Understanding the difference between Hodgkin’s vs non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
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Understanding the difference between Hodgkin’s vs non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
There has always been a bit of confusion surrounding the differences between Hodgkin’s vs non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) also known as blood cancers. They sound very similar but there actually is much difference between them.
Both diseases are malignancies of a family of white blood cells known as lymphocytes. Lymphocytes move around the body through the lymphatic system playing an important role in helping our body fight off infections and other diseases. As lymphocytes make their rounds through your body, they are looking for any kind of foreign invaders such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, and toxic chemicals that could harm you. If they come across one of these foreign substances, lymphocytes go to work by producing antibodies that stop and kill these harmful invaders while releasing chemicals to warn other cells of the danger.
What is non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
NHL is much more common than Hodgkin’s lymphoma. About 90 percent of all lymphomas are diagnosed as NHL. The lymphocytes in patients with NHL, begin to grow out of control growing tumors. These masses of lymphocytes are commonly found in the lymph nodes and other lymph tissues of the body such as the spleen and bone marrow.
There are about 30 different types of NHL, each type having tiny differences in the size and characteristics of the cancerous cells. The most common of all the varieties of NHL is diffuse, large B-cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma. Generally, people over the age of 60 are more likely to be diagnosed with NHL since the risk of developing it increases with age. It is the seventh most common cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States.
The survival rate of NHL will vary depending on the type of lymphoma, the stage of when it was found, age and health of the patient, and other factors.
The exact cause of NHL is unknown but there are multiple medical conditions that have been associated with an increased risk of developing this disease:
· Inherited immune deficiencies
· Genetic syndromes – Down Syndrome and Klinefelter’s syndrome
· Immune disorders such as Sjogren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus
· Inflammatory bowel disease, particularly Crohn’s disease
· Psoriasis
· Family history of lymphoma
· Regular exposure to certain chemicals such as insect and weed killers
· Exposure to nuclear accidents, nuclear testing, or underground radiation leaks
· Prior exposure to chemotherapy and/or radiation used to treat a prior diagnosis of cancer
Symptoms of NHL include enlarged lymph nodes, fever, sweating and chills, weight loss, fatigue, swollen belly, feeling full after only a small amount of food, chest pain or pressure, and shortness of breath or a cough.
What is Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
Hodgkin’s lymphoma also known as Hodgkin’s disease is much less common than NHL. Diagnosed in only about one percent of all cancers in the United States, there are five main types of Hodgkin’s lymphoma with different parts of the body affected.
The difference between Hodgkin’s lymphoma vs non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is that the cancer cells are usually an abnormal type of B lymphocyte, named Reed-Sternberg cells.
People affected with Hodgin’s lymphoma are usually diagnosed in their 20s or over the age of 55. It is considered a more curable type of cancer with 5-year survival rates that have steadily increased over the years.
Like NHL, the cause of Hodgkin’s lymphoma is not known. There are certain factors that may raise the risk of developing it however:
· Infection with a virus, such as Epstein-Barr or HIV
· Having a weak immune system
· A person’s age – it is most common in people ages 15-35 and people age 55 and older
· A family history of the disease
The symptoms of Hodgkin’s lymphoma include swollen lymph nodes, a fever, weight loss, and night sweats.
Anyone who is experiencing or noticing any of the symptoms of either NHL or Hodgkin’s lymphoma needs to be examined by their doctor as soon as possible. The sooner either disease is diagnosed and treated, the greater the chance of survival.