Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that is caused by a mutation in white blood cells.

Lymphoma is the most common type of blood cancer. It develops when a mutation or change in lymphocytes (white blood cells) causes the cells to replicate faster than and live longer than normal lymphocytes. Cancerous lymphocytes can spread throughout the body via the blood and lymphatic system and grow in other body parts, including the lymph nodes, bone marrow, and spleen. In the United States, around 100,000 people are diagnosed with lymphoma each year. 

Types of Lymphoma

  • Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma (CLL/SLL) is a type of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. CLL and SLL are the same diseases that manifest slightly differently. The location of the cancer cells will determine whether it is called CLL or SLL. In the United States, 19,000 people are diagnosed with CLL/SLL each year.

    The symptoms of CLL/SLL can vary depending on the tumor's location but often include a swollen abdomen, feeling full after eating only a tiny amount, fatigue, shortness of breath, bruising easily, night sweats, and frequent infections. Many patients are diagnosed with CLL/SLL without any symptoms, and it is often found during routine blood tests or physical examinations. Many patients with CLL/SLL live for years without any symptoms.

    Download the Lymphoma Research Foundation’s CLL/SLL Fact Sheet

  • Hodgkin lymphoma is characterized by the presence of Reed-Sternberg (RS) cells, and around 9,000 people are diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma yearly in the United States. Hodgkin lymphoma is most commonly diagnosed in young adults between the ages of 15 and 35 and older adults over 50.

    HL is most commonly found in the lymph nodes and can spread from one lymph node to another and other organs in the body. One of the most common symptoms of Hodgkin lymphoma is swollen lymph nodes, which are often painless. Other symptoms can include fever, night sweats, unexplained weight loss, and lack of energy.

    There are five subtypes of Hodgkin Lymphoma:

    1. Nodular Sclerosis cHL is the most common subtype of HL characterized by the RS cells and normal white blood cells in the lymph nodes.

    2. Mixed Cellularity cHL is more common in men and is characterized by lymph nodes containing RS cells and several other cell types.

    3. Lymphocyte Depletion is an aggressive (fast-growing) type of HL characterized by a few normal lymphocytes and an abundance of RS cells.

    4. Lymphocyte Rich is characterized by numerous normal appearing lymphocytes and classic RS cells.

    5. Nodular Lymphocyte Predominant is an indolent (slow-growing) type of HL. It is associated with abnormal B-cells, which may be distributed in a nodular or knot-like pattern within the tissues.

    Download the Lymphoma Research Foundation’s Hodgkin Lymphoma Booklet

  • Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is not one disease but rather a group of closely related cancers called lymphoid neoplasms. NHL can differ in appearance under the microscope, as well as in molecular features, growth patterns, and how they respond to treatment. There are around 90 types of NHL, and any lymphoma not categorized as Hodgkin Lymphoma or CLL/SLL is classified as NHL.

    The incidence of NHL nearly doubled between 1975 and 2013, and it is now the seventh most common cancer affecting adults in America. Each year, around 81,560 people are diagnosed with NHL in the United States.

    The most common symptoms of NHL include swelling of the lymph nodes, fever, night sweats, unexplained weight loss, and fatigue.

    There are two main categories of NHL:

    1. B-cell lymphomas account for around 85% of all NHLs and develop from abnormal B-cells. Diffuse large b-cell lymphoma is the most common B-cell lymphoma and accounts for 22% of NHLs.

    2. Natural Killer (NK)/T-cell lymphomas account for around 15% of lymphomas and develop from abnormal T-cells.

    Download the Lymphoma Research Foundation’s Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Booklet

Symptoms

Symptoms of lymphoma are often nonspecific, which means many different conditions can cause them. Common symptoms include:

• Swelling of lymph nodes, which can be painless

• Fever

• Unexplained weight loss

• Sweating (often at night)

• Chills

• Lack of energy

• Itching

However, it's important to remember that most people with these symptoms will not have lymphoma. If you have any of these symptoms, it's important to be examined by a doctor if the symptoms persist for more than two weeks or if the symptoms are severe enough to impact daily life.

Treatment

The treatment options for lymphoma can vary depending on the type of lymphoma. Some patients may also require a combination of treatments. Surgery is sometimes used to remove lymphoma tissue, usually for a diagnostic biopsy. Lymphoma's response to treatment can also vary significantly from patient to patient. Some patients may have a complete response to treatment and may never experience a recurrence of their lymphoma. Other patients may partially respond to treatment and eventually experience a lymphoma relapse. Unfortunately, the response to treatment can also change over time, and what was once an effective treatment may no longer be helpful. Each patient with lymphoma is unique, and each patient's treatment plan should be tailored to their individual needs. Discussing all treatment options with your doctor to make the best decision for your care is essential.

  • Active Surveillance

    Active surveillance is a treatment option for some patients with lymphoma. This approach involves no treatment as long as the patient does not have any symptoms and there is no evidence of the lymphoma growing or spreading. A patient’s health and the disease are monitored regularly through check-ups and follow-up evaluations such as laboratory and imaging tests.

