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HomeTopicsLymphoma
Lymphoma: Cancer of the Lymph NodesLymphoma is a cancer of the lymph nodes. This type of cancer is different from all other types of cancers. Other cancers start at one organ and, with time, they may spread to the lymph nodes and distant organs. Lymphomas work in the opposite direction because they start in the lymph nodes and eventually spread to other organs in the body.
Lymphomas are classified as one of two different types: Hodgkin's lymphoma or Hodgkin's disease (HD), and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and Hodgkin's Disease
Both types of cancer start in the lymph nodes. Hodgkin's disease, however, is characterized by the presence of abnormal cancerous cells called Reed-Sternberg cells, which are not present in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma malignancies.
Another difference is that Hodgkin's disease tends to spread to adjacent lymph nodes and is less likely than NHL to metastasize or spread to other organs outside the lymphatic system. Symptoms of LymphomaLike many other cancers, symptoms are absent in the early stages. But as the cancer continues to advance, symptoms start to appear. The symptoms often depend on the type and severity of the lymphoma. Some of the general symptoms of lymphoma include:
Not all symptoms of lymphoma are a result of spleen or lymph node swelling. Other general symptoms of lymphoma may include:
Ultimately, the symptoms depend on the person. Some lymphoma patients experience all of the above symptoms and more while others may not experience any of the symptoms, even during later stages of the disease.
This section discusses in detail both Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with each article listed in the menu to the left. To research other blood disorders or health topics, please use the morefocus search tool, or see the related topics listed to the left. |
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