immune system, radiation exposure (for example, radiotherapy, nuclear accidents), regular chemical exposure (for example, to herbicides and insecticides) and reduced immunity increase the risk of developing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Hodgkin's lymphoma makes up fewer than one in five cases of lymphoma in the UK , with about 1,500 new cases diagnosed every year. It's most common in people in their 20s and 30s
or between the ages of 55 and 70.
It is more common in men than women.
Strengthening immunity and avoiding regular exposure to chemicals may help to reduce the risk of lymphoma.
What is the treatment?
In most cases, Hodgkin's lymphoma can be cured. The majority of those who have Hodgkin lymphoma will be completely cured with modern treatments.
The main treatments are radiotherapy, chemotherapy, steroids, growth factors and intensive treatments with high-dose chemotherapy or radiotherapy in combination with bone marrow or stem cell transplant.
The treatment of Non Hodgkin lymphoma differs widely, depending on the kind of lymphoma you have. The main treatments for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are 'watch and wait', radiotherapy, chemotherapy, biological therapy, steroids, intensive chemotherapy or surgery. |