    Active surveillance is recommended for patients with indolent (slow-growing) lymphomas such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), follicular lymphoma (FL), and marginal zone lymphoma (MZL). This approach is not an option for patients with aggressive or fast-growing lymphomas, who should start treatment immediately.

    LRF Watch & Wait Fact Sheet

  • Cancer Supportive Care Drugs

    Cancer supportive care drugs are medications that help to improve the quality of life for patients with cancer. They can help to relieve symptoms such as pain, nausea, and vomiting. Cancer supportive care drugs are not used to treat cancer itself. They can be used alone or in combination with other treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Before starting any treatment, it is essential to talk to your doctor about all the potential side effects of cancer supportive care drugs.

    LRF Managing Side Effects Fact Sheet

  • Clinical Trials

    Clinical trials are research studies that test new treatments and therapies for patients. Lymphoma patients at all stages of the disease can participate in a clinical trial if they meet the eligibility criteria. Clinical trials aim to monitor the drug's effects over time safely and identify more effective therapies for specific diseases. Clinical trials can help doctors learn how to use new treatments and therapies safely and effectively. Clinical trials offer patients access to more recent, potentially more effective treatments than what is available outside the trial. Still, there is no guarantee that patients will receive the newest treatment if they participate in a clinical trial. However, clinical trials provide patients with quality care in a controlled and supportive environment.

    Most new treatments go through a minimum of three clinical trial phases (Phases I, II, and III) before becoming a standard therapy used in hospitals and clinics. The purpose of Phase I is to test the safety of a new treatment. The purpose of Phase II is to determine if a new treatment is effective in treating a particular disease. The purpose of Phase III is to compare the effectiveness of a new treatment with the standard therapy currently being used.

    Your doctor can help you determine if there is an appropriate clinical trial for you and the potential risks and benefits. Keep in mind that not all patients are eligible for every clinical trial.

    LRF Clinical Trials Fact Sheet
  • T-cells work to fight cancer (CAR T-cell therapy) 3D Rendering

    Immunotherapy

    Immunotherapy or immune-oncology is a treatment that uses the body's immune system to fight cancer. Lymphoma compromises the immune system by inhibiting its ability to function correctly, allowing the lymphoma to grow and spread without being detected and eliminated by the immune system. Some immunotherapies are designed to attach to unique proteins on the surface of the lymphoma cells and allow the immune system to target the lymphoma cells. Others prevent lymphoma cells from suppressing the immune system.

    How lymphomas respond to immunotherapy depends on how well the immune system can find and target the lymphoma cells.

    LRF Immunotherapy Fact Sheet

  • Palliative Care

    Palliative care focuses on improving the quality of life for people with serious illnesses like cancer or heart failure. Palliative care aims to enhance a person's current care by focusing on the quality of life for them and their family. This approach is not used to treat cancer itself but can be used alone or in combination with other treatments.

    Palliative care teams are made up of doctors, nurses, social workers, and other professionals who work together to provide comprehensive care for the patient and their families. Palliative care can be provided at any stage of a serious illness and can be used alongside other treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

    Talking to a palliative care team can help you understand your treatment options and make the best decisions for your care.

  • Radiation Therapy

    Radiation therapy is a treatment that uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. It is usually used with other treatments, such as chemotherapy, but may also be used alone for certain types of lymphoma. The radiation field is the part of the body that will receive radiation therapy and is determined on a case-by-case basis. During initial preparations, the skin will be marked with "tattoos" or tiny ink dots to ensure that the same spot is treated each time. Lead is used to block the normal tissues around the radiation field.

    The radiation therapy process typically takes minutes after initial preparations are complete. The patient will lie on a table beneath a large machine delivering radiation. Treatment is given over 1 to 6 weeks, depending on the type and size of the tumor. Side effects of radiation therapy can include loss of appetite or taste, dry mouth, throat irritation, skin reaction, nausea, hair loss, and fatigue. It is essential to discuss all potential side effects with your doctor before starting treatment.

    LRF Managing Side Effects Fact Sheet

  • Stem Cell Transplantation

    Stem cell transplantation is a treatment for lymphoma that can replace the cells in the bone marrow that chemotherapy destroys during treatment. Stem cell transplantation can also help maintain a person's blood cells by replacing older or damaged cells with new ones.

    Stem cells are immature cells in the bone marrow that can develop into mature blood cells. During chemotherapy treatment, stem cells can be damaged or destroyed, reducing the number of healthy blood cells in the body and increasing the risk of infection. Stem cell transplantation can help replace these damaged or destroyed stem cells with new ones.

    Stem cell transplantation allows doctors to use higher doses of chemotherapy to treat cancer than the body can tolerate, increasing the probability of killing cancer cells.

    LRF Transplant Guide

  • Targeted and Drug Therapy

    There are a variety of targeted and drug therapy treatment options available for lymphoma patients. Some of the most common treatments include:

    1. Biosimilars

    2. Bruton Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) Inhibitors

    3. Chemotherapy

    4. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACs)

    5. Hypomethylating agents

    6. Immunomodulators

    7. Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitors

    8. Monoclonal antibodies

    9. Oral therapies

    10. Phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors

    11. Proteasome Inhibitors

    Learn More