Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma can occur at any age, but the risk increases with age. It's most common in people 60 or over.
In fact, it is one of the more common cancers among children, teens, and young adults. Still, the risk of developing NHL increases throughout life, and more than half of patients are 65 or older when they are first diagnosed.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma occurs more frequently among men than among women. It also occurs more frequently among Whites than among Blacks. Although children can get non-Hodgkin lymphoma, the risk of getting lymphoma increases with age. Approximately 70% of people diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma are age 50 and over.
NHL is more than 5 times as common as Hodgkin lymphoma. Overall, NHL is most often diagnosed in people aged 65-74; median age at diagnosis is 68 years. The exceptions are high-grade lymphoblastic and small noncleaved lymphomas, which are the most common types of NHL observed in children and young adults.
The risk of Hodgkin lymphoma rises again in late adulthood (after age 55). Overall, the average age of people when they are diagnosed is 39. Hodgkin lymphoma is rare in children younger than 5 years old. But it's the most common cancer diagnosed in adolescents ages 15 to 19 years.
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.
Where does non-Hodgkin lymphoma occur in the body? Because the lymphatic system runs through your whole body, you can get NHL just about anywhere. NHL usually starts in the lymph nodes. It is quite common to find it in the neck, liver or spleen.
The second most common subtype of NHL, follicular lymphoma (FL), grows slowly, with lymph nodes doubling in size approximately every six to 12 months, and patients often get diagnosed a year or later after they first noted an enlarged lymph node.
low-grade or indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma – where the cancer grows slowly and you may not experience any symptoms for many years.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is caused by a change (mutation) in the DNA of a type of white blood cell called lymphocytes, although the exact reason why this happens isn't known. DNA gives cells a basic set of instructions, such as when to grow and reproduce.
Blood tests are not used to diagnose lymphoma, but they can sometimes help determine how advanced the lymphoma is.
The 5-year survival rate for NHL in the United States is 74%. The survival rates for NHL vary based on several factors. These include the stage and subtype of cancer, a person's age and general health, and how well the treatment plan works. For stage I NHL, the 5-year relative survival rate is more than 86%.
Survival for all non-Hodgkin lymphomas
around 65 out of every 100 people (around 65%) survive their cancer for 5 years or more after diagnosis. it is predicted that 55 out of every 100 people (55%) will survive their cancer for 10 years or more after they are diagnosed.
Non-Hodgkin lymphomas represent about 3% of all cancer-related deaths in the U.S. Worldwide, approximately 5 in 100,000 people have a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and about 3 in 100,000 people die from this condition.
Treatment can often cure high-grade NHL. But, in some people, the lymphoma comes back. If this happens, it may be possible to have more treatment to try to cure it. You usually have a more intensive treatment than your first treatment.
NHL Stages
Stage IV is the most advanced. You may see an “E” after stages I, II, or III -- that stands for extranodal. It means the lymphoma is in one area outside your lymph system.
This lymphoma, which starts in the space between the lungs (the mediastinum), is treated like early stage diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. A common treatment is 6 courses of chemo with CHOP plus rituximab (R-CHOP). This may be followed by radiation to the mediastinum.
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It grows quickly in the lymph nodes and often the spleen, liver, bone marrow, or other organs are also affected. Signs and symptoms of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma may include fever, drenching night sweats, and weight loss.
Certain areas of skin may also thicken, harden and form plaques that itch and ulcerate. Typically, these plaques develop on the face or buttocks or within skin folds. As a skin lymphoma rash progresses, papules (small bumps) may start to appear.
Blood tests can help your doctors detect the presence of some of the telltale signs of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. These may include anemia, or low levels of red blood cells, which are needed to carry oxygen to the body's organs and tissues.
Stage 4 lymphoma means that cancer has spread to an organ external to the lymphatic system. The survival rates vary widely depending on an individual's risk factors and type of cancer. The survival rate of stage 4 lymphoma is lower than that of the other stages, but doctors can cure the condition in some cases.
The most common sign of lymphoma is a lump or lumps, usually in the neck, armpit or groin. These lumps are swollen lymph nodes, sometimes known as 'glands'. Usually, they're painless.