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Lymphoma Cancer Treatment

Hodgkin Lymphoma

Hodgkin lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that develops when lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) become out of control. They divide in an abnormal way or do not die when they should.

There are two types of lymphocyte: B lymphocytes (B cells) and T lymphocytes (T cells). Lymphocytes normally fight infection as part of the body’s immune system. They are carried around the body in the lymphatic system and can collect in the lymph nodes (glands) or other parts of the body. Hodgkin lymphoma almost always develops from B cells. It is named after Dr Thomas Hodgkin, who was the first person to describe the condition in 1832. In Hodgkin lymphoma, particular types of abnormal cells, called Reed–Sternberg cells, can be seen under a microscope. Non-Hodgkin lymphomas do not contain this type of cell.

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is any lymphoma that is not Hodgkin lymphoma. Hodgkin lymphomas contain abnormal cells called ‘Reed–Sternberg cells’. NHL is any lymphoma that does not contain this type of cell.

Lymphoma is a type of cancer that develops when lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) become out of control. They divide in an abnormal way or do not die when they should. Lymphocytes normally fight infection as part of the body’s immune system. They are carried around the body in the lymphatic system and can collect in the lymph nodes (glands). There are two types of lymphocyte: B lymphocytes (B cells) and T lymphocytes (T cells). NHL can develop from either B cells or T cells.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL) and small Lymphocytic Lymphoma (SLL)

CLL and SLL are cancers of the lymphatic system. They can develop when lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell that fights infection) grow out of control. CLL has ‘leukaemia’ in its name because it affects the blood. SLL is another form of the same disease and it mainly affects the lymph nodes (glands), which is why it is called a ‘lymphoma’. Both forms of the disease are low-grade (slow-growing) and are often grouped as non-Hodgkin lymphomas. CLL and SLL are treated in the same way. On this page, the term ‘CLL’ is used to refer to both forms of the disease except where there are important differences.

Skin Lymphoma

Lymphoma is a cancer that starts in white blood cells called lymphocytes, which are part of your immune system. There are many different types of lymphoma. Skin lymphomas (also known as ‘cutaneous’ lymphomas) are lymphomas that develop in the skin and are not affecting any other areas of the body at the time they are diagnosed. Skin lymphoma is not a type of skin cancer (where the cancer develops from skin cells). There are two types of lymphocytes: B lymphocytes (B cells) and T lymphocytes (T cells). Skin lymphomas can develop from either T cells or B cells.