Lymph Nodes

Lymph Nodes

Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system, which is part of the body's germ-fighting network.

The lymphatic system includes lymph nodes (lymph nodes), spleen, thymus gland and bone marrow. Lymphoma may affect all of those parts as well as other systems throughout the body.

There are many types of lymphoma. The main subtypes include:

Hodgkin's lymphoma (formerly known as Hodgkin's disease)
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Choosing the most appropriate treatment for you for lymphoma depends on the type and severity of lymphoma. Treatment for lymphoma may include chemotherapy, immunotherapy medications, radiation therapy, bone marrow transplant or a combination thereof.

Symptoms

Lymphoma signs and symptoms can include:

Painless swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or groin area.
Constant fatigue.
Fever.
Night sweats.
Shortness of breath.
Unexplained weight loss.
Itchy skin.

Causes

Doctors have not confirmed the causes of lymphoma. But it begins when a disease-fighting white blood cell, called lymphocytes, develops a genetic mutation. The mutation forces the cell to multiply rapidly, causing many lymphocytes affected by the disease to continue to proliferate.

The mutation also allows cells to live when other normal cells die. This causes a lot of diseased and inactive lymphocytes to develop in the lymph nodes, and leads to enlargement of the lymph nodes, spleen, and liver.

Risk factors

Factors that may increase the risk of lymphoma include:

Age. Some types of lymphoma are more common in young people, while others are diagnosed in people over 55.
Being male. Men are more likely to develop lymphoma than females.
Weakened immune system. Lymphoma is common in people who have immune system conditions or who take immunosuppressive medications.
Infection with some types of infection. Some infections are associated with an increased risk of lymphoma, including Epstein-Barr virus infection and H. pylori infection.