What is lymphoma?
Lymphoma is the general name for cancers that develop in the lymphatic system.
Lymphoma originates in developing B-lymphocytes (B-cells), T-lymphocytes (T-cells) and natural killer cells (NK cells), which have undergone a malignant (cancerous) change. This means that they multiply without any proper order, forming tumours, which are collections of cancer cells. These tumours cause swelling in the lymph nodes and other parts of the body. Over time, malignant lymphocytes (called lymphoma cells) crowd out normal blood cells until eventually, the immune system becomes weakened and can no longer function properly.
The World Health Organisation currently recognises over 70 different subtypes of lymphoma. These subtypes are usually separated into two groups – Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Each year in New Zealand around 1,100 people are diagnosed with lymphoma. More than 85% of them have non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
