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Adult Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma |
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| Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a
malignant (cancerous) growth of B or T cells in the lymph
system. Cases of the
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (about 55,400 in the US this year) far outweigh cases of Hodgkin's Disease (7,100 cases in the US this
year). The Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas encompass over 29 types of lymphoma. The distinctions are based on the type of cancer cells. There are classification systems that group lymphomas by cell type and rate of growth. The US National Cancer Institute now splits lymphomas into aggressive (fast growing) and indolent (slow growing) although you may see lymphomas grouped by T-Cell, B-Cell, Large Cell, or Follicular Cell. The Lymphoma classification and typing page contains an up-to-date list of lymphoma types and links to specific lymphomas. |
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| A medical team will
make a diagnosis based on many factors including tests on the
patient and examination of the cancerous cells for telltale characteristics.
It is very important to get an exact diagnosis - to make sure it is lymphoma (or not!) and then do determine the treatments that will be most effective for the patient's condition. |
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There are several treatments for NHL (specifics are under Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Treatment). Most often chemotherapy is used. If the lymphoma is localized, radiation therapy might be used possibly in conjunction with chemotherapy. In some types of advanced NHL (but not all) bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell transplants can be used (often for serious/unresponsive cases). For indolent lymphomas, after a certain point, some doctors may choose "Watch and Wait" - waiting for the lymphoma to flare up. Many people seem confused that the doctor is giving up - lymphoma can present itself so many ways (or lay almost dormant) - the doctors will see how the disease progresses. As newer treatments become available such as immunotherapy, vaccines, and monoclonal antibody therapy, hopefully we can get find effective treatments. What causes Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is still unknown. Incidence of NHL (how often it occurs) has continued to increase over the years. The current thinking is that there probably is a genetic factor and the cancer may not start without a "trigger" such as environmental factors. NHL is not contagious and the patient does not pose a risk to others in any way. If you would like to watch a webcast video describing Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, an excellent one is available in partnership with Healthology. (updated) For more information on Adult Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, please see the following pages:
For information on Childhood Lymphomas see: Other pages you may be interested in: This page is a work in progress - if you have more complete information, references, or other information please contact the author. The author is not in the medical field and does not warrant the correctness of the material on this page or the sites linked - please take online information and consult with your own medical team to make informed decisions. Copyright © 1996-2005 Lymphoma
Information Network - All Rights Reserved |
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