Our bodies are often protected from disease-causing bacteria and viruses by a group of white blood cells known as lymphocytes. Unfortunately, these cells are subject to a form of cancer known as lymphoma. Lymphoma is the most common type of blood cancer after leukemia, and often occurs when a genetic mutation occurs within the structure of the lymphocyte cell causing abnormal replication of cells. The mutation might also cause the abnormal cells to live longer than usual thereby altering the way the healthy lymphocyte cells function. Unfortunately, similar to healthy cells, these abnormal lymphocyte cells can also travel through the blood and the lymphatic system. This means that lymphoma can also spread and grow in other parts of the body.

Lymphoma is a blanket term for more than 50 cancers affecting the lymphocyte cells. Even though there are other forms of lymphoma, the two main ones include Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

1. Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Also known as Hodgkin’s disease, this type of blood cancer begins in the lymphatic system and slowly progresses to other parts of the body. The presence of HL. Reed-Sternberg, which refers to B-cells that have turned cancerous means that one has Hodgkin lymphoma. Unlike healthy B-cells, HL. Reed-Sternberg cells are unusually large and contain more than one nucleus.
HL mostly affects adults between the age of 20 and 40 and affects approximately 9000 people in the US alone. There are five different types of HL, but advances in the diagnosis, as well as treatment, now make it possible for patients to recover fully.

2. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is the most prevalent type of lymphoma, with more than 85% of lymphoma cases being NHL. Also, it has more than 50 subtypes, and unlike HL, it does not contain HL. Reed-Sternberg cells. It also affects both the B and T lymphocytes. Every year, approximately 80, 000 people are diagnosed with NHL in the United States alone. If treatment is sought early, that is when it is still in its early stages and is yet to spread to other organs; then one stands a chance of full recovery.

3. Skin lymphoma
Skin lymphomas are quite rare, affecting about 10 out of every 1 million people. They are also less aggressive, spread slowly and rarely affect the life expectancy of the patients. Note that, skin lymphoma also known as cutaneous lymphoma starts when the lymphocytes in the skin are affected. Therefore if the lymphoma starts elsewhere and spreads to the skin, then it cannot be classified under this category. Skin lymphoma often resembles skin conditions such as eczema, making it difficult for one to note or even get diagnosed with it.

4. Central nervous system lymphoma
This type of lymphoma affects the central nervous system. CNS lymphoma also affects the eyes and can either be found here or might have spread from other parts of the body. It is less common and causes muscle weakness, constant headaches, seizures, confusion and in some cases, affects one’s balance and vision. It is vital that you seek medical care as soon as you note the symptoms as the CNS is an important yet delicate part of the body.

5. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia and small lymphocytic leukemia
Usually referred to as CLL and SLL, these are basically the same type of lymphoma the only difference being their location. In CLL, the cancerous cells are often in the bone marrow as well as the bloodstream. On the other hand, the cancerous cells in SLL are situated in the lymph nodes. CLL is less aggressive and grows slowly, while SLL is more aggressive and rapidly spreads to other organs if nothing is done.