Is Hodgkin lymphoma hereditary? Having a parent or sibling with Hodgkin lymphoma may increase the risk for developing the disease.
People between the ages of 15 and 40 and people older than 55 are more likely to develop Hodgkin lymphoma. Gender. In general, men are slightly more likely to develop Hodgkin lymphoma than women, although the nodular sclerosis subtype is more common in women (see the Introduction). Family history.
Hodgkin lymphoma isn't infectious and isn't thought to run in families. Although your risk is increased if a first-degree relative (parent, sibling or child) has had lymphoma, it's not clear if this is because of an inherited genetic fault or lifestyle factors.
Family history
Most people who have a close family member with lymphoma or another blood cancer do not develop lymphoma themselves. However, your risk of developing lymphoma is slightly higher if you have a close relative (parent, brother or sister, or child) who has had lymphoma or another type of blood cancer.
Causes of lymphoma
Exposure to radiation and certain types of chemicals can put some people at higher risk. Benzene and some agricultural chemicals have been implicated; people exposed in the workplace, who can be at highest risk, should follow occupational health guidelines to minimise exposure.
With lymphoma, the lymph nodes often grow slowly and may be there for months or years before they're noticed. But sometimes they grow very quickly. Usually, the swollen nodes don't hurt. But some people say their lumps ache or are painful.
Low-Grade Lymphoma
These grow so slowly that patients can live for many years mostly without symptoms, although some may experience pain from an enlarged lymph gland. After five to 10 years, low-grade disorders begin to progress rapidly to become aggressive or high-grade and produce more severe symptoms.
low-grade or indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma – where the cancer grows slowly and you may not experience any symptoms for many years.
Viruses cause some types of NHL. The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the virus that causes mononucleosis, also known as "mono," and it is associated with some types of NHL. These include Burkitt lymphoma, lymphomas occurring after an organ transplant, and, rarely, other lymphomas in people who are otherwise healthy.
Lymphoma is cancer that starts in the lymph nodes. For example, if breast cancer spreads to the lymph nodes in the armpits it does not become lymphoma. The cancer cells that have spread to the lymph nodes are still breast cancer cells.
around 80 out of every 100 people (around 80%) survive their cancer for 1 year or more after they are diagnosed. around 65 out of every 100 people (around 65%) survive their cancer for 5 years or more after diagnosis.
Blood tests are essential to accurately diagnosing this complex disease. These tests can show whether you have lymphoma cells or abnormal levels of normal cells: Blood smear: We take a drop of blood and look at it under a microscope.
Test description
The Invitae Hereditary Lymphoma Panel analyzes genes that are associated with a hereditary susceptibility to lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system. The genetic heterogeneity associated with lymphoma can make it difficult to use phenotype as the sole criterion to select a definitive cause.
Lymphoma is often curable, especially in its initial stages.
Treatment options
Surgery isn't generally used to treat the condition, except for the biopsy used to diagnose it. Overall, treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma is highly effective and most people with the condition are eventually cured.
More than 80 percent of all patients diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma can be cured by current treatment approaches. The cure rate is higher, approaching 90 percent, in younger patients and those with early-stage favorable disease.
Sometimes, people with follicular lymphoma have no symptoms for many years and do not need treatment. Some may never need treatment. In other people, treatment may be required for symptoms.
Swollen lymph nodes and a lump: One of the most common signs of non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a swollen lymph node or nodes, which causes a non-painful lump under the skin. Most commonly, this occurs on the side of the neck, under the arm or in the groin region.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is usually treated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy, although some people may not need treatment straight away. In a few cases, if the initial cancer is very small and can be removed during a biopsy, no further treatment may be needed.
Foods to avoid
Foods to skip or cut back on include: Animal fats like fatty meats, processed meats, lard and butter. Sugar, including added sugars in desserts, sweetened drinks and processed foods. White, refined grains like white bread, pasta and rice.
Chemotherapy is one of the main tools used to treat lymphoma. Chemotherapy medications are chemicals that kill lymphoma cells. They may be taken as pills or infusions into your veins.
Follicular lymphoma may go away without treatment. The patient is closely watched for signs or symptoms that the disease has come back. Treatment is needed if signs or symptoms occur after the cancer disappeared or after initial cancer treatment.