Overview

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is a term that refers to many, very different types of cancer of the lymph system. Lymphoma begins when cells in the lymph system change and grow uncontrollably, which may form a tumor. The lymph system is made up of thin tubes that branch out to all parts of the body. Its job is to fight infection and disease. The lymph system carries lymph, a colorless fluid containing lymphocytes (white blood cells). Lymphocytes fight germs in the body. B-lymphocytes (also called B cells) make antibodies to fight bacteria, and T-lymphocytes (also called T cells) kill viruses and foreign cells and trigger the B cells to make antibodies.

Groups of tiny, bean-shaped organs called lymph nodes are located throughout the body at different sites in the lymph system. Lymph nodes are found in clusters in the abdomen, groin, pelvis, underarms, and neck. Other parts of the lymph system include the spleen, which makes lymphocytes and filters blood; the thymus, an organ under the breastbone; the tonsils, located in the throat; and the bone marrow, the spongy red tissue inside bones that produces white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets (cells that help the blood clot).

Because lymph tissue is found in so many parts of the body, NHL can start almost anywhere and can spread to almost any organ in the body. It most often begins in the lymph nodes, liver, spleen, or bone marrow, but can also involve the stomach, intestines, skin, thyroid gland, and brain or any other part of the body.

There are different types and many subtypes of NHL. It is very important to know which type and subtype has been diagnosed because the type and subtype help doctors determine the best treatment and a patient’s chance of recovery. Specific information can be found in Subtypes of NHL.

This section covers NHL in adults. Learn more about childhood NHL.

Statistics

In 2009, an estimated 65,980 people (35,990 men and 29,990 women) in the United States will be diagnosed with NHL. It is estimated that 19,500 deaths (9,830 men and 9,670 women) from this disease will occur this year.

Although NHL is a common childhood cancer, it is more common in adults. NHL is the sixth most common cancer in men and the fifth most common cancer in women. It is also the ninth most common cause of cancer death in men and sixth most common cause of cancer death among women.

The one-year relative survival rate (the percentage of people who survive at least one year after the cancer is detected, excluding those who die from other diseases) of patients with NHL is 80%. The five-year and 10-year relative survival rates are 65% and 54%, respectively.

Cancer survival statistics should be interpreted with caution. These estimates are based on data from thousands of cases of the many different types of lymphoma in the United States and may not apply to a single person or type of lymphoma. It is not possible to tell a person how long he or she will live with NHL. Because the survival statistics are often measured in multi-year intervals, they may not represent advances made in the treatment or diagnosis of this cancer.

Statistics adapted from the American Cancer Society’s publication, Cancer Facts & Figures 2009.

Find out more about basic cancer terms used in this section.