Lymphoma is a tumor of the lymph system. Lymphocytes are one kind of white blood cell in the lymph system that are very active in protecting our bodies from disease. Hodgkin's Disease is a type of lymphoma. Other types are called non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

There are over 50,000 new cases of lymphomas each year in the United States. The incidence is increasing steadily. About 15 percent are Hodgkin's disease. It strikes nearly 8,000 people each year. Hodgkin's disease mostly occurs between the mid-teens and late 20s. It is also seen after the age of 45, increasing in incidence gradually with age. Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas most often affect people between 40 and 70 years old.

Hodgkin's disease differs from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in two major ways. When you have Hodgkin's disease, a kind of cell called a Reed-Sternberg cell is found in your lymph nodes. The pattern of spread starts at the top of your body and moves from one part of the lymph system to the next. It then moves into the lungs, liver, bone, and bone marrow. There are many kinds of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Their pattern of spread is not as predictable. Nor can they be identified by the presence of one particular cell.

The first symptom of lymphoma is often swelling in the glands or lymph nodes of the neck. Swelling can also occur in the armpits or groin, but that's not as common. These swollen lymph nodes are mostly painless. You might also notice weight loss, night sweats, itchy skin, fevers, fatigue, excessive bleeding, infections, and anemia.

In order to determine if lymphoma is present, you need a biopsy of the affected node or organ. Sometimes surgery is necessary. The usual operation, called a laparotomy, explores the organs of your abdominal cavity for disease.

Treatment depends on what stage and type of lymphoma is found. It can either be chemotherapy or radiation therapy, or both. Very high dose chemotherapy and radiation therapy are sometimes followed by bone marrow transplantation.

To learn more about lymphoma, call the American Cancer Society at (800) ACS-2345 or the National Cancer Institute at (800) 4-CANCER.

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