What is Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma?
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) is a form of cancer affecting white blood cells. This group includes all lymphomas that are not Hodgkin Lymphoma. The lymphoma cells are cancerous white blood cells. There are two cell types involved in NHL called B cells and T cells, either type may become cancerous. If B cells are involved the lymphoma is called ‘B-cell’ lymphoma and if T cells are involved the lymphoma is called ‘T-cell’ lymphoma. B cell lymphomas are more common in adults. Abnormal white cells collect in lymph nodes or other sites outside lymph nodes – these are called ‘extra-nodal sites’. Extra-nodal sites include the bowel, bones or brain. A common first symptom of the disease is swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpit or groin.
Some lymphomas are slow growing and may not need treatment, others can be controlled for long periods of time with drugs – these are called ‘Low grade lymphomas’. Up to a third of low grade lymphomas can transform into ‘high grade lymphomas’. When this happens a person may become very ill with their lymphoma. The treatment of transformed lymphomas is much more aggressive and is likely to have side effects. Some people have ‘high grade lymphomas’ to start with and they need aggressive treatment from the beginning to try to get them into remission. The section on low grade lymphoma should be used for people with low grade lymphoma and when someone with low grade lymphoma has transformed to high grade lymphoma the section on high grade lymphoma should be used.
The commonest type of low grade lymphoma is Follicular lymphoma, the care and mobility needs in this guidance refer to follicular lymphoma. Other low grade lymphomas have varying outcomes. These different types and their features are listed in the Low grade table and should be referred to when reviewing the Care and Mobility section.
The commonest type of high grade lymphoma is diffuse large cell lymphoma, the care and mobility needs in this guidance refer to diffuse large cell lymphoma. Other high grade lymphomas have varying outcomes. These different types and their features are listed in the High grade table and should be referred to when reviewing the care and mobility section.
Prevalence
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma is the sixth commonest cancer in the UK. It is more common in people whose immune systems are not working properly. They are at higher risk of developing NHL; this includes people with AIDS and people taking immunosuppressant drugs. NHL affects almost 10 000 people a year in the UK and around 4600 people die of it. 5 year survival is approximately 50% for people of all ages; survival rates are higher for people of working age. There is no screening programme for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.
Click on the links for details of:
Amended February 2009
