Lymphoma is cancer of the lymph system (or lymphatic system), which is part of our immunity. It is characterized by the formation of solid tumors in the immune system.1 The cancer affects immune cells called lymphocytes, which are white blood cells.

 

Statistics from the US National Cancer Institute estimate that there are nearly 20 cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma for every 100,000 people in the American population.2

 

Hodgkin lymphoma, meanwhile, is relatively rare, with around three cases in every 100,000 people.3

About 90% of lymphomas are the non-Hodgkin's type while about 10% are Hodgkin's.1

 Cancer is a group of over 100 diseases, all of which start with the growth of abnormal cells. Instead of dying in the normal cell life cycle, cancerous cells continue to divide into new abnormal cells, and grow out of control.4

 

Lymphatic cancers are classified by the type of immune cells affected.

 

In non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, B-cells and T-cells are affected - both being types of lymphocyte white blood cell with special roles in immunity. In the US, B-cell lymphomas are much more common than T-cell ones.5

 

In Hodgkin's lymphoma, the cancer cells are usually an abnormal type of B lymphocyte, named Reed-Sternberg cells. There are many subtypes of Hodgkin's lymphoma, typed by differences seen under the microscope - but a very high percentage of cases are classed as 'classic' Hodgkin's.6