Overview

What Is Lymphoma?

Lymphomas are cancers of the lymphatic system's white blood cells. The lymphatic system is part of your body's immune system and that protects you from illness. This system includes hundreds of lymph nodes all over the body, as well as lymphatic vessels that link to the lymph nodes. When lymphoma occurs, the lymphatic system's cells, lymphocytes, become abnormal and multiply, forming more abnormal cells.

There are two main categories of lymphoma:

• Hodgkin lymphoma: This type typically begins in a chest or neck lymph node, but it can spread to nearby lymph nodes. This type of lymphoma can usually be cured.
• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma: This type can begin anywhere in the body, such as in different organs or in the lymph nodes. It is more likely than Hodgkin lymphoma to spread throughout the body. There are many forms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and the prognosis depends on the form of disease.