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Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Causes

The exact cause isn't known, but doctors believe a virus or activation of abnormal genes may be involved in some cases. Some risk factors are thought to be:

  • being aged 60 and above
  • autoimmune disease (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis)
  • exposure to pesticides, chemical solvents, and dyes
  • exposure to some viral infections such as Epstein-Barr virus
  • immunodeficiency states such as AIDS, congenital immunodeficiency, chronic immunosuppression by medications
  • prior exposure to chemotherapy or radiation therapy

People can have non-Hodgkin's lymphoma even without these risk factors.


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