About half of all cancers of the blood fall into the category of lymphoma. This is a cancer of the lymphatic cells of the body, which are a major part of the body's immune system. Leukemia, another cancer of the blood system which can appear in lymphatic cells, is related to, but distinct from lymphoma in a couple of ways. Leukemia is actually a range of disorders that generally effect either the circulating blood cells or the bone marrow where they are produced. It results in an overproduction of blood cells or the production of cells that are malformed.
Lymphoma is different. It usually appears as a tumor, an enlargement or agglomeration of cells that takes on a solid mass. These tumors may develop variously, but the lymph nodes are a common site. As mentioned before, lymphoma tumors may develop variously, leading to a somewhat confusing system of classification for the disease. In the main, however, there are two types: Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Hodgkin's lymphoma is so named because it was discovered by Thomas Hodgkin in the 1830s. It is a cancer of the lymphatic system in which malignant cells gradually but steadily spread throughout the lymph system. They move methodically from lymph node to lymph node, creating tumorous masses. Treatment consists of chemotherapy, in general, but this depends on the patient's age, the stage of the cancer, and how healthy they otherwise are.
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is less straight-forward when it comes to classification. There have been a few different attempts to build a consistent taxonomy of the cancer, each one superseded by a newer system. The current one, developed by the World Health Organization, is based on the type of cell that is effected. For example, whether it is a T cell or a B cell (these are both parts of the immune system).
This is not mere scientific squabbling. The type of cancer present can mean large differences in treatment applied to the patient. Some types of lymphoma are so passive they do not pose much risk to the patient, even if left undisturbed by medicine. Other types spread with a relentless aggressiveness that quickly results in death. Both types of lymphoma have similar symptoms: mysterious fevers, sweating or chills at night, unexplainable fatigue. These are all vague ailments that share their lack of acuteness with leukemia. A trip to the doctor after extended periods of experiencing symptoms is usually what alerts people to their condition.
The causes of lymphoma are somewhat mysterious, though there is some connection with diseases of the immune system. If you have suffered from HIV or Epstein-Barr virus, you are at an increased risk of developing lymphoma. There are numerous other risk markers including age, gender, family history, and environment. It seems that the best one can do is try to lead a healthy lifestyle, and avoid mostly preventable infections such as HIV. Otherwise, there is little one can actively do to avoid this illness short of having good luck.
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