Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma are both cancers that start in lymphoid tissue (also called lymphatic tissue). The lymphatic system is important for filtering germs and cancer cells as well as fluid from the extremities and internal organs. Other types of cancer, lung or colon cancers, for example, can develop in other organs and then spread to lymphoid tissue. But these cancers that can spread to lymph nodes are not lymphomas. Lymphomas start in the lymphoid tissue and can spread to other organs.

Lymphoid tissue is formed by several types of immune system cells that work together to resist infections. Lymphoid tissue also reacts to transplanted tissues (such as blood transfusions or organ transplants) from other people and is involved in fighting some types of cancer.

This lymphoid tissue is found in many places throughout the body, including lymph nodes, the thymus (found behind the chest bone and in front of the heart), the spleen (on the left side of the abdomen next to the stomach), the tonsils and adenoids, in the bone marrow, and scattered within other systems such as the digestive and respiratory systems.

Treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

In recent years, much progress has been made in treating non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. These therapies may be used alone or together depending on the type and location of the lymphoma.

The treatment options for patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma depend on the grade and stage of the lymphoma. The grade of a NHL reflects how rapidly it is likely to grow, and is determined by examination of a tissue sample under the microscope. But, there are some situations in which the specific type of lymphoma or part of the body affected is the most important factor in selection of treatment. Of course, no two patients are exactly alike and standard options are often tailored to each patient's unique situation.

It is important to understand all treatment options. It is often a good idea to seek a second opinion since it can provide additional information and help the patient feel more confident about the treatment plan that is chosen.

Statistics on non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Approximately 56,800 Americans (32,600 men and 24,200 women) are expected to be diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma during 1999, and 25,700 (13,400 men and 12,300 women) deaths are expected this year alone. It is the fifth most common cancer in the US. The number of people with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in the US has increased by about 50 percent during the last 15 years. The increase is a result of both better methods of detection and an actual increase in the number of new cases.

Although some types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma are among the most common childhood cancers, more than 95 percent of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma cases occur in adults. The average age at diagnosis is the early 40s. The risk of developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma increases throughout life.

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is more common in men than in women, and whites are affected more often than African Americans or Asian Americans.