What is Lymphoma?
Lymphomas are cancers of the lymphatic system. When a person has lymphoma, some of their lymphocytes are said to be 'out of control'. They divide in an abnormal way, or do not die off when they should. These abnormal lymphocytes can collect in the lymph nodes, which then enlarge as the lymphocytes form tumours.
Lymphoma can affect lymph nodes in all parts of the body. It can also involve other organs, such as the spleen or the bone marrow. Like other cancers, lymphoma can affect the function of the tissue involved. For example, someone with lymphoma in the bone marrow might not be able to make new blood cells.
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Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is called high grade when the cells appear to be dividing quite quickly. They are also called aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Some types of high grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma will grow faster than others.
The most common high grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma is diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
Other high grade non-Hodgkin lymphomas include:
- Burkitt’s lymphoma
- lymphoblastic lymphoma
- peripheral T-cell lymphoma
High grade non-Hodgkin lymphomas are more common in people aged over 50, but they can occur at any age. Although the term ‘high grade’ may sound alarming, these diseases can respond very well to treatment. With the right treatment high grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma can be cured in many cases.
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