The Facts
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system and usually starts in the lymphatic cells (white blood cells) found in one or more lymph nodes. It is more serious than Hodgkin's disease. White blood cells are a part of the lymphatic system which helps fight diseases and infections. There are many types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The type is determined by how the cancerous cell looks under a microscope. The many types of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas can be placed in one of two main groups: indolent lymphomas and aggressive lymphomas. Indolent lymphomas are slower-growing and have fewer symptoms, compared to aggressive lymphomas which grow more quickly.
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma can occur at any age, but the incidence increases with age. The older someone is, the higher their chances of getting non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It's most common in people in their 60s; however, this disease can strike at any age, from childhood onward.
The National Cancer Institute reports that about 54,000 new cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are diagnosed each year. The number of new cases of the disease is growing. Although the reason for this is not known, a small portion of the increase may be caused by the increased incidence of AIDS, since approximately 10% of people who have HIV develop non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This incidence is 60 times greater than in people unaffected by HIV. People who have AIDS are most at risk.