About Cancer
This section is about non-Hodgkin lymphoma in adults. We have separate information about childhood non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Find out about non-Hodgkin lymphoma in children
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is a type of blood cancer. It affects white blood cells called lymphocytes. It is also called a cancer of the lymphatic system.
The is a system of thin tubes and that run throughout the body. Lymph nodes are bean shaped glands. The thin tubes are called lymph vessels or lymphatic vessels. Tissue fluid called lymph circulates around the body in these vessels. And it flows through the lymph nodes.
The lymphatic system is an important part of our immune system. It plays a role in fighting bacteria and other infections. And it tries to destroy old or abnormal cells, such as cancer cells.
The diagram shows the lymph vessels, lymph nodes and other organs. These make up the lymphatic system.
Read about the lymphatic system
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is also called a cancer of the lymphatic system. This is because it starts in lymph nodes or other parts of the lymphatic system.
There are 2 main types of lymphoma. They are called Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).
Hodgkin lymphoma was named after the doctor who first recognised it. It used to be called Hodgkin's disease.
Hodgkin lymphoma has a particular appearance under the microscope. It contains cells called Reed-Sternberg cells. NHL looks different under the microscope and does not contain Reed-Sternberg cells.
Doctors need to tell the difference between Hodgkin lymphoma and NHL. They are two different diseases and the treatment for them is not the same.
There are more than 60 different types of NHL. They can behave in very different ways. Your doctor or specialist nurse will tell you about the type you have.
Read more information about Hodgkin lymphoma
This video explains what lymphoma is and how it starts. And the difference between Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The video lasts just over 3 minutes.
You develop lymphoma when white blood cells () divide abnormally and grow out of control.
Usually, we have just the right number of each type of cell. This is because cells produce signals to control how much and how often the cells divide. But sometimes cell division can get out of control.
Normal white blood cells have resting time when they aren't dividing and making new cells. But if you have lymphoma, some of your white blood cells don't have any resting time. They divide continuously, so you produce too many. And the cells don't naturally die off as white blood cells normally do.
These cells start to divide before they are fully mature. So they can't fight infection as normal white blood cells do.
The abnormal white blood cells start to collect in the lymph nodes. Or they collect in other places such as the bone marrow or spleen. They can then grow into tumours and begin to cause problems in the lymphatic system, or in the organ where they are growing. For example, if a lymphoma starts in the thyroid gland it can affect the normal production of thyroid hormones.
You can get NHL just about anywhere in your body. This is because the lymphatic system runs through your whole body. It most often starts in the lymph nodes and can affect several groups of lymph nodes around your body.
You can also find lymphoma in other body organs outside the lymphatic system. For example, the stomach or bones.
NHL can begin to develop outside the lymph nodes. This is called primary extranodal lymphoma.
It can begin in almost any part of the body. The diagram below gives some examples of where lymphoma can start or spread to in the body.
Most types of cancer can spread to the lymph nodes. But they are not lymphoma. Lymphoma is cancer that starts in the lymph nodes.
For example, if breast cancer spreads to the lymph nodes in the armpits it does not become lymphoma. The cancer cells that have spread to the lymph nodes are still breast cancer cells. So they are treated as breast cancer.
If your cancer has spread to the lymph glands (and is not lymphoma), you should look for information about that type of cancer.
The treatment for NHL in children is slightly different to NHL in adults. So while some of the information here is useful, you do need to be careful. We have separate information about NHL in children.
Go to information about non-Hodgkin lymphoma in children
It is more common in older people. Almost 40 out of 100 (almost 40%) of people diagnosed with NHL are aged 75 and over.
Around 13,700 people are diagnosed with NHL each year in the UK. This includes children. It is the 8th most common cancer in the UK. 3 out of every 100 cancers diagnosed (3%) are NHL.
The most common symptom of NHL is one or more painless swellings in the neck, armpit or groin.
Factors that increase the risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma include certain types of infection, a weakened immune system or a previous history of cancer and treatment.
You usually start by seeing your GP. They might refer you to a specialist doctor (haematologist) and organise tests.
Your doctor usually diagnoses NHL by taking a sample (biopsy) from a swollen lymph node. You then have other tests to find out more about your NHL.
There are many different types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Doctors also give NHL a grade, depending on how quickly it is likely to grow.
The stage tells you about the number and places in your body that are affected by lymphoma. There are 4 stages for NHL. Or doctors describe it as either early or advanced stage.
Your treatment depends on the type and stage of your NHL. Common treatments include chemotherapy, targeted and immunotherapy drugs, radiotherapy and a stem cell transplant.
Researchers around the world are looking at treatments for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).
Last reviewed: 12 Feb 2024
Next review due: 12 Feb 2027
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